Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-08
CALVARY CHURCH.
Interesting Ceremonies Yester-
day-.-Its Venerable Minis
ter, DIR. George White,
Tells of His Re
cent Journey.

VIM" ~ oONOidl MOchni ut having DCCu
absent in attendance at the tri-
ennial convention of the church
recently held at New York. The
aged and much respected minister
was greeted with more than ordina-
ry gathering Of his flock, and among
the rest was noticed General John
Mcdonald, late of St. Louis, a visitor
doubtless we'll remembered by many
as having been an officer of the gov
ernment stationed at this post during
the civil war, as we'll as of more recent
notoriety in connection with the au-
thorship of a work on the whisky ring
at st. Louis during General Grants
presidential administration.
The audience indicated pleasure at
seeing the minister lookingso hale and
vigorous, and many sought his pres
ence before and after the service to
extend greetings and express the wish
that the pious man of God may be
spared to us for many years to pre-
side over, give counsel and preach re-
ligious sermons to the people.
The services were of more than ordin-
ary interest. The choir sang with
more than its. usual splendor, the res
onant notes of the "Gloria," the an
thems, hymns and other selections
sounding forth in grand style, and i'm.
pressing every listener. At the close
Of the preliminary services, DR.. White
stated that he would not de-
liver his customary Sabbath sermon,
but in lieu thereof he would tell them
of hisrecent journey and his expert
ences at the Episcopal convention.
The convention, he said, was COM
posed Of four ministers and four lay
men from each diocese. 1t meets once
every three years to consider the well
fare Of the church, and the reverend
gentleman said he had been made more
proud of his religion and his church
than he had ever been before by the
dignity, the Intelligence, the ability,
the learning and the celebrity of those
whe composed the body. There we're
within its official circles judges Of
the supreme court, governors and
ex-governors of states, members
of congress, men eminent in
the political, religious and business
interests of the times, and all were
fully intent upon furthering the well
fare and good of the interests of the
church. They were harmonious and
exceedingly courteous throughout
though their political sentiments as
well as personal interests represented
widely divergent shades.
Among others in attendance from
abroad were the bishop of Switzerland
and the bishop Of Edinburg, the for
mer in days past a Catholic priest, but
who some years past espoused a new
form of religion, Of which most people
familiar with the current events oI
the times knew about. There were q
large number of bishops in attendance
forty or more og them appearing in
procession made an indellible impres
sion upon DR.. White. Two new bish
ops were added to the list while the
conclave was held, one for New Mex,
leo, in the person Of DR.. Palmer, an
Irishman by birth, and for many years
warm personal friend of DR.. White
also one for Washington Territory
in the person of Doctor Paddock
of Brooklyn. The prosperous condi.
ton Of the church, ,especiallyin the fal
west and also among its distant mis-
sions, was especially gratifying to DR.
White. The man of God alluded t
this with feeling and alsopointe1 to th,
eminent men included amongt tho con
claye's delegates as proof of the purity
the soundneSs, the truth, the grandeu
and the effect for good of thu
Christian religion. Scofers and inf
dels of the present day were alluded
to and scathed in illustration, or b.
way of comparison.
Efforts we're made by the member
of the convention to shorten the pres
ent form of the Episcopal service, bu
the measure was not successful ant
the form heretofore practiced is ye
in force in its entirety. No impor
tant changes were made, but the con
vention did much in a general way 70
the cause Of religion. At the sam
time its financial interests are unde
the best Of care and the prospects 70
the future are all that can be desired
During his absence DR.. White ha
preached almost every Sunday a
various churches in New York Cit
and other places. In all Of them h
was struck with the enterprise Of thei
congegationsin providing comfortabl
quarters for the minister, in the forr
of 3 library room, Sunday schoC
rooms and other necessary featpreI
: In contrast with the present dismi
attachments to Calvary church it wc
wide, and the more noticeable. II
therefore urged the congregation
move in the wogk Qfimprovement, OF
largement and repair at once. A Iii
Of subscriptions should be started
once, and the young people of the col
gresation should aid it, even
they deprive themselves Of fe
t visits to the theater, or other festiva