Morning journal and courier., 1881-06-15
Diocesan Convention.

The annual convention OF the EplscoP@t
Church for the diocese of Connecticut opened
yesterday morning at 10 o'clock in st. Thorn
as church. There was large attendance OF
both clergy and laymen despite the heavy
rain. The attendance included many laymen
of prominence in the State, and there were
many distinguished clergymen present. At
the morning service Rev. DR.. Jewett Of
Trinity church, Norwich, Rev. Mr.. Bodley
of Christ church, New Canaan, Rev. DIR.
0lmstead of Branford, and Rev. DIR. Vibbert
of Fair Haven, officiated. The choir was aug
mented for the occasion. The discourse was
by Rev. DIR. Powers, of Bridgeport. The
sermon was an excellent Interpretation Of the
attitude the church should take in the pres
emit day. The Christian religion is indie
structible, and though surrounded with dan
gers cannot be overcome. The condition of
the world in this age is just what previous
ages have made it. He pleaded for more
unity in essentials for more spirit and less
reliance upon form. In the evangelization
of mankind the Episcopal Church had a
great work to-day, and its methods were be-
ing adopted by other denominations.
The offertory was for missionaries in the
West
The holy communion was celebrated by
Bishop Williams, assisted by DIR. Deshon of
Meriden, and the other clergy in the chancel.
In the afternoon, after proceeding to the
election of secretary, Rev. Mr.. Tremaine,
of this city, being honored with re-elec-
ton, the RI Rev Bishop Williams delivered
10 o11 nr1ripeY ha mast
the bishop visited churches, chapels, missions
and places to the number of 125. In the
course of these visitations and at other
times be oficiated 219 times, preached and
delivered confirmation and other addresses
252 times; administered holy communion
thirty-four times; baptized two adults and
one infant solemnized four marriages Off
ciated at six burials and confirmed !, JAG per
sons. Four persons have been ordained te
the diaconate, eight deacons have been ad
vanced to the priesthood, fourteen clergy.
men have presented letters dismissory AND
have been received into the diocese, an6
thirteen clergymen have received letters dis
missory. During the year there were five
deaths among the clergy of the diocese
There are at this time twenty-five candidates
for priests and deacons' orders. Three
churches were consecrated during the yea
and two were reopened.
Referring to the revised edition of thu
New Testament, the Bishop spoke of tn,
1912 Strahan edition of the Bible, adopted il
1928 by the General Convention as the stand
ard Bible of the Episcopal Church, cano1
being passed providing for the correction O.
new editions by it, and no other Bible can b.
legally used IN divine service.
Reference was made to the subject of pro
curing legislation in favor of a reform in tn
| divorce laws. The Bishop noted the petit
ton presented by Episcopalians of the Stat,
| to the Legislature in 1868, 1869 and 1870, ant
of the canons passed by the General Conven
| ton on the subject. He called attention t.
the fact that the annual average of divorces
| in this State for the fifteen years from 1856
| exceeded the whole number granted in tn
| one hundred years before 1885. In 1879 tn
| Congregational General association appointed
committee and requested other religion
| bodies to unite with them, and Bishop VIII
liams and some of his clergy AM
| laity have been acting on this com
mittee, the result being that SOM
| slight improvements have been secured. TIL
l speaker reminded his hearers that as church
| men they could petition for no law excep
that based on the law of God as laid down il
| the Bible; but they could cooperate witt
others in attempting to improve the presen
laws, and he hoped they would and heartily
He gave two reasons for the divorce laws be
| ing in such bad condition. One was that W
| had followed the idea of the Puritans in look
| ing upon marriage as a civil contract; tn
| other was that we had also adopted the ide
| developed by the Puritans of individualisI
which has extended into the family relation
| as well as into the church
| INTERESTING DISCUSSION.
| Following came an interesting discussion
on the subject of adding $4,000 to tn
Bishops fund, the fund for the mainte
nance of the Bishop. One speaker thought
would be easy, comparatively SO, to raise thi
$50, 900. He said the product of the pres
emit fund was less than it used to be. Tn
decline in the productiveness of many vs
rieties of investments in the last year or tw
was known to ALL Now the fund must
increased to render an adequate support
The speaker made a strong appeal to tn
pride of the conference in support of tn
resolution, alluding to the venerable standin
of the diocese now nearly 100 years old an
to it's strength, it being one of the stronges
in the United States. He alluded also to tn
liberal and generous support given the mis-
sion cause by the diocese.
Rev. Drs. HARDWOOD of this city, Casey O
Norwich Deshon of Meriden and Beardsle
of New Haven, discussed the situation, D1
Beardsiey giving On instructive statement a
to the creation and history of the Bishop
fund. Further it was urged that all over tn
| country dioceses had funds for the supper
of the mission work and many had an epis
copal residence.
Rev DIR. HARDWOOD thought it was time tina
the diocese of Connecticut had q house TO
the residence of it's Bishop.
| A layman, Judge Samuel Sherman, o
Brookfeld, made a humorous and tellinl
speech. which soon engaged the undivided
attention of the convention. It was an earn
est plea for the increase of the fund and tn
establishment of an episcopal residence
that the head of the diocese Nigh
not be destitute of place on which
to lay his head. ALI listened witt
great attention and finally all face!
| casionally general laughter was occasioned
The speaker spoke vigorously with goot
command of rhetoric and sat down leaving al
refreshed by the episode, ready to resum
the discussion. Considerable interest wa
excited to know the name of the speaker
He was formerly judge for twenty years il
| New York city and is now retired residing il
4
The result of the discussion was the votin,
to increase the fund by $50, 900, and anothe
vote was passed providing for. taking tn
necessary subscriptions in the differen
| churches in the diocese, a permanent list o
| the names of the donors to be retained TIL,
remainder of the time was occupied in rou
tine work until adjournment for the evening
| EVENING SESSION 7-J-s-
| At the evening session, the bishop in tn
chair, the annual meeting of tho Missionar..
society of the diocese was held, and the re
ports were presented by Hon. Benjamin
Stark, of New Lopdon, secretary and treas
urer of the society, concerning the conditiei
of the society and the work of the year
Although it was still wet weather. there wa
quite number present, of members of tn
different parishes in this city, both ladie
and gentlemen, beside the members of tn
convention. After. Mr.. Stark had finishes
his report Rev. DR.. Deshon, of Meriden
arose and wanted to know why $500 renta
was paid for the church in Putnam H
wished the matter ventilated for the interes
of the mission cause. After some enquir,
Mr.. Stark was enabled to give the informn
ton. The rental of $500 was paid Rev. ]
/ W HIar1x rvho aranAa1 k1,a olr~oI, ,,,v.,7:-,