Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-06-10

ftsOIVed
make their experiment Of popular government at
all risks TO overcome their obstacles or reduce
them To minimum Of resistance, where they could
not be removed; TO make such changes in the
outward framework of the church as would adapt
II To the new conditions in which II was placed 10
obtain FOR It the room To live and work and grow in
this new nation, was the work SET before them
And they did 1t well.
Provdentlally Al II seems to Us the way hal been
prepared for them. They had no existing institu-
ions which must be superseded. There was no
organized colonial church 10 stand In their way
The very great neglect which they had suffered in
ms respect became now an advantage, it left
them free to use without hndrance all the powers
of IN independent national church. In the ex-
erciSe Of that freedom and TO meet tho peculiar
difficulties which surrounded them they adopted
an organization that differs, In some respects from
that of The church in the fourth century AMI thai
of the Church OF England.
They introduced the lalty into the councils Of the
church, giving them in all legislative action an au-
thorty coordinate with that of the Clergy and the
bishops They secured TO each diocese and It's bishoD
an exact equality OF power and authority and thus
restored TIE Episcopate TO Its original form and
model Gs 1t existed In the College OF tho Apostles.
And for the legislative powers of the church they
provided synods, or conventions as W., call them
AS nearly as may he similar 10 the analogous legs-
laiive bodies OF The States and the nation But in
thus departing IN appearance from the Institutions
of the church of the fourth century, they were
really carrying into effect IN and different cir
cnnlsances the principle which E.d Justified those
institutions
hnd they did this not because they wished IN
OF the English church, and would have much pre-
ierred her methods ~ their patterns. But there
was, rs II seemed 10 them, a necessity which con-
trGli"d lher action, difficulties which seemed in
surmounlabe IN any other way Or in other words
Providence was hedging up other WAYS against
thehl' ana making easy 10 them this, the better
Aud the wisdom OF their a lion has heen ebaud-
anily justified by the result. u liza. removed the
ptrJhnice WHICH VIZ ol,e 80 active against the
church. and relne't for i. the respect ui The Ameri-
can people. Il has ted the church Tor the needs Of
our time and our land, and prepared it to execute
the trust when believe God has given il IN
preach the Gospelt TO this rising nation and make II
truly Christian.
The great objection to The provincial system As
proposed IS, That II Is departure trO:a that WIS
dom OF our fathers In The church. II would intro
duVe mo OIL system an element not only unknown
IN the state, but decidedly opposed TO the strong
feeling of our people, that of DIVISION II IL much
TO he feared that the separation CT the doceses into
provinces would tend 10 the growth of sectional
feeling IN the various portions of the church which
the frequent meetings of representative clergy and
laly IN general convention, as gt present does now
80 much 10 prevent,
The weakening uf srncrai convention by taking
away so large portion OF its powers, and the long
intervals between It's meetings, as proposed would
ne. u appears 10 me-, IA great mistake. That body
has been under God the great rrans ~ nrnservn,,
our unity AMI harmony. Whoever is familiar win
the history OF the church easily recall the in
stances OF whi seemed like great dangers threat
enIng US, which were through Gods blessing avert
ed by ITS Wise and timely actlSn. To adjourn our
General convention for so long period as nine
years Wold be in my Judgment a very serious in
Jury to the prospects of tins church.
This long period between the meetings of general
conventions seems to me quite objectionable We
belong 10 i race which has long been accustomed
To have almost continual access to It's highest egis-
lailVe trlbunils trained 10 be utterly impatient Of
the evils which II Is thought such authorities can
correct. can not believe that American church.
men, formed under such training, would be willing
ant questions which only our highest legislative
body could decide; questions .hich are almost
Eaat history Of the church
object then 10 the scheme for provinces a. pro-
posed 10y the committee BECAUSE Ii seems unneces-
sray methJds much less revolutionary would re-
lleve our present circumstances. Because while IL
claims to be following the example of the early
churchill Is really departure from that wise course
which they followed under circumstances very dif-
ferent from ours. Because 1t would Introduce into
our system an element which has nothing analo-
gous in our civil government the like OF which II
II were proposed in the State wng!d uu Ia serious
offence TO our national feeling. because it would
make the Gh.rDh less American in form, less
adapted 10 the work 1t is called TO do. Because as
II Is TO be feared ii would bring into operation sec
tonal interests and feeling, which would interfere
with our harMaplol5, common action. And because
II would seriously disable the general convention
which mas been the means of So great blessings In
the past and seems TO be quite necessary 10 the
future welfare of this church.
These objections in our view attach not to every
scheme OF provinces in the church, but to that
which has been discussed. There Is q modest pro-
vincial system which has been in existence for
several years under our preSea; laws, provides
for the fcder.ta uLlGl pf the tlOceses which are
forIled out or one original diocese. This seems 10
me lar the preferable plan because IL proposes no
great or sudden changes TO be made In the Con-
stltution of the Church. 1t can only come into
effective operation by the slow process OF growth,
And because, II II were carried cut 20 me fullest
extent, should 20 eysr ha,e province in every
Stale o. lie Union. with its provincial council
uniler The General Convention, that would but
bring the church moro exactly 10 the form OF Its
original organization than II is at present.
Nav h4 r1A1 IAr.I Ia with
deliberations for the welfare OF this diocese May He
give US wisdom rightly, 10 understand the needs
OF this portion OF His vineyard TO devise salutary
measures for Its advantage; and, by His blessing,
bring them into good effects
Tha Bishops address being concluded, on
motion Of the Rev. DIR. Bailey it was
Resolrtd, That so much Of the address as
relates to the tenure of church property be
referred to the committee appointed at inc
convention in 1879 on that subject.
I'm inulion OF Rev. Mr. Putnam it was
Resoleed, That so much of the Bishops
address as relates to the subject Of diocesan
missions he referred to the missionary COM
mittee with the request that theY report at
the evening servic2 Wnen the convention
met % 9 ,iaaiL ii Missions.
A telegram was received from Mr.. George
K. Bottom of Rutland, stating his inability
to accept the Office of treasurer of the con-
veption to WHICH he had been elected. On
motion Of Mr. Atkins of Montpelier his res
ignation was accepted. Mr.. Atkins then
nominated Mr. Edward l.. Temple of Rut-
land. A ballot was taken and Mr.. Temple
was elected
The Bishep called Rev a. Il. Flanders tc
the chair.
Communications from the Secretary of the
General Convention were read hy the Secre.
tary, relating to
First. The ratification of the Book of Com,
mon PRAYER, with certain privileges fol-
changing the same.
Second. The matter of deiray Ing the en-
penses of the Bishops and deputies 10 the
General Convention and,
Third The fund for the relief Of aged anC
intirm and disabled clergymen and the
widows and orphans of deceased clergymen,
Rev. Mr.. Bliss moved the second com
municatlon he referred to committee Of
two of the clergy and three of the laity
Carried and Rcvs. Messrs. Bliss and DIR.
Bailey, and Mcssrs. f. \. Smith and V. At
wood of st. Adams and NJ. II. Deming of
Arlington were appointed.
On motion of Rev. Mr. Smith of Wood
stock the last communication was referred
10 the same committee
Hon. r. T. Redlield on behalf of the com
mittee upon church property reported that
the committee had procured charter at the
last session of the Legislature by which such
property could be held by corporation con
sis,ing of seven trustees, one of whom should
20 out of Office each year, and his successor
be elected by the convention. On motion OF
DR. Nichols the report was accepted.
Rev. Mr.. Atwill, secretary of the stand
ing committee, reported the acts of the conf
mittee during the past year. On motion OF
Rev. DIR. SWEET the report was accepted
port.
The report Of Mr.. james IL. Williams,
treasurer of the parochial fund was read ant
on motion Of Mr.. Bascom. il was accepted
and ordered to he printed in the forthcoming
report.
Rev Mr. Atwill on behalf OF the commit
tee appointed to prepare suitable resolution:
on the retirement of Mr. Atwood from the
position of treasurer, reported resolution
of esteem and thanks, which was on motion
If Mr. Atkins unanimously adopted
On motion of Rev DR. Mitchell the con
vcnlion was adjourned till $50 in the even
ing.
EVENING SESSION.
The exercises opened at $50, Bishop Bissel
presiding, the convention sitting Us Boar
of Missions
The Secretary, Rev. +. X. Atwill, then
read the report of the Missionary Committee.
From this it appears that the appropriation
for missions last wear was $500 and the