The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-17
Interesting to Episcopailans.-
Spirited Session Of the State
Convention.

I ma npcTlTfRC Cd lH0I ~ -
boro Episcopal Convention would
probably witness a spirited discussion OF
the ''Division of the Diocese question.
The result proved even more intense
than we anticipated, and one writer pro-
~nounces it 'the most exciting debate
ever witnessed in a church convention
The time and space At our command for
bid. any attempt to summarize the dis
c~ussion. We shall merely quote enough.
from the Wilmington Stars report, to
show the drift OF the argument, and
then mention how other speakers took
sides.
DIR. Huskc offered, as chairman of the
committee on this question, the following
resolutions.
Resolved. lst, That the welfare Of the
Diocese demands a division of the same.
2. That the Diocese be divided 10y a
line beginning with northampton
county, the we.tern line of said county,
Nash, Wilson, Wayne, Sampson, Bladen
and Columbus. and the new Diocese be
that portion lying-of said line.
8. That deputies to the General Con
v~ehtion be instructed to obtain the con-
sent of the Convention to a division.
4. That a committee be appointed to
make an equitable adjustment and di-
vision of the permanent Episcopal fund.
Bishop Lyman arose to make a per
sonal explanation. He said this was ex
traordinary that this resolution should
be brought forward without consulting
him, when the first thing that ought to
be done was to obtain his consent. He
gave an explanation of his seeming in
consistency, showing that he had been
convinced long before the death Of the
late Bishop that it was inexpedient to
divide and was now more convinced
than ever. He said that in the proposed
Western division of the Diocese there
ale not more thar four self-supporting
parishes, and that the Bishop of that
Diocese would have a most desperate
field to work upon. No such weak Dio-
cese has ye, been divided. He said the
Bishop of Michigan had told him that
the division of that Diocese WAS a great
mistake, and the Western Diocese re
GREETED the step very much. When there
were two DioCeses that can support eaci,
other he would be glad to divide them.
Ilt udu uo AuIbltlou L OC DlSilop oNCl a
large territory he trusted no such paltry
motive actuated him in disappearing the
movement.
Mr.. Battle moved that the question
be postponed to the next Convention.
Rev. Mr.. Huske disclaimed, as the
mover of the resolutions, that either he
or any member Of the Convention meant
any disrespect to the Bishop. He said
that the Convention was an independ-
ent BODY and had a right 10 express its
opinion on the subject. The Bishop
said he did not mean to question IT,.
Independence of the Diocese, 5ui
thought it best to express his opinion be
fore the Convention committed itself.
Col. DeRosset presented a minority
report, recommending the line OF divis'
ION to be drawn east and west instead o.
north and south.
DIR. DeRos.et moved that the question
he post poned Indefinitely.
; Rev. Will Bynum begged to say a few
words of explanation. He wssan Evan
| gelist and was under obligations to thu
Bishop for h. appointment. But 1t wa
/, not a question of MS own private inter
est. He knew the people in Western
North Carolina. and that they had lathe
: nave a Bishop once in three years thai
an Evangelist every day. In explanation
7 he said he himself had told the Bishop
ut Raleigh that he would do all he coult
for division, and the Bishop had said h'
would agree with the opinion of the bull
OF the clergy. He believed in small do
~ceses; the Bishop of Edinburg had sa,e
large dioceses are not only unchristiaI
but anti christian. Ii the northeastern
I, pint OF North Carolina were put dowI
aud the southwestern end were swuns
! around it would iand in Canada. Tn
Diocese was entirely TOO large for
S Bishop to attend to it. The Bishop j
hardly anything more now than a con
6rning machine. 1t has been objects,
that we cam support two Bishops. w
e have hitherto supported two Bishops
q and we can do 1t again. A Bishop ouch
: not to need mole for his support than
clergyman.
; Mr.. Wilkes made d speech advocating
y the division by the line north and souti
= and showed that 1t was 4 very equal I'll
r vision 80 far as members and ability &c
h Rev. F. j. Murdoch, of Salisbury, an
: Rev. J. B. Cheshire, of Chapel Hill, ia
: yored division. So did Rev. DR.. Jarvl
Buxton. So did R H. Smith, Esq.
$ Rev. Mr.. Bronson counselled postpone
! Iment rather han raise an issue with tn
r Bishop. DR.. Buxton responded that tn
J, convention had a right to act indepeI
: IDENTITY, and let the Bishop veto if b
\ would.
Hon. Kemp P. Battle advocated pos
ponement and peace. 1t would be dlsa
trous for the convention to di agree :
pointedly with the Bishop. r. ii. Bat
tie, Jr., counselled p~ostponement IL
another year. Like DR.. Battle, he mao
a strong plea for harmony.
Rev. DIR. Marshall declared he yielde
to no man in respect and affection to til
present Bishop, but he was convince
: that no one man could properly mlnlstt
to a Diocese containing l,4OO, 600 lnhab
tants. Bishop Atkinson himself expires
II ed the opinion that no one man could q
; the work required. He then wen on
: show that the Diocese was abundant
n able to support two Bishops.
Capt. s. A. A.he made a speech sho'
|, ING that the N. G.. Diocese had increase
more rapidly than any except one an
no WARMLY opposed the movement tor d