Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-05-22
The Protestant Episcopal Council

In the Council in session at Norfolk on
Saturday Colonel Withers offered the fol-
lowing which was adopted:
Resolved, That committee of three
clergymen and three laymen, with the Bish-
op as chairman, be appointed, whose duty
shall be to examine the whole question of
diocesan division, and report to the next
Council whether the claim of the Bishop to
the exclusive right of initiating any move
looking to the division of the diocese is a,l-
thorized or sanctioned by the constitution or
canons of the Church.
The Bishop declined to serve on the COM
mittee.
On motion of the Rev Mr.. Dashiell, the
Bishop was excused from serving.
At this point considerable discussion took
place in reference to the resolution which
had been adopted, when Rev. DR.. Hanckel
moved that Council elect the committee by
ballot. Adopted.
Rev. DR.. Newton moved q reconsideration
OF the resolution Of Senator Withers. Lost
bya vote of SO to 81.
A vote being taken the following CON-
mittee on Diocesan Division was elected :;
Revs. }. S. Hanckel, e. H. Norton, ]. G..
Armstrong, and Messrs. Withers, Sheffev.
and Barbour.
When the vote was announced Bishop
Whittle said he would like to make several
statements on the subject of the division
before it was dismissed. He had been told
after the discussion of Thursday on the sub
jeet by an old and esteemed friend that he
had manifested a certain degree of anger on
that occasion, which was thought by many
to be unwarranted. He had, it was true,
felt certain indignation at that time. but
ne hoped it was a holy indignation but
that if he had then said anything that anv
present felt themselves offended at he beg
ged their pardon and that Of the council. rs
every sentiment he had expressed was
only, Intended in the kindest spirit. He
would also say that in his remarks
during the discussion to Colonel With
ers there was nothing personal nor any
thing intended to offend 1t had also
been imputed to him that he had put q
wrong construction upon the motives of
those iaVoring Il division for their action.
and that he entertained the opinion that
they were seeking to established high
church" diocese. This idea he wished ut
terly to dispell-he had never credited to
them any but the purest and best motives.
Finally ne wished it to appear plainly that
~ i.S'" 'ShoA LID Slitilu on MS question
solely on the law of the Protestant EPISCOPAL
Church in the United States of America and
the Diocese of Virginia, and not by virtue
Of any mysterious or inheritent RIGHT or
prerogative as had been intimated by mem
bers present. No bishop of the Christian
church had ever exercised such privileges
and even if such ever existed he had rc.
nounced them when he took the vows ola
bishop. He utterly repudiated the idea
that such perogatives exist. His course had
been taken under the law of the church, in
obedience to which it was his wish and aim
to prove All example
Having made this explanation he stated that
he had, after reflection and consultation decided
to act as chairman Of the committee his reason
for this being that the body had been chosen by
the council, and because the desire seemed to be
for information which he alone could furnish and
which he was very willing to do he did not wish
to seem to be acting in bad faith. He would also
abide by the decision of the committee Whatever
that might be, and he hoped that the members,
one and all, would part us they had met, in har.
mony ana brotherly affection, aud that if any
hard feeling had been engendered ut the Council
III the breast of single member he earnestly
hoped it might be obliterated
On motion of Rev. A. w. Waddell, the Standing
COMMITTEES on Colored Congregations and Zion
Union Work was abolished, and the work trans
ferred to the Diocesan Missionary Committee
which committee was instructed to prepare
statement by the next meeting of the Council of
the work among the colored people. together with
the sources from which they obtain their support.
Three Indian youths from the Hampton Nor
NAL School made brief addresses by permission of
the council and Rev Robert Nelson, upon invita-
tion addressed the council on the subject of the
missionary work in China.
On motion of Judge Shelley, after the usual de-
votional exercises, the council ut D. H. adjourn.
ed sine die, to meet in Lexington Va, the third
Wednesday in May, 1888