The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-18

Council came to order yesterday morning
at II o'clock-Bishop +. NJ. Whittle in the
/ chair.
The minutes were read and approved.
The Bishops Address.
Bishop Whittle then read his annual nd
| dress, in which he said that it was the in
| tention 10 hold this session OF the Council
in Lexington, but the Standing Committee
had recommended Richmond in view OF
the importance OF matters likely to come
up.
The address contained the following
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS:
Visitatations, 1jj; baptized (adult 1, in
fants ~, .; confirmed (white SS2. colored
4G), 92S; postuIants received. Z; candidates
for priests orders admitted, II; present
number tof whom eight are deacons), 81 /;
deacons ordained, o; present number Q0
white, colored), IL: preSbytcrs ordained
| 11 white, colored), -; letters dismiSsOry
given, 81 letters diSmissory accepted. =; lay
readers licensed, 7; churches cOnSecrated,
o: number OF ministers increased. 3; pres
ent number (white III, colored -, IA.
REsIGNAT1ONs.
January IS, 1885, received letter from
Mr.. p. H. BaskeTvill, resigning the Office
Of treasurer OF the diocese, after several
years Of most faithful and acceptable sery-
ice. BY authority OF Article TX Of the
Constitution | appointed Mr.. James 4.
Gray, OF Richmond, to supply his place
until this meeting OF the Council. | have
also to report the designations OF Messrs.
George Newton and Waiter III. Taylor,
both Of Norfolk, as trustees Of the Virginia
| Female Institute.
MISSION CHURCHES.
have approved the applications OF st.
Luke's, South Farnham Parish. Essex, and
| st. Stephens (colored), Bristol Parish. Pc
tersburg. to be allowed to organize as
emission churches" :" under Canon XII. OF
| the Diocese.
October 24-27 had the pleasure OF pre-
siding over the sessions OF the Eighth
American Church Congress, which were
held in Mozart Hall, Richmond. The able
papers and speeches which were read and
! delivered were source Of great pleasure
and profit TO the many persons who heard
| them.
March Q and 10 attended meetings OF
the trustees Of the Virginia Female lnsti-
tute in Staunton. Though the patronage
Of this diocesan school for girls is con-
sidcrabIy larger than It was last year. it is
deeply TO be regretted that il is not much
larger than il is. | can do no more than
repeat my unqualified cOmmendation OF the
arrangements and management OF the
school in every particular. | am satisfied
that It's principal, Mrs. Stuart, and her nc
complished and faithful associates are thor
oughly worthy to bc entrusted with the
instruction and the mental, moral, and reli'
| ot,.t, cf n. n
as nav be committed to their care.
The other institutions OF the dioceSe-a'
will be seen by the reports OF their reSpec-
tive officers-contmue, by the blessing OF
God, 10 enjoyH good degree of prosperity
The reports of our eyangelists will show
that they have been abundant and faithful
in labors during the past year. The good
work they are doing cannot be exhibited
by statistics, but it is none the less real and
important. What we have to lament as tho
chief obstacle in the way Of the greater
growth and prosperity Of our Church in
this diocese is the continued weakening OF
our country parishes by deaths and re-
moyals. leaving many OF them for longer
or shorter time without the care Of pas
tor. And those who enjoy the regulal
ministrationS OF religion cannot understand
how much our brethren in these vacant
parishes are cheered and strengthened ant
blessed by one OF the evangelstS paving
them an occasional visit to preach the Cos
mel. administer the sacraments, comfort tn,
sick. and often to bury the dead. Indeed
until the population becomes larger an(
more settled, / see no way OF keepins
alive some Of our rural churches eX
cent bv more liberal contributions L
|
ing the work of our evangehst,.
New fields for labor amongst the cOlOrc(
people are constantly opening before us
and already the harvest which might b'
Gathered by our Church is great, but thI
laborers are few. Their sad need OF pro
per religious instruction and their readi
ness in very many cases to receive 1t MAKE
a strong appeal to the sympathy and assist
ance OF their more hghly-favOred brethren
More OF them are not reported as having
; been confirmed the past year because
have not visited those parishes which ar
expected TO furnish the largest number o
candidates. In the Theological School il
, Petersburg, under Rev. Thomas Spencer
| there have been during the year sixteen
, and are now, think, fourteen men pre-
, parlng for the sacred ministry. They ar
from different parts OF the diocese, thougI
the majority were preachers OF the ZiOl
: Union organization in Mecklenburg ant
Brunswick counties. One OF the mos
important. difficult, and pressing qucs
tions we have to determine j., How
can our Church best do the worl
AMONGST This people which God has give
= it to do? And, as in my Judgment, pro
r posing the first and wisest step towards th
, solution of this question, was reioiced t
, receive from the venerable Bishop Green
Of Mississippi, the following circular let
ter {:
"My Dear Brother,-Among the man
subjects that may justly claim the consid
, Grafton of our approaching General Con
vention will doubtless be that OF the rela
tions Of our Church to the late slave popu
! lation of our States, and the best mean
= that can be adopted for their religion
benefit.
"As this subject seems To be awakening
the serious attention OF both the patrlo
and the ChristiUn, North as well as South
, | il has been suggested to me by several o
our bishops that it would be well II all tn
bishops Of the late slave STATES would NEE
in council. and, after due consultation
agree upon some plan to be laid before on
, General Convention for the accomplish
, ment oi that purpose.
ain accordance, therefore, with that wis
and timely suggestion, | hereby invite an
! urge your attendance ut the 'Uniyersit.
Of the South on the last Thursday il
July. (being the week preceding the 'com
mencement,D for the purpose OF confer
ring with yogT brother bishops on matte
of such vital importance to the welfare
orr country, and the salvation OF rae
nerishine i'm the midst Of us for the wan
OF right instruction.
"Let me hope that nothing may preven
Won from beng present, and that you wi