The daily gazette., 1883-10-04
BISHOPS AND LAYMEN.
OPENING OF THE GREAT CON-
VENTlON YESTERDAY.
A REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING
Opening Sermons by Bishop Clark The
Morning and Evening Sessions-O OTgani-
zatlOns Completed.


copal Church was opened yesterday in
Christ Church, with predatory services of q
most BETTING character. Fifty bishops and
over 400 clerical and lay delegates, repre-
senting every State In the Union, were pres
ent, and no previous convention of the Pro-
testant Episcopal Church ever brought
together SO many eminent minds as the one
now In session. Among the lay delegates
are some Of the most prominent men of the
nation.
The church, OF course, was crowded and
hundreds of persons were unable to gain ad
mission. On the communion table was ex-
posed the ancient communion service IRE
sented to Christ Church in 1708 by Queen
Anne, and magnificent gold aims basin,
the gift of the Convocation of Canterbury
England.
At 1890 O'Clock the combined choirs OF
Christ and st. Stephens Church began DIR.
Wesley's Professional Hymn, and at the
same moment the officiating clergy and the
bishops, in full canonicsls, emerged from
the roblng room and proceeded up the centre
aisle to the chancel. Rt. Rev Alfred Lee,
ID. D., LII. D., of Delaware, and Rt. Rev.
Anthony Wilson Thorold, D. d., lord bishop
of Rochester, Eng, led the procession, fol-
lowed by the Rt. Rev. John Williams, DID,
Ii. D., bishop of Connecticut; Rt. Rev.
William McLaren, s. 7. D., bishop Of llli-
Dois, and the others, As in all. The last to
enter was the venerable presiding Bishop,
the 1T. Rev. Benjamin Bosworta Smith, ID.
D., LII. D., of Kentucky, who is over 80
years of age and very infrm. He tottered
feebly up the aisle, leaning on the arm Of
Rev. George Francis Nelson, assistant rec
tor of Grace Church, New York. When
the aged prelate arose to pronounce the
benediction he was supported by Bishop
noNslx. 1.,so a,,I
hausting was the effect that his feeble voice
could scarcely be heard beyond the chancel
The Rt. Rev. Thomas March Clark, u. d.
LID, Bishop of Rhode Island, preached
the sermon, taking as his text Exodus, XIV,
II: "'Thou shalt bring them in and plant
them in the mountain of thine Inheritance,
in the place, o Lord, which thou hast made
for them to dwell in" The discourse COM
prscd an historical review of the rise and
progress of the Protestant Episcopal
Church.
In the afternoon the convention met In
the Church of the Holy Trinity, Nineteenth
and Walnut streets, at o'clock, for orga-
niZation.
After the roll call by Rev. Secretary
Hutchins nominations for the presiding
Office were In order, and Rev. Orlando Hat
ton, d. D., of Brookville, Md, nominated
Rev L. Edwards Beardsley, D. d., LID,
of New Haven, Conn, president OF the last
Triennial Convention. The motion was
seconded by Rev. John f. Girault, of New
Orleans. At this point Senator Edmunds
was seen 10 rise In his place, ana in an
slant every eye was upon him.
81 ask, Mr.. Chairman" he said in clear
smooth tones, 'that the iormality of voting
be dispensed with in this instance, and that
we elect the Rev. Dr. Beardsley by acclama-
ton. You all know how ably he presided
over the deliberations OF our last convention,
and think 1t would be an act of grace and
goodIelowship for us to return him by ac-
clamation."
Several members were OF the opinion that
under a canon law The president would have
to be elected by ballot.
every we'll, then," remarked Senator
Edmunds. 81 withdraw my request, for il
will be Just as easy to elect Doctor Beardsley
by ballot as any other way"
Several additional nominations then fol
lowed.
George II. Hance, Of New Jersey, named
Rev. A. A. Watson, of North Carolina. Dr.
A. Il. Porter, of South Carolina, proposed
Rev. Charles II. Hail, DID,, of Long Island
Rev. w. w. Batterahall, d. D., of Albany
nominated Rev. Frances Harrison, of Albany
Malcom Hay, of PitUsbure, hcralded Rev
George Leeds, ID. D., of Baltimore, but he
declined. Rev, Morgan Dix, D. D., of New
| York, also declined to be candidate
Finally G. A. Il. Richards, of Rhode Island
| nominated Senator Edmunds.
THIS brought the distinguished statesman
TO his feet at once.
"Mr. Chairman he said, with marked
| emphasis, 81 am not to-day, nor any Other
| day, a candidate for any sort of presidency,
therefore, most respectfully decline"
| Before the last word had been uttered 6
significant smile oycrspread the features OF
every delegate in the Convention, and
throughout the balloting the incident wai
the prevailing topic of comment.
| When the tellers had counted the votes 1t
was announced that the whole number o
votes cast was 265; necessary for choice, 1873
OF these, Rev. w. W. Batershall, D. D., OF
Albany, received l. Rev. E. NJ. Van Deusen
ID. D., OF Utica, N. Y, /; Rev. DIR. Fulton 2
| Rev. Francis Harrison, d. D.. of Albany, z
Bey. N. II. Shenck, D. d., of Brooklyn, 4
Senator George F. Edmunds. of Vermont
10; Rev. Charles II, Hall, ID. D., of Lonl
Island, So; Rev. A. A. Watson, D. D., o
North Carolina, ~, and Rev. e. e. Beard
sley, ID. D., OF Connecticut, 1873. DIR. Beard
sley, having the highest number of vote
and just coming within the number neces
eary Tor o choice, was declared elected, an(
the vote was, upon the motion of DR.. Wat
son, ofNorlh Carolina, UNANIMOUSLY approved
AS DR.. Beardsley took the gavel the en-
tire Convention rose and remained standing
while the President delivered his few word
of acceptance lie said: 81 cannot TAX
the pace again without thanking you TO
the compliment In electing me for theseeon'
time as your presiding officer. You will no
forget that, while | have sometimes beef
wrong, nave slways tried to be just AM
right. This is most interesting period il
the history of the Church. A century ha
passed away since the jurisdiction of tn
bishop of London ceased and the efforts, c
necessity, were renewed to form an Amer
can Episcopacy, ard the Church was estah
lished in the thirteen States with the sue
cession in the Scottish lines. 1t will be wei
if these historical associations remind US @
the work of our fathers, and teach us to re
member them by building on a stron
foundation aud spreading the work cf on
Master wherever he may be able.3
The Organization was then completed b
the reelection OF the Rev. c. L. Hutchins {
Connecticut as secretary and the appoin
ment of Rev. Henry Austice, D. D.,
Rochester; Rev. Alexander ]. Miller an
Rev. E. W. Worthington as assistant seer
taries.
Rev. DR.. George Leeds of Maryland, an