The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-23
THE EPISCoPALIANS.
THEIR ANNUAL COUNCIL.
The Bishops port-stafistics--The Col
ored Race-Round Dancins-Division OF

/
the Diocese.
Especial telegram 10 the Dispatch.I
WINCHESTER, May %. AT the morn.
ing session OF the Council the Committee
on Credentials reported 100 lay delegates
as entitled to seats.
Bishop whitte read bis annual report
congratulating the clergy upon the re-
assembling Of the Council. and expressing
his obligations for all the Kindness the
clergy and .aity have shown him during
the year. The last Council granted him
leave OF absence and supplied him with
means TO go abroad, large part Of
which has been returned. His health,
was auch improved, but am bound
says the Bishop, "to add that experience
has fought me l cannot hereafter perform
more than moderate amount OF labor
without speedily relapsing into my former
! disabled condition" He was absent,
he continues. for five months. His lack
OF service was supplied by Bishop Peter
kin, OF West Virginia, who devoted con-
siderable portion OF his time TO this do
cese, and by Bishop Randolph, the beloved
and most acceptable brother whom the
last Council, guided undoubtedly by the
Holy Spirit, elected to be his assistant,
I
and responsible Office in October last.
The Bishop then proceeds to give the
list OF combinations by Bishop Peterkin.
the total Cat twenty-eight visitations) being
100. He also gives the names OF the postu-
lants, candidates for priests orders, per-
sons ordained deacons, deacons ordained
priests, letters dimissory given and ac-
cepted. the clerical changes within the
| diocese, deaths, lay-readers, and licensed
churches consecrated.
| SUMMARY.
He gives the following summary Wis
| itations, 7G; combinations, 400; postt-
! lants received. 3 !; candidates for priests
orders admitted, Z; present number (Oi
whom II are dcacons) 32 deacons ordain-
ed, o; present number. 13; presbyters or
dained, o: ministers deceased, 3; letters
dimssory given, 10; letters dimissory
accepted. 6; lay-readers licensed. II;
churches consecrated. 4; number OF minis
| tiers (of which are colored), IA.
FIELDS TO BE HARVESTED.
The Bishop next refers to the fields that
are everywhere waiting to be harvested.
but because OF the insuficiency of their
salaries to furnish them a comfortable or
decent support thirteen ministers have
| gone out OF the diocese. And must this
| state OF things exist year after year for
ever. he asks. Must the Church in Vir-
ginia continue to furnish so many OF her
best men as laborers for heathen lands and
! for all parts OF our great country, while
| the members OF her own household OF faith
are left with none TO carry to them the
blessings OF the Gospel2 He enlarged
upon this point, and recommends that the
evangelists be continued in their work OF
supplying in large measure tie want OF
sufficient number OF settled ministers.
! Their reports. he says, will show that they
have been abundant in laborS during the
past year.
THE CoLORED RACE.
| lie next refers to the authority con-
/ ferred upon him by the last Council TO
employ colored evangelist to the cOlOred
population, and says as he did not regard
| it AS mandatory he did not do as the reso-
| luton indicated, because he did not know
OF any suitable person for the office, and
therefore no appointment has been made.
He further says that he overlooked a reso-
! lntion OF the last Council appointing some
| Sunday during the year on which all OF
| the clergy OF the diocese are required to
preach on the subject OF the Lords Day,
and then urges upon the clergy and the
people the fact that no subject OF more i'm
portance can engage the attention OF our
clergy and people.
CHANGES IN THE PRAYER-BooK.
| He dwells at length upon this subject.
He reminds the Council that the General
Convention adopted many changes In the
| prayer-book. which are submitted TO toe
several dioceses for their approval or dis
approval, and which will be rejected or
finally ratified and made a part OF the
book by the next Convention. :" sup
pose" says the Bishop, ut will be your
pleasure to refer these proposed changes
| to a committee, or to several committees,
to report on their merits to the Council OF
next year or OF the year following. The
rubrics and offices and services as adopted
| bv the last General Convention are OF no
authority" says the Bishop, and that 1t is
not lawful to introduce any OF them on any
regular occasion OF public worship. This
does not apply to the dictionary. a new
dictionary has been finally adopted, which,
and not the one printed in our prayer
books, is now the dictionary OF the Church.
STATE OF THE CHURCH.
The Bishop concludes by saying that the
state OF the Church in the diocese is still
such as to afford us abundant cause for
gratitude and encouragement.
| THE ASSISTANT BISHOPS REPORT.
The Assistant Bishops report was not
read. but was ordered TO be printed in the
Journal.
| On motion OF Mr.. J.. Blackford, reso-
luton OF sympathy was ordered to be tele-
| ,yro pbo1 IN RiShOp nan1OlDh.
ROUND-DANCING.
Rev. DR.. Gibson, chairman OF the commit
tee to whom was referred the resolutions In
reference TO round-danciDg, submitted
report stating that "the serious evil COM
planned OF and thus sought to be remedied
cannot be reached by further canonical
| legislation. Our bishops have in their
charges most solemnly pointed out the
| iniquity OF the practices which bring such
a scandal upon the Church and the cause
OF our Redeemer. Our Council mas
again and again seconded most emphat-
icaIly our Bishops admonitions. In the
10Th canon and in the resolutions passed IN
the Council Of 1878 the mind OF the whole
Church in the diocese has been most plainly
and emphatlcally expressed. Let our MN
listers be content to avail themselves OF
such expression, diligently setting forth
Gods true aud holy word, and rightly and
duly administering His holy sacraments;
and with faith and patience appeal to Him
who alone can order the unruly Wills and
affections OF sinful men,"
The subject was discussed at length by
DR.. Booth, DIR. Peterkin, the Rev. Messrs.
Lee, Jackson, Everett. Newton, Page,
Grammer, Colonel Randolph Harrison, Dr..
Dashiell, Rev. Mr.. Nelson, Rev. Dir. Davis,
Rev. Mr.. Tucker, Mr.. Walker, and others.
At last DIR. Dashiell offered substitute for
the committees report, which was to be In
lieu Of one offered by Rev: Mr.. Lee, and