Morning journal and courier., 1884-06-18
Wednesday. June IS. 1884.
The Diocesan Convention.

The Relation of ReotOrs to Their Parish
 es-The Report Made The Sub-
 ject.
 At the Diocesan convention held at New Iondon last week the committee on the con- stitution and canons made report on the subject of rectors presiding at vestry and parish meetings While there is very gener- al acceptance of the existing law as best, pe- titions have come from certain parishes against it. The following report made through Rev. pr. Beardsley, and signed by himself, Rev. Drs. Harvood and Jewett, Dr. Burden w. Russell and ex-Governor William T. Minor WAS unanimously accepted by the convention:
 s'The annual convention held in June, 1877, accepted as the charter of the church In this diocese statute recently enacted by the General Assembly of Connecticut, which provides in it's second section that the man ner of conducting our parishes, the qualltca- 1 tions and terms of membership and in gener- al whatever appertains to the officers, their powers and their duties shall be such as are provided by the constitutions, canons and regulations of the Protestant Episcopal | church in this State.'
 "At the same convention committee con- sisting of the bishop, four clergymen and l four laymen was appointed to take into con- sideration and revise and recast our diocesan canons;' and they were instructed to present their report to the next annual convention, and to send printed copies of the same to the clergy and parishes of the diocese two months prior to the meeting. Thus ample opportu- nity was given to understand the changes pro- posed. The adoption of the report with the amendments made in open convention left the might have been expected that putting into the form of law what had been conceded to rectors by courtesy for century in nearly all our larger parishes would occasion some irritation and dissatisfaction, it is believed that no evil has resulted from it, and further that the repeal of the clauses asked for in the resolution referred to your com mittee would be returning to the regulations of the old civil statute and reopening a sub feet which has been fairly and properly set tied.
 sThe dominant religious body in Connecti- cut at the close of the Revolutionary war had but little good affection for the Episco- pal church, and the legislature in framing general law for the government and protec- ton of ecclesiastical societies had reference to the Congregational order rather than 10 l our ussges and mode of conducting parishes. which had descended to us from the Church of England. A society's committee was recognized but a vestry, though acting as such, was not, and the eff ect of this law has | fingered so long in the public mind that doubtless there are churchmen who honestly believe 1t was not expedient to obtain 8 sup | elementary act for our convenience and benefit.
 1.-The primary meaning of rector is clergy man who has the charge and care of parish. | He is it's head, and as such is entitled to pre- | side, when present, at it's meetings, and at meetings of the vestry. The principle Is right in itself, and ought not to be set aside | because of individual instances of indiscre- tion and unwisdom. There are always those who cannot by ruling their spirit be better l than the men that take cities, but probably the number of unwise vestries is as great as | the number of indiscreet and unwise rectors. '"The only reason assigned for not allowing a rector to preside at vestry and parish meet l ipgs which have come to the knowledge of your committee are, first, that young man, | inexperienced in matters of business, may l thus be set over his elders and secondly, that rector should not be in a position to 1 embarfass free action, or in any degree to in
 timidate when his salary or his personal re- | latiens to the parish are under consideration
 "As to the first of these reasons it may be
 said that youthful inexperience is soon over
 come. The young clergyman grows older
 every day, and the parish which has conf
 dence enough in him to make him it's rector
 should continue that confidence by giving
 him the rights of his office.
 ''As to the reason, it is to be observed that 6
 sense of delicacy will generally prevent rec
 tor from being present or lead him to with
 draw when affairs personal to himself are
 discussed. If he attempts to embarrass free
 and fair action he will be sure to create hos.
 tiIity and damage his own interests. The re-
 Iations between him and his vestry should be
 mutually frank and friendly. and such relations
 are not promoted by denying him his proper
 place and dignity.
 ''In conclusion, your committee with entire
 unsnimity report against the adoption of the
 resolution referred to them year ago and
 ask to be discharged from it's further oonsid
 eration."
 l Personal.
 Mrs. Harry Rowe Shelly is in the city wis
 ting her parents