The Evening critic., 1885-01-03
THE REV. VIM, PARET
An Eloquent Sermon About the
New Bishop.
THE COMING CONSIDERATION.
DR.. Harrison's Tribute-Biographi
Historical and Euloglstic of the
Biehop-Elect and the Members in
the Maryland Diocese.

the preparations now being made for that
event give special interest to an eloquent,
historical, eulogstic sermon on tho new
Bishop aud his diocese, recently delivered
by the Rev. Hall Harrison, N. A.
DIR. Harrison took his text from Acts l.,
1896.
And they prayed, ana said, Thou, Lord,
which knowest tho hearts OF all men, show
whether Of these two Thou hast chosen, that
he may take part OF this ministry and apostle
ship -. And they gave forth their lots;
and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was
numbered with the eleven Apostles.
He said that the lessons to be learned
from tho choice of st. Matthias to be an
Apostle which we may call, with sufficient
historical accuracy the first election of
bishop in the Church of Christ, are neither
few nor unimportant; but l shall not now
dwell upon them. had another purpose
in selecting my text, and that was to say q
few words upon kindred topic, in which,
as good cburchmen, rs Christians who love
the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
/ will venture to add, even as citizens of
our State Of Maryland, all to whom l have
The privilege Of speaking, take deep and
solid interest.
For the space of sixteen months, since
the lamented death of Bishop Pinkney, our
beloved diocese has been, not absolutely
headless indeed, for there is always an &C.
clesiastical authority over US, but without
a bishop and chief pastor. Our annual
convention was held in May, but eleven
months Of discussion and thought had
failed to indicate the proper man; aud
though thirteen ballots were taken, still
there was no bishop. Many were in des-
pair, and predictions were freely made that,
under the constitution of this diocese, which
requires majority of two-thirds of both
clergy and laity, no choice would be ar
rived at for years to come.
The long contest and the happy, excel
lent results you all know. A Bishop of
Maryland has been chosen.
And now, my dear brethren, let me
speak of the past and present condition of
our diocese, and say respectful word about
our new Bishop. / wish to tell you why l
think we ought to be unfeignedly thankful
for the result which the Almighty Ruler of
the Church has, at least, permitted us to
reach, IL / may not say, as l believe l
might, has directly brought about.
The very delay, the gradual steps by
which the Bishop-elect rose to his present
eminence, make 1t all the palmer that he is
the mantle honest choice Of the large
majority Of both orders.
have not, for years, attended in Mary
land so good-tempered convention, especi-
ally when such burning questions had to
| be discussed, and 80 delicate matter as an
| episcopal election was to be accomplished.
| Such a harmonious council could not have
| been held in this diocese even three or four
| years ago. 1t indicates, therefore, a much
happier, more Christian-like state of feel
| ing.
| If you are at all acquainted with the cur
rent history of the diocese, you know how
sadly it has been disturbed since the
| memorable convention held in Washington
/ In 1874 xvhAn what Ia BALLAD HRitualiqnnv
came up.
| You know how the dying embers of strife
burst forth into furious flame in 1879, the
moment the aged Whittingham breathed
| his last how we have been tossing to aud
fro since his lifeless hand could no longer
guide the rudder Of our ecclesiastical ship.
Such was the strange and prejudiced
state of feeling in this diocese-that pre-
| vented the Rev. DR.. Paret, during all this
troubled time, though he is one of our most
prudent and wisest presbyters, from serving
the diocese on the standing committee; and
though he is by far the clearest debater in
the house and one of the best speakers in
the whole Church, we were not allowed to
send him as deputy to the general con-
vention, where he would have been such an
honor and ornament to our diocese and so
useful to the Church at large. am
ashamed to record this, but, alas it was
| true.
And now what have we SEEM We have
seen this very presbyter, who, though not
perhaps the leader, was yet the mainstay In
this necessary struggle for the rights Of the
clergy and Of the laity, chosen by a large
majority to be the head, the chief pastor
the Bishop of this very diocese-a majority
that must have included many of those
who, a few years ago. SO completely mis-
understood him. The new Bishop can be
| al nd Inv, NJ tba nI
justice and, now that the smoke of the
battle has begun to clear away, every clergy.
man and every layman will, it is hoped
claim to belong TO that very party.
This last convention and this remarkable
Episcopai election imply a new era. II
means that with our new Bishop we shall
begin a renewed life that Maryland will
become her old self again; that we shall
wipe out our past follies and contentious
over trihes or at least not repeat them in
the future. We shall not, we may hope, get
into an excitement because one clergyman
wears chasuble and another refuses to lay
aside his black gown. We shall not be
afraid that priestcraft and the confessional
are going to be imposed upon us against
our Wills because, here and there, few
weak-nIinded persons delight to call open
ing their grief TO their pastor by the name
of making their confession" And if thil
well-known permission and advice Of the
Prayer Book be abused las no doubt it ha
been both in England and America), We
shall leave such errors to be corrected by
the proper authorities, by common sense
and, above all, by time we shall not at
tempt to reform them by panic and misap
plicRtiOn of the law.
And now last word of cordial welcome
dear brethren, for the Bishop whom GOO
has given us, not because there is need fol
me so TO speak to your already loyal hearts
but because the word is pleasant to me t,
say, and agreeable, / trust, for you to hear
lido not know how many Of you are al
ready personally acquainted with the dis
tinguished rector OF Epiphany Parish
Washington. If you do know him you ar
aware how fully he deserves the high en-
comium, the warm welcOme--rapidly grow
ing into enthusiasm which his nam,
has been received. Under Gods goo
Providence the lot has fallel
this time, upon strong man,
man of parts and power, a man who ha
shown himself to possess that rare qualit
of righteousness (which primarily mean
justiCe)-the ability to be just even
those with whom one may not agree. 1t
one of the rarest gifts.
He is man Of ripe learning, of remark
able administrative ability in his great anC
growing parish, Of cautious judgment, no
too quick to take q stand, but when he ha
taken it, and knows himself right, an
feels that he has put on the armOr OF God
no stands immOyable as a rock. have see
him under ungenerous provocation l hav
known him grossly misrepresented, both II
I a 4 ~ 10,