Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-24
THU EPISCOPAL COUNCIL.
LAST DAYS SESSION.
STATE OF THE CHURCH.

Yo&ton
The Council resumed its delibera-
tons Yesterday morning after divine
service, which was read by Rev. }. i.
Poindexter, of Port Royal.
Rev. Churchill J. Gibson, ID. d., OF
Petersburg, read his biographical sketch
of the deceased bishops Of Virginia.
DIR. GIBsoN's ADDRESS.
DIR. Gibson, in opening his address.
said it is Gods own command that His
| people should remember those who
once had the rule over them, who
spoke to them the Word Of God, and
that We should consider the end Of
their conversational. e., note care
fully the effect Of their lives and
initiate their faith. A most sacred
duty is it, therefore, to our God as
we'll as to the departed rulers of the
Church in Virginia to keep their
| memories green" and no less sacred
duty to ourselves by careful study of
their manner Of life, their walk with
God, and method Of work for the pros
perity Of the Church in this diocese,
noting their failures as well as their
successes to strengthen our own faith,
and increase our own usefulness. fit
be interesting and profitable to study
/" God in history" it is surely no less
SO to mark the working Of His provi-
dence and grace in biography. 1t must
be SO if the finger of inspiration point
us to the lives of our own spiritual
rulers and teachers as the field of OBJ
servation.
The conservation Of the first bishop
Of Virginia was an event in the history
of the Church in this country Of far
greater importance than is generally
supposed. 1t was a step which became
essential to the peace and prosperity OF
the whole Church.
The Seabury centennial Of last No
vember did not fail to remind us that
ours was not the first bishop that the
Church in this country received. We
recognize the fact, and acknowledge it
cheerfully, that to the Diocese Of Con-
necticut belongs the honor Of receiving
the first bishop. But is it not most
significant fact that eight years was suf-
fered to elapse before Bishop Seabury
was called on by the Church to exer-
else his episcopal powers in siding to
perpctuate the apostolic succession,
thing then much needed and
much desired by the Church ? Is
it not significant fact, also,
that although Bishops White and Pro-
voost had been consecrated in 1887, and
there were three bishops--the number
required by ancient canon for a regu-
lar consecration-in the country; and
although bishop-elect from Massachu-
sets tDr. Edward Bass had been re-
commended to them for conservation in
1889, it was not until September, 1892,
more than five years after the arrival
Of the two bishops from England and
eight years after Bishop Seabury's arri-
val, that the former called upon the lat
ter to unite with them in the consecra-
ton of DR.. Thomas John Claggett, Of
Maryland, the first bishop consecrated
on American soil. Now, why this de-
lay? The truth appears from the fol-
lowing facts, which show plainly the
great importance to the welfare Of the
whole Church of that step which gave
Virginia her first bishop 1.-The time
has long since gone by" says Bishop
Seabury's excellent biographer, "when
there need be any timidity or hesitation
in speaking freely of those upon whom
obloquy was once heaped for consci-
entiously espousing the cause of the
Crown"
DR.. Seabury began life as an enthu-
siastic Royslist, and asserted his politi-
cal opinions with q steadiness and abil-
ity which in the heat Of the Revolution
put him in great peril and distress.
This fact of itself that DR.. Seabury was
Tory, and one of most aggressive
stamp, is almost enough to explain the
peculiar state Of things which then
existed. the hardness Of other bishops
and clergy in receiving him into
their ranks, and the difficulties
which on every side, both within
and without, beset our Church in
the first years of its independent exist
ence. But, besides being an outspoken
opponent Of the American Revolution,
Bishop Sesbury had been chaplain to
Colonel Fsnning's regiment of Tories
in the British army, and had served
with them through the war. He had
left New York for England to seek con-
secration before the city had been evac-
uated by the British troops, and it was
said he continued to receive his half pay
as a retired officer from she British
| Government.
The speaker then, in giving biograph-
ical sketches of the various bishops Of
Virginia, said: at was not the fault
Of the Diocese Of Virginia that her first
bishop was not conSecrated at the same
time with the Bishop Of Pennsylvania
and of New York. Her Convention of
1856 responded at once to the call for
fit persons to be made bishops, and
elected agentleman who, however little
known now, was honored by his breth-
rem then both at home and abroad.
The Rev. David Griffith was the first
bishop-elect Of Virginia, but who was
never consecrated." Then followed in
teresting biographical sketches Of Bish-
ops Madison, Moore, Meade, and Johns.
Referring to the latter bishop, he related
several interesting personal reninis-
cences Of the war.
After the delivery Of this sketch the
Council was called to order and pro-
ceeded to business.
Mr.. w. w. Old, at the request OF
and in the absence Of the chairman,
made the report from the Committee on
the Brotherhood. The committee re-
ports that the payments by the trea-
surer are all properly attested. There
is a balance in the treasury Of 81, S76.S9,
and during the year about 200 new
members have been secured by Rev. F.
Stringfellow.
Rev. r. A. Goodwin, from the Com
mittee on Parochial Reports, reported
it inexpedient to change the form Of Pa
rochial Reports on the back Of the Jour.
nal.