Morning journal and courier., 1886-06-09
DIOCESAN CONVENTION.

With Lay Delegates in Annual Ses. sion at st. Paul,a Church-OpeniDg Exercises-A Lengthy Discussion on the Change of a RuIe-The Evening Session.
 The annual session of the diocesan conven- tion of Connecticut opened in St. Paul's church yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. The church was well filled by delegates and spec tators. Every train until the noon hour brought it's quota of delegates and all were provided for at the homes of the people in the different parishes. The business meeting YVES preceded by morning prayer and the holy communion. At this service Bishop Williams, the Rev. s. Williamson Smith, D. D., president of Trinity college, the Rev, Dr. Harwood, the Rev. Dr. Vibbert and the Rev. MT. Lines conducted the services. The ser mon was by President Smith. His theme was the gospel as the word of life and the sermon treated of the work which the gospel has done in the world. The danger of mak- ing two gospels, one for the present life and the other for the life to come, and of exalting the latter, was alluded to- The gospel was declared to be fully equal to all the demands made upon it, capable of settling all the questions that it's spread has given rise to in the world. The sermon was listened to with deep interest by the large audience in attendance.
 After the service the convention was or ganized with Bishop Williams presiding. A call of the roll by Secretary Rev. E. s. Lines was made, when the following clergy re- sponded:
 Rev. E. ". Babcock, Rev. Melville K Bailey, Rev c. E. Ball, Rev; John H.; Barbour, Rev. Allen E. nett, D. D., Rev John H. Betts, Rev W. T. Bielby. Rev, L. F. Bissell, Rev. l. N Booth, Rev. W L. Alfred aIhsSi [, Brown. % Rsx Jesse Brush, Rev George Buck a,. Rev Rev " . H BgG1keey. g1hsay. Rev. Rev ao~aFd P capp Rev Rev GeOrFe e1s caPz Rev James E. Cooley, Rev. Clarence W. Cotton. Rev.
 hedon & G9of RsY %red Sha H. ean aez B. Dunlap Rev. Jared ": EIsW Worth, Rev; Edgar A. Fogg, Rev. Louis French, Rev Samuel Fuller, D:D., Rev. Frederic Gardner. D. D., Rev. Ma John D. GiliIand, Rev. Alfred Goldsborough Rev. Francis Goodwin Rev. Thomas H. Gordon, Rev. Rev Byron G J. Haii, Rev N Samuel Hal, Rev, Fred erick ". Harrison. Rev. Edw in Harwood. D. D., William E. Hooker. Rev. sanfcrd J. Horton, D. D., Rev oI SohnT Hq1ringtqn 1siH Key Joseph Bgde ". A. Johnson Rev. ": E. Johnson, Key. H: M. Lombard, Rev. William Lusk, Rev William [ W. w Micou, Rev. ~ A. D. Miller, Rev. - L. T. M9rs b b. Esg Rev Ii Nch6 %Ec Rev Rsy Schoa Rev. J. D. s Pardee, Rev. S. Parker. D. D.. Rev. A. T Parsons, Rev. " L. Peek, Rev: A. T. A Randall Sanford Rev. E. I. Sanford. Rev 0. W. Smith, D. D., Rev. Hiram Stone, Key " Tatloek, D; D.. Rey. Van Deerlin, Rev. w. E. Vibbert, D. D, Rev. W. k. Woodcock. One hundred and twenty-five lay delegates also answered the roll call.
 After the organization was complete an adjournment was taken until 3 o'clock. At 1 o'clock a collation. prepared by the la- dies of the parish was served to the delegates in the Sunday school room over the church. AFTERNOON SESSION.
 The convention was called to order at o'clock by Bishop Williams and the regular by adopting the rules of order of the last con vention. Then followed vote inviting the clergy of other dioceses those of the Church of England and those of theological insti- tutes to seats in the convention.
 The annual address of Bishop Williams followed From this it was learned that there were one hundred and ninety four cler- KY on the roll of the diocese; that four have died during the past year and that three bishops have also died since the last conven- ton. During the year the bishop visited one hundred and one churches and parishes, the largest visitation he had made in any one year. Seven clergymen have been ordained
  ceived into this from other dioceses, while twelve have received letters of dismissal. The bishops address was very interesting and showed the church in this diocese to be in healthy and prosperous condition. On the conclusion of the bishops address an abstract of the proceedings of the stand ing committee was read by the secretary. This was followed by the treasurer's report, which showed $1, TOO. 92 in the treasury. The report of the trustees of the bishops fund showed the amount to be $46, ,393. 87, and that of the trustees of the fund for aged and infrm clergy and their widows to be $26, 19S ST.
 ishes reported in favor of the admission of St. Andrews parish of Norwich and the re- port was adopted.
 The great contest of the convention was then taken up, which was on a resolution introduced last year providing for an amend ment to the rule regarding the composition of the Estanding committee," which has al ways been composed of four clergymen. The amendment proposed provided for four cler- gymen and four laymen and upon this amendment there was a great division of sentiment. The lines were not drawn on this question between the clergy and laity as there were those in favor and those opposed in both of these classes.
 The discussion was opened by Burton Mansfield, of this city, who strenously op- posed any change in the rule. He took the ground that the standing committee was necessarily an ecclesiastical council and that their duties were entirely outside of the province of laymen.
 Rev. Dr. Beardsley, of this city, also spoke in opposition to the proposed change on the ground that there was no work for laymen to do on the committee. He had heard of no complaint that the committee as constituted had not discharged their duties faithfully. He appealed to the laity not to be carried away by the idea that any advantage would be gained by change of this rule.
 A lay delegate then took strong ground in favor of the change. He said that ont of forty six dioceses in this country forty three of the number had laymen on their standing committees, and he had never heard that these dioceses had suffered by the adoption of such a rule.
 Rev. Dr. Harwood also favored the pro- posed change in a strong argument.
 The discussion Was continued for about two hours when t vote was reached, which resulted in the defeat of the proposed change by S2 yeas to 96 nays.
 Rev. MT. Lines, secretary of the conven- ton, announced that neon lunch would be Sunday school room of the church.
 At 6:25 the convention took 8 recess until s p. m.
 EVENING SESSION.
 The evening session was called to order at eight o'clock by Bishop Williams, who an nounced that the reports of the work of the Diocesan Missionary society would be in order
 The report of the secretary and treasurer, Hon. Benjamin Stark of New London, was then read. The report showed that the soei- ety had accomplished much good during the year in the aid extended to poor and weak parishes and in extending the influences of the church.
 It was voted to appropriate $9, 900 to carry on the missionary work of the diocese dur ing the year.
 Rev. Dr. Harwood announced that Trinity parish of this city were at present conduct ing very successful mission under the di- rection of Rev. MT. Nichols, assisted by ladies and gentlemen of the parish. They had prosperous Sunday school of more than one hundred children, had purchased a lot on Howard avenue where they hope soon to erect fine mission church.
 At 9:20 the convention proceeded to an election of standing committee of five cler- gymen to act for the ensuing year. The members were elected by ballot, the commit tee of last year being elected as follows: Rev. Dr. Beardsley, Rev. Dr. Seabold, Rev. Dr. Jewett, Rev. MT. Nichols and Rev. MT. SeY-