Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-15

THIS PEOGREss or EPIsCOPA-
LlANISM IN TUE SOUTH.

bishop BSCAANl th > NiOSA"S "N
dress.
Almost all Of Yesterday mornings ses-
sion of the Diocesan Convention was con-
sumed in discussing two matters. The
first was proposed amendments to the
canon : in regard to communicates, and
the other was a report Of the Finance
Committee.
II has transpired Of late that for can
on'eal requirements, such as church ad-
v,cate, tnece is sometimes a scarcity OF
qualified commandments.
Canon xxi. reads:
"For All purposes of c9nonical legislation a
COMMANDMENT a. this diocese IS DENIED 10 be
person WHO Inns received the hoy COM
muninn at least three times (ot which raster
should be one during the ecclesiastical year"
AMENDING THE CANYONS.
Asa substitute the Committee on Con-
stitution and CanOns recommended the
following;
,.For all purposes of canonical requirement
a communica in This diocese IS defined TO be
q person who has received the Hoy Com
miinion at least once during each occlesiasti-
cal year, viz: from Advent to Advent"
After some debate the report was
adopted.
The following canon, drafted by Rev.
Stuart Martin, provoked considerable de-
bate;
Whenever anv parish shall be without
rector for twelve months, or shall for three
years fail to elect q vestry or make the report
required by Canon Nv, Title ]. Of General
Convention, unless the reason for these
failures ars satisfactory 10 tho Bishop, he
shall report the fact to the convention, and II
the parish shall not Oy the next annual con-
ventlon be in charge OF duly elected rector
or be revived, it's union with this convention
shall cease and it snail be regarded AS an un-
organized mission with the sanction or by the
direction Of the Bishop. and snail not be re-
stored until it shall comply with the condl-
ttons presc ribed in the Canon and CanOns No.
xi. or *. OF this diocese.
MIR. Stuart Martin explained that he
finds in the course OF his missionary work
a number of parishes that are not able to
support a rector. They ask the Bishop TO
help them; to consider them as missions,
and assist them. The Bishop has to reply
that they are organized parishes and can
rot lie aided as such. The new canon
provides "A way by which tue parish can
lapse into mission. The new canon was
adopted.
TAXING CHURCH TEMPORALITIBs.
A long debate followed the introduction
by the Finance Committee of an amend
ment to Canon XIV, which reads thus:
1t shall be the duty of the wsrdens Of each
parish to make written report TO each an
nual convention OF the diocese of the tempor-
ahtles OF the church, which shai embrace
statement of the property, rector's salary,
financial condition OF the parish and It's in
come.
The income Of the parish shall be the reve-
nue. derived from pew rents and collections
not otherwise provided for by canon and all
receipts for general parochlal purposes not
specified.
In cases where pews are free all receipts,
collections or subscriptions Of any kiud for
general parOchial purposes including the rec
tors salary, shall be reported by the wardens
~ the parish and considered As income. SAID
reports shall be certified as true and correct
according 10 the Iequirements OF this canon.
DISCUSSED AT LENGTH.
Almost the same amendment had been
before the convention the night before
and after tedious discussion had been
voted down. Certainly the question in
ats two forms caused more debate than
any other subject that came up during the
three days Of the convention.
Capt. John M. Guerard opposed the
measure in a long speech. Walter q.
Charlton, Esq, Of savannah, Col. Gay of
Atlanta sir. Hansell of Atlanta,
and others. took part in the de-
bate. Toe idea seemed to prevail that
when the parishes get 10 making returns
OF their temperatures the same will be
subjected to taxation by the Diocesan
Convention. Despite the strong opposi-
LAOu AAt AE Nbl LtW az NuhRkIhs
THE STATE OF THE CHURCH.
The Committee on the State of the
Church reported that while there has been
perhaps no signal growth, there mas at
least been no decay ID the average cOndi-
ton OF tue church in Georgia during the
year just closed: that there is a steady
upward tendencY numerically in most of
the larger and in some OF the smaller
churches and mission stations; that the
contributions, special and geperal, indi-
cate comparatively healthy status Of the
body ecciesiastic; that very gratifying
tokens are seen on every hand OF the pres
ence Of spirit that needs must dnd out
place tor the temple Of the Lord, an habi-
LatiOn .or the mighty God of Jacob, a
spirit that will not rest until affairs are
erected in every place TO no unknown
God.
THE SAVANNAH CONVoCATIoN,
There are some special signs Of unusual
activity in tue Savannah cOnvOcatiOn.
Several chapels have been built within
the past year; others are projected and
vigorous measures have been devised for
erecting buildings. which shall be the
property Of the church. at all points
reached by the missionaries Of the convO-
cation.
The parochial report OF Christ church,
Frederick. is phenomenal in the munih-
cence Of it's offerings. The rector, the
Rev. A. G. p. Dodge, reports the magnif-
cent total OF Sl1l ,002 so as having been
contributed by that parish within the past
year.
Tue above sum was bequeathed 10 the
church by the late wife Of the Rev. Mr..
DODGE. Mrs. Dodge died in India on her
wedding tour, and before her death ex-
pressed the desire that her fortune should
be given TO the church, and during the past
year her husband has turned II into the
church treasury. or that large amount,
$4,000 has been put in trust as an endoW-
ment OF the missionary work in the Sa-
vannah conv0catiOn.
The report concluded with tribute 10
the memory oil the late Col. Lewis w
White.
The Committee on the state OF the
Church was Reys. w. 4. Eppes, T. S.
Boone, c. q. Williams, T. G. Pond and Q.
II. Strong.
TRIBUTE TO EX-GOV. CONLEY.
Rev. Z. G. Williams, OF ST. Paul's.
Augusta, offered resolution author
izing the President, ishOp Beekwith
10 appoint committee 10 adopt
suitable resolutions in memory
OF the late Ex-Governor Copley.
the report OF that committee 10 be incor.
pOraied In the pu blished report Of the con.
vention's proceeding. Rev. MIR. Williams
IN Offering the resolution paid a hand.