Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-19
THE BROTHERHOOD.

THE BROTHERHOOD.
T.. NJ. Blackford, Esq, from the Commit
tee on the Brotherhood, reported that there
| had been three deaths, and one family de-
| cined - take advantage OF the donation
| from the Brotherhood. The total number OF
contributors during the year was 500, or
about one half Of per cent. Of the number
OF communicates in the diocese.
The committee submitted two resOlu-
! tions-first, that the local agent OF the
Brotherhood issue special appeals on the
death OF any member 10 persons In the
parish not members to contribute to the
fund; and, second, that vestrIes OF parishes
where there are no local agents appoint
suitable persons and take the necessary steps
10 have them authorized to act for the
Brotherhood. Adopted.
WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.
Rev. 6. A. Wallis presented the report OF
the committee appointed 10 audit the ac-
counts Of the Widows and Orphans Fund.
Fifty.eight parishes contributed TO this or
ject last year. so the committee reported,
and the committee urge ministers to give
their parishes opportunity to contribute.
The report was received.
STATISTICAL.
Rev. J. J. Clopton, from the Committee
on P9rOcbial Reports. submitted his report
from which It is ascertaired as follows:
Baptisms: Adults-Whlte, 500; cOIOred,
60; Indians, 2. Infants - White, l,003;
colored, so; Indians, 1. Total, 1,jji.
Confrmations White. LOSE; colored,
1872; Indians .. Total, 1,2I9.
COMMITMENTS: White, 1869; colored,
S0i. Total, 15,443.
Marriages: White, 3l2; colored, 70; In
dams, /. Total, 3S3.
Funerals; White, $50; colored, 30. To-
tai. 9J4
sunday Schools: Teachers-white, 1,54O.
Scholars White, ll,GG0. sunday schools ::
Teachers-Colored, 1l2. Scholars-Colored,
$50. Scholsrs-Indian. 1875. Total, ID, 4l5.
Sunday-scbool contributions. $j,j17.2l.
ParochiAl schools: Teachers, 36:
scholars. I.424. Total, 1860. Confirmed
from Sunday schools. 277; Brotherhood
members, 219; contributions. S220,9j3.23.
Averages for parishes, Sl,2l6.GS.
Laid on the table.
DISABLED CLERGY FUND.
The Committee on Disabled Clergy Fund,
through Rev. Frank Nelson, reported total
contributions for the year, S3,2S3.2O; in
tcrcSt on securities, sl,Oi6.8 - total
S4,329.57-Of which was disbursed and IN
vested, So S96.25.
The report was received.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
Rev. G.. NJ. Murray presented the report on
Sunday schools. The report urged addition
al attention to Sunday schools, bringing TO
bear every agency to raise them 10 a higher
plane of efficiency. II laid the principal re-
sponsibility on the laity, notoyerlooking the
responsibility Of superintendent and inte-
rest which rests on the rector. Laymen are
strongly urged to do their part, andnOt TO de-
volve this work wholly on the women.
The report was received.
STATE OF THE CHURCH.
Rev. Henderson SuteT, from the Commit.
tee on the State OF the Church, submitted the
report from that committee. Passing from
review Of the statistics presented by the
Committee on Parochial Reports, the COM
mitlee say:
We may. however. express our gratitude 10
God for tho interest I'm sll good works which has
marked and does still mark the clergy and
laity Of Virginia. Freed from tho influences
which retard the growth Of the Church Of our
love In some parts Of our lnnd-true stu 70 the
Truth as II IL in Jesus-the clergy OF virginia,
upheld by a laity as true a. they. have not been
without tho Great Masters blessing And your
committee, while happy IN the recognition OF the
fact cannot tail 70 trust that In these times OF
temptation the pulpit and the pew will continue
in the future as faithful as they have been IN The
past
The Committee on the State Of the Church last
! year lamented tho fact that out Of 1900 commu-
! nicants only seven offered themselves Tor The
sacred ministry. The field Is still white fer the
! harvest aud the labOrefa are siill fOW. May we
not then suggest 70 the clergy 10 bring tho claims
| OF the ministry before the young men Of their
| charges, and ask Of the laity daily remem-
brance Of the Lords Word: "Prsy we therefore
| thai the Lord Of the harvest that lie would send
la harvest
Wehave reason TO think that the spirit Of In
| curry on this subject has increased since last
| years report and that goodly number OF our
Young men will be added 10 the list OF candidates
for orders
| nary bears witness 70 tho Increase Of tho mis-
sionsry spirit among the students, and whom this
grows IL has = blessing for the home field As well
as for tho foreign.
In this connection It "a our sorrowful duty to
| deplOre the continued exodus from the diocese
| OF the clergy Of the rural parishes. We cannot
blame these brethren, ~ many-Wo may cay tho
most OF them-are constrained by necessity 10
leave for more inviting fields Neither can We
in any case blame the parishes, as tho exodus
from them also, Of the Old and young, makes
them also financially and numerically weak.
We have no remedy to suggest 81 stem tho tide
of clerical change, and can only hope that IN the
near future something may occur or De done 10
keep our ranks Intact
Possibly an increase OF the missionary funds
an appeal for which has been made already TO
the cOuncll-may put u IN the power OF lhe Ms
slonary Committee TO help the work until In tho
good Providence of God tho growth OF the rural
portions OF the State may require more Of minis
teral wOr2.
In conclusion, your committee expresses us
belief that the spiritual condition o. the Church
In Virginia is not a whit behind any former era
OF It's history, and may well call for our thanks
10 Him from whom cOmeth every good and por-
feet gift and prayer that lie may bless US still
and yet more abundantly.
The report was received.
CLERICAL SUPPORT.
Rev. c. l.. &. MlnoI, from The Committee
on Clerical support presented The report oil