Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-05-23
EPISCOPAL COUNCIL.

S3rd session of the Council of the Protestan
Episcopal Church OF the Diocese of Virgins
held in this city commencing on the 10th Inst
being q week from that time and several day
after 1t ended, and during which interval tn
daily papers and our city contemporaries ha
furnished its entire proceedings, renders 1t I'M
necessary to do more than prepare summary
To chronicle the event by merely mentionin
in brief the proceedings of this venerable body
which, through Its organization. transmits 81
much Of colonial and ecclesiastical history. Is
duty enjoinsd under the circumstances, though
it be epetit:on of what has already been reat
in the full and interesting reports which hav'
been furnished.
In the absence of Bishop Whittle. in conse
qusnce of protracted indisposition, the RICH
Reverend A. NJ. Randolph, Assistant Bishop
the Diocese, presided REV. L. W. Burton, o
st. Johns Church, Richmond, delivered the
opening sermon. There were 81 of the clergy
and over 50 lay delegates present. sisnof
Peterkin, Of the Diocese OF West Va. was pres
| emit,
J Following are some of the NmpSrtan'
proceedings of the first day.
Resolved, That Article K. of the Constitution
be Amended SO as to read as follows:
Each annual council shall elect by ballot q
standing committee SonsisIing % iay s' ordermWho
shall be eommunicants of the Church in the
diocese, and who shall continue In Office until
| their successors shall.be appointed.
Rev. r. A. Goodwin, Of Petersburg, present.
ed the following, which was adopted by rising
| vote:
Wbereas in the providence of God our faith
full and beloved Bishop Is unable to be With US
in our annual council ON account OF painful
Res slved. That we, the council Of the Diocese
of virginia, ass ure the Bishop of our aHectlon-
ate sympathy and constant prayers lor MS
/ Resotved further, That the council urgently
entreat the Bishop not to resume his Eplscopai
visitations until his health Is fully restored;
After the resolutions were transcribed Lhey
were telegraphed TO the Bishop, who Is IN hicn-
n ond.
After the appointment of the standing COM
mittees, fixing the hours Of business, the neces-
sary meeting at night closed the first days pro-
ceedings.
After the morning services on the second
day, Bishop Whittls's address was read by the
Assistant Bishop. The sickness Of Bishop
Whittle, commencing in February last, has
rendered him almost unable to attend to his
duties. It shows that eight postuiants have
been received, one colored; nine candidates for
priestly orders: ten deacons ordained. three Of
them colorsd three presbyters ordained; three
ministers deceased, one colored; twenty-four
confirmed. three colored; one colored candidate
for deacons, orders; fifty visitations; twenty
nine lay readers licensed; one mission church
organized. The present number Of ministers
is one hundred and fifty-three. The bishop
urges that the council proclaim to the church
and the world that the Virginia diocese Is I'M
alterably resolved, by Gods help. to retain her
Protestant name. as we'll as her Protestant
and principles. Speaking OF the set
of official robes lately presented by the iclergy
of the diocese on the twentieth anniversary Of
his Epilcopacy. the bishop says: 81 gladly and
gratefully testify that no man in my place ever
had more loving and lovable band. OF clergy
to cheer sustain, and help him."
Bishop Rsndolphs address shows that he has
been at hard work during that portion Of the
year when he was not sick. From May, 1887, to
May 2l, 1888. he confirmed ,l29 persons, includ-
ing the class at this place on Tuesday night last
Church visits paid, l20. Five churches were
consecrated-Chapel of the Good Shepherd,
near Abingdon; Christ Church. Blacksburg:
Christ Church, at Pocahontas: Csppell Chapel.
at the Hague, and st. Johns Church. at Chase
City. The direct agency of the Young Mems
Christian Association in the religious training
OF an exceptionally restless class Of pupils is
felt and acknowledged. with few exceptions
by all the Protestant churches. says the Bishop.
He Ia also opposed to the proposition to ex-
punge the VOID protestant" from the title Of
the Church. Its elimination being revolutionary
in Its tendencies and fraught with great dan
gers to its unity. The present he deems an M
time to agitate the question Of pro-
portfonato representation in the house of the
general convention. During the year Bishop
confirmed III colored in
10 churches. OftheSe 50 were confirmed in 7
white churches and lbs in IL colored churches.
He observes signs of progress among the col
pred people and gives lengthy review OF
Of Church relations and legislation with the
colored people since 1885.
During the remainder of the day, the ques-
ton OF changing the name Of the church was
and then the subject was passed by.
Lynchburg was chosen as the place for hold
ing the next convention.
During the morning session OF the third day,
the question of changing the name of the
church WAS disposed Of The committee having
the matter under consideration presented the
report
Whereas persistent effort is being made to
change tho name of our Church, which "our
with one consent recognised and
beQueathed to US; and whereas the agitation OF
this subject In our General Conventions has
already produced widespread apprehension In
the Protestant world around US, and in our
opinion retarded the growth and imperilled the
strength OF our Church throughout this coun-
|. Resolved. That the Protestant Episcopal
Church In the Diocese OF Virginia holds the
and tbp Of ~ Pre-
Gospel, and therefore lovingly appeals to her
sister dioceses to oppose the effort to expunge
the words protestant Episcopal" either from
the name of our Church or tn e titIe-pag OF our
Prayer book as fraught with the greatest dan
ger to Its unity.
transmit copies OF he foregoing preamble and
resolutions to the bishops and councils of the
respective dioceses Of the Church.
Respectfully submitted,
A. N. Randolph, ]. Peterkin. Kinloch Nell
son, E. L. Goodwin, Fl. W. Shefey. r. Taylor
Scott. E. A. Hstton.
The report was adopted.
The committee to consider SO much Of the
Biahop's report as relates to the colorsd work.
submitted report to amend the canons SO as
to retain the present representation of the col.
ored people, clerical and laity, but to have no
more. After lengthy discussion. the report
was agreed to by the following vote: Clerical
Ayes, 90; noes 10. Lay-Ayes 81, noes, IL.
During the fourth and closing day of the con-
vention, committee was appointed to investi.
gate the Investments Of the church.
The finance committee submitted Its report
showing sll. S4 of receipts, and the expendi-
A report from the Board of Trustees of the
Virginia Female Institute was presented by
the President, Judge Sheffsy. showing that it
had been rented to Mrs. Gen'l J. E. B. Stuart
for the term of five years from September. 1888.
The institution is in a satisfactory and graft
flying condition. Highest number Of boardera
during the year, sixty-four; smallest number
ffty.eight. The day.school continues large
and we attended. A class of aevsn was pre-
scented to the bishop for confirmation.
Colonel Skinner. of Staunton. read the an
nual report of the historiographer. the venera'
BILE Philip Slaughter. DID,, in which tina
eloquent divine Interestingly sets forth thu
work which he has been doing for the preserva
ton OF the vestry-books and old church rscord
| and the collection of valuable and now scare
evidence of the history of the Church in Viz
ginia from colonial times. and on down. Re
oeived and entered on the journal, and thank
| of the council were returned to Mr.. Slaughter
| off l,a, act;