The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-18
TIE EPISCOPAL COUNCIL.
ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE
DIOCESE OF VIRGINIA.
ueetipr to he Held In Fredericksburg,
MAY 21st-Some OF the Ma',ers 'h"'
VIII Likely Como Up for Considera-

Nav eist-some Of the Matters That
VIII Likely Como Up for Considera-
written Tor The Timcs.l
Tho announcement Of the meeting Of the
annual convention Of the Diocese Of Viz
cinia on Wednesday, May 2lst, in 1t.
Georges Church, fredericksburg, will
bring a Hood OF memories of past days TO a
large number Of our citizens. The old Viz
cinia Council was u notable gathering. IL
was not merely business meeting for the
nassing of new laws and the collection OF
statistics, il was a period for spiritual re-
treatment and social reunion. The most
lavish and patrarchal hospitality was dis
pensed. Whole families would gather togeth-
or from the most remote quarters Of the state
The Journey was frequently made III priVate
vehicles or the rumbling stage coach OF "A gem
ora,ion on more ago. Railroads were not nu-
,nerous then: 80. many Ofthe clergy saw litiie
of each other during the year. lhcy met,
they separated rs men now 90 Wheh aDDul
10 90 to Europe or across the states. Inc
hurry, the Impotence, the restlessness ol
these days had not as yet caught irgihiahs
i'm Ms roSi.tles- current. The tOunclls were
10 the Episcopaians Of old Virginia what
the testal seasons were 10 the lsraelites in
i'm the olgen time. Everybody lald aside
his own business and cares ana cntelCu
n, ar;ilv in the Council meeting and the dis
tinriiyclv religious services. The incidental
hospitalitios which were dispensed with a
| cordial and Christian liberality une-
oualled since the days Of the Primitive
Church.
SAD PLIGHT.
The Revolutionary war left the Episcopal
| Church in "a sad plight. Her English
prayer-b0ok was unsuited for use in Alneri-
ca with the changed state Of affairs
brought abou, by that great contest. Many
| of her clergy had chosen their part with ne
| Old country and had returned. Those lett
were without support, and had TO face a
popular prejudice against everything Eng
fish. Tie first step towards the roOrganiza-
lion OF the Episcopal Church took place IN
l-Sn. when "A praycr-bOOk regulating the
services Of the Church and Americanizing
the liturgy WAS formally adopted. inns
praVcr-b0ok was practically unaliercl Tor Il
hundred years. The work was 80 wen dOn'
that tine book has been satisfactory 10 the
great mass Oi the communicates TO Tins dal
4 recent revision has been made of this
praycr-booh. but the changes are compare
lively few. and most OF those are optional
30 that the ordinary wcrshippcr VIII scarce
" detect. "a variation.
The wear AFTER this book was adopted. tli
Roy. James Madison. -. D.. then pre. idcnl
of William and Mary College. at illians-
burg. was elected bishop, aud cunseclal'l
i'm I.ambeth-palacc, IN England. Inc chuici
9 in Virginia wac, unhapnily too Door 10 sup
mort him as bishop. 80 be had TO continue
/ e. f.rlf...-Ir flor Nt-
first wear. during which he confirmed more
than six hundred communicates, he seems
to have found the difficulties internal ana
external too great for him. The c0niroyeT7'
about the right OF the Protestant tpiscopal
Church To The property owned by the church
of England also increased the preiudic,
without. against the Episcopal Church a.
well as Introduced spirit oil the Woiio
within. 80 that from li9J 90 lcl- Inc chuicu
gradually fell into grcaierand greater ue@.
latiou. It's parishes became vacant, it, church
buildings dccaycd and totiered through
NEGLECT. il, locks were scattered. Bishop
Madison died i'm 1872. iicwa> man of great
learning and piety. hut hc lacked enthu-r
asm. and. above all. the current Of events
i'm his day WAS against him. In loli only
seven clcrgymcu could DE found IN IN,
whole diocese of Virginia 10 take part iI
fine convention which was to elect BishCl
Madison's successor. The convention elect
al Rev. Richard Claiming Moore. j. ID.
then an earnest and successful minister d.
: fine diocessOf New York, whore he wa.
born. lie was an the same time elected rec
tor of Monumental Church. Richmond
which had just been completed, and which
q stood on the site Of the old Richmond Thea
, ire. which two wears before had been
p burned.
STILL VOpE.-..,.-.. els.
tu1s SUIT Uu popr 10 support MN. 800 lh'
. formation of this n-sg church seemed mos
, prov idcntial occurrence. and became th'
occasion Of revival OF the Episcopa
5 Church in irginia. 70 better man guull
, have been selected al this time than th'
good, the eloquent. the loving Bishop Moore
so remarkable was his power that on one
occasion. while in New York. after he ll,
/ finished his sermon and pronounced thf
blessing. the congregation cid not move
but sent a representative to request him q
preach another sermon. and after that they
requested another, until. after the third. be-
told them they must depart.
just before hls coming To- Richmond a
great epidemic visited this city and carried
OF many people. and among others, seYera
members Of the Monumental Church. The
impression caused by this visitation fol-
lowing So soon after the theatre CALAMITY
produced profound effect ON the people
Bishop Mooro's cpscopate was Dies ,ed
from thc first. lie was fail of tender. ~s
nope and enthusiasm. u lcreyCr he went
in his journeys through the diocese there
was "a revival Of interest in and love loF
the old Episcopal Church. The ranks Of
the ministry commenced 10 dil up with
good and active men. The laymcn were
aroused 10 enthusiastic action. Ii was at
this time that the Virginia Council as-
sumcd that delightful type which for 50
many years characterized ~ and which
even now under changed circumstances
and times Is not altogether lacking.
CENTRE or ATTRACTION.
Bishop Hcn>haw thus describes these
days:
"In the midst of HE haliowel and Interest,"
| lug scenes OF that annual festival. the Bishop
moved as the presiding genius. lie was the
centre OF attraction and unity 10 the nunef-
! OGs family OF devoted and anOctiOnate chill
| drcn by which hc was surrounded. he was q
| leader or uartiripatol in the numerous dpvO-
| day, ANA night after .ght. His hcaIt glOWed
| with the lindled ftryOIs Of fgith&ud love. his
! eyes arhled under ihe inspiration ~ hope
| and JOY; his tongu-UowcC with melting clO-
| QUcncc, as now Lc urged his ministers 10
| greater Z99i ana faithlulucss. and then OK
! horted The ople 90 repentance and a holy
| life. THESE annual conventions .gcic 20 him
sources OF unaffected pleasure and delight
/ IS amidst these times OF refreshing lc nt-
held The word of 600 taking effect upon the
! heart and conscicnccs Of The people, and
witnessed answer 10 prayer in the con-
version Of sinners. he lose - HIGHER
and higher degrees OF cniDVment. ull.
as the ED drew near, 10 seemed
| as II hc Were i'm rapture or ecstasy. jlst
! ready like Elijah. TO 20 up Ia q chariot oi fire
10 Heaven. Never nave We Witnessed q
spectacle which 80 nearly answered u our
idea of the purity and joy and love Of the
primitive Church, as "a closing scene OF the
Virginia Convention when The body of
weeping clergy gathered around the altar
while In the pre- encc OF "a crowded bnt pray
ing assembly, their IT. Rev. Father i'm Coo
wi h trembling hands and Whitened locks.
stood before them as an appropriate repre-
sentative afd successor of me pOstles. and
with streaming eyes and a voice tremulous
with emotion, gave them parting cOunscls |
and pronounced over them his affcctiOnate |
iarcweil-a scene was pres, nted upon VIII clrl
attending angels might gaze wish rapture" |
BISHOP MOORE.
Bishop Moore died in 1911, nearly fits
years ago, but there are many who still r. |
member his venerable form and his cordial |
sautation as be passed through The streets