Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-23
EPISCOPAL COUNCIL.
Bishops whittie's aud Randoip h's Annual
Report Read.
Correspondence o, the Richmond Disps,ch.l

AZ 10 O'Clock the Council met for religious
service kev. II. X. Lee, assistant rector OF
Christ church, Charlottesville, read the service
and the Rev. James Grammer, d. d.. Of Tho
Plains. Fauquier county, presched thoughtful
sermon on the taxi, "Ye will not come unto me
that ye might live. John v. 4.
After service Right Rev. r. NJ. White ID. d.,
called the Council 10 order
The Rev. T. orayson Dsshiel, the secretary.
read the minutes Of yesterday, which were duly
approved.
Bishop whtttle then read bis report Of tho
work Hccom plished by him during tho past year.
lie opened by calling attention % the fact that
this was tho fwenty-socond anniversary OF bis
| episcOpate, ana said that IN all that time God
had blessed and sustained him. He then gave
the folwing statistics:
Nisiiations, no; bsptsms, 2: confirmation
white 6S3, colored lS5, Indians TO- Japanese :;
postulants-whito ~ cOlOrod 8, dropped 3 /: dea-
| cons !: candidates for priests orders-sd-
United q, present number % deacons or
dained, IL preebyters ordained, 3: ministers
died, 4 ministers deposed, ] letters dismis-
sery accepted, a: letters dismissery given, 70;
churches consscrsted, D; mission church organ.
ized, lay readers, 30; present number Of
IDinisters-whlte 1872, coiored 13-totsl. i62
TIE ORDER or DEcoNEssEs.
In tho course Of his address the Bishop said
"The lssI General Convention passed canon
not Only as II seems 10 me unobectionablo but
a1miroble-for the revival OF what believe IL
universally admitted to be the Apostolic Order Of
Doaconesses In the Church. II was thought sd-
yisabie 10 take advantage Of this leg Station and
90 begin without delay 20 gather fund 10 esiab-
lish 10 MS own diocese homo whore such women
a. should otf0r Themselves Tor this service might
make adequate preparation. The Bishop further
said Tho two evEngeiistr, MessrA Norwood ana
Aoode, have diligently prosecuted their work
during tho past year. The work among the
colored people is, all things considered, making
remarkable progress
II THE LAITY ONLY.
Tho Bishop further said Looking at tho
state Of the diocese "a IL may be s0en from the
episcopal, parOchial, and other reports, there Is
nothing 20 discourage u.s. but very much 70 e1-
cite our gratitude n the Giver OF all GOOD Tor the
past, and 10 inspire "a with increased oarnost-
ness and devotion 70 our worS for the time TO
come. have groat faith In tho future OF Viz
eiaa aud Of our beloved Church II the laity
will only faithfully hold up the hands OF their
ministers, and the clergy Will conduct the ser-
Woes as ordered Ia the prayer-bOOk and preach
tho pure and simple gospel. and live unworldly
aud cody lives, then am persuaded that great
VIII be tho prosperity Of our Zion
Aud now, snd tho Bishop IN conclusion,
" after much reflection au1 under solemn
sense Of responsibility "a God, 20 you, and to
those whom you represent, ] proceed 10 say
what will no doubt cause sorrow 20 some, Joy 70
others. and surprise 70 all. Ton years ago In the
exercise OF my best Judgment ! was decidedly
opposed 20 q division Of this diocese. But 1898
than ton years bayo brought about great changes
ia the condition OF the STATE and Of our Church,
ord we may look for still more remarkable ones
during the nearly ibree years which must elapse
before the meeting OF our next GeneraI IohNeh-
tiou. Old cities are growing, and new ones are
sprinCing up by the dozen, population - IN
Croasiug railroads and various enterprises arc
multiplying. and al orr many and wonderful
resources are being developed as mover before"
NINE NEW CHURCHES.
IAN this means corresponding increase OF
work and anxiety for ono upon whom comes
daily tho care OF all the churches. New places
are to be visited. scattered sheep OF our fold are
70 be secured for building purposes, and various
other interests are 20 be cared Tor. Nine ne"
churches have been CoDsecrated since our last
Council. and perhaps as many others are waiting
or prepar ng for that service The already large
aud constantly increasing WORK among the col
oicd people, and which requires much superVi-
sion. has been added TO the other work OF the
diocese.
"In short the Geld has grown 70 DO 80 great that
the cares aud respOn siDiiites ana labors when
its oversight involves are fast becoming a mon
tnl and physical burden too neaYy Tor any ono
man or for two men to bear. In view OK tntse
facts and others which might be mentioned, ana
expressing, am convinced, thS Wishe9 OF large
majority both Of tie clergy and laity, boweV or
much as n matter Of feeling aud sentmsnI
they may De opposed % disturbing tho present
order Of tiings. / respectfully T0counend mat
a committee be appointed to consider the ques-
fop Of dividing the Diocese OF virginia into two
or three dioceses and TO report 70 our hoA'
| Council"
BISHOP RANDoLPH's REPORT.
Bishop IA rdolph then read bis report he
began
said that il was owing 70 the devotion OF the
earnest laity that the Episcopal Church was
kept alive in these places ana he
spoke encOurragngly about the Work IN
these parishes lie said that be had con
nrmed sos consecrated churches. ordained 40
the priesthood, onlciatsd at3 funerals baptized
= and administered Holy Communion three
times. Bishop Randolph MADE very loucnin "
nnusion 20 the death Of Mr. ID. X. stewart OF
BrOokhill. Henrico, and said that none oVor hp-
piled 10 him ia vain. o,
He then referred 10 the work Of the General
Convention. lie said that the alterations arc
comparAtivelv so few IN number and so obvious
in the main "a 10 commend thom 70 the approval
Of all. The rubrics had been made clearer anu
a few appropriate prayers had Deeh hIueu. ~
thought the discussion incident 10 the alterations
Of the Prayer Book had produced g0od ouecis III
inducing a deeper study Of the Prayer bo0S.
The change had cost some pain, but II ~ only the
pain Of progress In reference 10 the colorel
question he said that 70 admit the colored people
on terms Of liberty, fraternity, ana equallty 10
more than oughtto be demanded so long az ..eso
people are Immersed IN ignorance. we must ne ,
trusted 10 handle this question ourselves ahu "
decide as We think best.
REPoRTs RECEIVED.
Rey. II. snter reported for tho Board OF Irus-
tees Of tho seminary and High SchOol shO"lus
an excellent condition Of affairs o.,,..
Rev. Mr. suter also reported for the stsndlhg
Committed, stating hai teveral yOuhE i i H"U
been admitted as po5tulants tOr no ministry
Roy. H. h. Lee reported for the committee on
Diocesan Missionary society, saying they had
found the accounts Of the society correct report
REV. C. j. Gibson, y. d.. reported for the
managers OF me widows aud orphans tnnd ma
In 1880 the amount raised was $sl1V5; III lo9u,
$,iOa25. He urged larger eondrpunIo% 10 an
propriste the whole income 70 mo BeNeh'seh
families now being helped.
coLoRED EXPERIMENTATION.
Rev. Robert A. Goodwin moved that the schoh
OF the last Council on Article Ill oil the cohStitu
ton be adopted. The article 10 as iohoWs; INC
FIRST two sections designate the persons who nave
seats IN the Council The last, which contains
tho gist OF the question, reads as follows: -.
Section q Article II. "The Council shali also
be composed Of The colored minls1oIe ha,lns q
seat and voice In The Council on the l1th day OF
Nav 1920, aud Of Two clerical ana TWO 10y uo'e
Gates from the colofod missionary lurisdletloh Oh
the diocese. as the Same Is now or may heceei'st
be constituted by canon. ,.. -. ,r,ao
fhe vote was put by the Bishop the article was
adopted BY large majority. - a.. .h,
There are thirteen colorei ciergSmen, ~ 'i.V 40
Dio,ese OF Virginia, and this acton VIII SOY =.
real a troublesOme question. There are spous
600 coiored Episcopsliens In virginia.
ON motion Of Rev. John X. Mason, aine hueu
by Rev. II. b. Lee, the bishop or e',s 90
Hisnon was requested 20 close tho igloas ser
vices of the Council sunday night Win an au-
Tho Council then adjourned TO meet again al
4 o'clock z. ii.
EVENING SESSION.
AtAP. M. the Council convened Tor business
ON motion OF Rev. DR.. Dashien fraterna gree,
tnRs were sent 70 the Council OF the Dfocoeo VI
Texas now IN sessioD. ...,,.s, On q
I'm motion il was Il silly decided 20 reQuesl Tue
RishoD or Assistant Bishop 10 make IN eouless
| 20 he Council Sunday night, and that Is many
Of the delegates az can DO 90 be requsted 70 stay
over. -. a., .or,tor of
| tha Bishopis address which refers 10 dl'lsiOo
~ the diocese was referred 10 a committee coul'
posed Of the Bishop, Assistant BISHOP. s,A 80
eymen. and eight lsymen, TO report " neA'
key PIKE Powers, d. D., Of ST. Andrews hlch,
| moud. moved that the canon on formauon VI
| New parishes canon ~ DO referred 70 co'n-
n,iftaa 10 re- port 10 the next Council
Colonel James Skinner, OF shannon, rem ~ !;
p. slsuchters report on Virginia ec'iesiashea'
| antiquities.
WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.
NJ q. Cook reported for the CommiNee on
| Ividov,s ana Orphans Fuad that the accounts
| ~ lie trIlstees we're found 10 be correct
Rev. II. T.. sharp reported for ,ne Ooniu','s ~
| on sunday schools. stating mat tbste eIo 80
! white i3S colored, and Indian te&cnors- cur.
| dny-sehool scholars White, u,WO; Soloreu,
| 0lg, Indian, I5A Offerings, S,sOt senoiM
| Confirmed, aga The committee also reeotu-
| mended the training OF scholars In churcn ino-
| ale and me formation OF diocesan suhoat-
| sehoOl institute. A.