Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-22

meant as q pTominsnt agent for the worlds con-
version. Miracles cannot convert men. A mira
Gle is the manifestation OF the presence OF d.
vine power. II 10 that and nothing more than
that IL may startle n man from siunbor. but 10
leaves him unchanged and unredeemed,
and be viii 20 70 sleep again. The Phsrt-
seeking instinct Is perennial In fallen
human nature. As they stood beneath the
cross Of Christ they crled. Let Him come down
from tho cross ADD we VIII believe In himZiet us
We will own Him Lord and King Christ knew
better than ths Pharisces. Had He complied
with their demands 4, might have startled them
into sn error for brief season, but 1t would
have defeated tho very purpose OF His redeem
ing mercy. He came into the world 10 die on
that cross He was lifted up that He might draw
oil men unto Him. Not miracle was TO
convert the world 10 redemption from sin that
flowed In the blood Of the cross, and the love OF
grace is manifested on the crosA That was 70
be the power OF God unto salvation.
LOVE BETTER THAN srEECH.
"Paul was the very apostle VINO told the Co
ripthian% Though speak with the tongues OF
men and angels and have not charity am as
sounding brass aud the linking SYMBOL, ne
languages-love better than tbs gift OF pre-
phocy The original gifts OF faith and OF par
don and Of peace In Christ they are open TO you
nil and they are better than the exirsordinal y
gifts OF tongues and OF healing and OF prophecy.
Christ's saving grace is not In the earthquake or
10 the re, or In the thunder, but Is In tho still.
smah voice OF Gods Spirit, end that Spirit 10
freely given TO the humblest Christian Of OIL
who comes to grace without distinction Of rank,
or degree, or oflce. or dignity.
"Tbe life of the individual soul snd life Of the
Church are impaired, not from the reservoir In
the past through visible channels TO the present,
hut by new infuslons OF life from IL from tho
living fountains OF grace and OF power"
y
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Speaking Of the Episcopal Church Bishop
aWhs, additional guarantee of authority
which God has owned and placed could we de-
mand thsn those which we have In The consttu-
ton and order OF our Episcopal Church In
American
To-day We are gathered to consecrate and to
ordstn new bishop In tho Church OF God. BY
what authority are We here 10 do this act
Whose voice elected this our brother TO the ONCE
whose functions he enters upon to-dsyf The
voice and suiirages OF the clergy and lalty OF
the Diocese Of Alabama. And what Is that dio-
cose IL Is o spiritual republic, and each men-
Der Of 10 ln the smallest and the largest OF your
congregations Is endowed with spiritual soye-
reignty. Tho su1rsges OF that sovereignty elect
cd your clergy 10 their congregations and elect
ed your iaity 10 their respective powers IN your
conventions and the convention elected your
bishop. That election, with his own consent IN
his conscience, before God oonsutui9s the nret
ana uiLinhbe Ant aheCHhtS "htNH
we exercise to-day to clothe him with the robes
Of bis high ONCE.
PEOPLE AND BISHOP.
"But, again, you dear people, clergy and
laity OF Alabama are more than one spiritual
republic; you are member OF confederation
OF repu oiics, aud your new bishop 10 moro tnan
your bishop-is prominent Legislator IN the
general counsels OF the Church that legislates
for al tbe dloceses, and is clothed with the
powers of ordination OF ministers, whose neid Is
all the dioceses, and with the power OF connrmn-
ton 10 add Christians 10 the whole Church: !:
therefore oil the bishops and the clergy and the
lAity Of the whole Church have voice and q
suffrage in making him q bishop, and IN the ex-
ervlse Of that suffrage they are the rep-
resentativos OF the spiritual sovereignty
Of Gods people in sll the Churches OF
this land. Il it be said that we need something
lees ysgue-more tangibie-as ground for the
authority OF tho christian minister. IL may Dc
answered that the conversion Of the soul and the
building up Of believer In the Christian charac-
tor 10 the work OF the Spirit OF Christ In the
hearts OF the individual. which measured by ma
terial standards Is vague and intangible. but II
is nevertheless The most real and the most pow.
erful OF practical efforts. ltis ths foundation OF
Churches and the object for which Churches ex-
Int surely our AmsrtcAn Church. with THIS
principle as n foundation Of It's erder ana It's
government has been owned and greatly bless
cd OF Christ, tho great head Of the Church.
LESSON OF THE SERVICE.
ain our service to-day wo are TO give the pub
lie seal % the oflce OF Bishop as chief minister
in the Church OF Goi. We clothe him with nu-
tbority 70 ordsip pastors and teachers for our
selves and our chiidren-to open me aoors OF tne
Church by confirmation and 10 clothe those VINO
oniist under CbrisPs banner with the privileges
and blessings Of full membership In his visible
body and kingdom. We consecrate MIN 10
fssherhood and 10 fatherly relations win inc
ministers and the people. We appoint him q
permanent legislator In the iaw-making au-
thority OF the Church. He Is 70 help to make the
Law and then through legal methods 20 apply
the law. lie has his part In originating ~ ana y
IL his duty 20 execute IL In the feld OF MS ad-
miuistration.
"now vide in nympsthy," continued the
spsakei, show tender IA heart bishop ought 70
he. surely he should oe nrm anu faithful as !
guardian OF tho Church against error. surely a'
ali personal cost aud sacrifice ho should DO tsin-
fui as an executor Of law. Lawlesaness In him
is the opeu door for iawleseness throughout sne
body Of which he ,s me neao re eiusr .. 80
n In his function OF administranon OF disci-
plino perhaps Il is best that no should think ess
OF prerogauve and moro OF ioye-isss OF the
governor and more OF the father"
FUNCTIONS OF BISHOP.
In reference 70 the functions OF bishop
bishop Randolph said: "As bishops we must
bear the mission and Gospel Of hope; We mus
'"ro tho clergy and iaity of Alabama let me
cav in closing that three times IL your nistory
as O Church you have turnod your eyes 70 tns
old Diocese of Virginia and each time she ba:
answered your call and given you OF her Test
Auuding 20 DIR. Jackson In his concluding re-
marks the bishop said: +" He leaves dearnome
q dear city, loving people, aud tases Alabam'
for his home and you for bis charge Unlike
other relations, this has no end. Like the mar
rinre vew Il is until death Us do part between
bishop and his diocese. heh done Win chsnse
he's here until the Chief shepherd calls him 70 :
higEer ministry end au endless life. You mus
rene Der that you called him; you chose hip,
he is yourA Love him as your own: prsy ioi
hIm es children pray tor their father es soioleri
have the rule and who arc over you In the law
and esteem thcm very highly for Their WORKS
sake and be ct peace among yourselves
TO THE BIsHop.
I" And now, my brother. thore is no need hat
shouid reitcrate The principles which seem 70
me 10 underiie and 70 form the true conception
Of the once Of bishop: To.dsy We record you, YOU
through the csnturiss. through me age
OF DARKNESS, through the ages OF light w.
ada yours 10 names OF men OF wnon
the world 10 not worthy--msriyrc. confes,ors
defenders Of the faith. rssormsrs, nsxht,
preachers Of tho truth. aDd Witnesses for Chris
Ia ali ages. You have inheritsd . noble genc
siegy, Rus moro than thAt--yea ,lnnnisely more
the same Christ tho same grace. tue sam,
truth. the ssue power. the same call Is yours a.
theta Go forth 70 oil your call - bishop IL
ths Church OF God, snd may Cnrist 90 eGaLl
with yQu and bless yOu ana 6ciuo you WIN IA
counsel and afterward receive you 70 hs g'efy''
Tho presentation OF the Bishop-eleot was
by two bishops -Peterkin and Thompson
the evidence Of tho election was read by
the Secretary OF the Council; the confrma.
tion Of election was read by tho President
os the Standing Committee. Dr. .. I
Tucker; the consent Of bishops was read
by Rev. DIR. Stringfellow, the srehdescor
OF the diocese.
THE CONSIDERATION.
"Yhs order for conservation > was read
hy tie Archdescon OF the diocese Tho
declaration OF conformity BY the bishop
elect the bidding 10 prayer by tho Bisn2I
Bishop-elcct by the Bishop .presidinQ; IN
rnbiac S of the Bjshop-elecf BY his afferd
ING prcsbyters: E9s Creqfor Hpifxus
prayer hy the Bishop presiding; eonsssra s:.
OF the Bible 10 the newly~etscted Bishop
the odertory for diocesan missions a 4,
the remsinder Of tho Colnmuhion omc'
and Rsccssionai hymn 100 Bishop Niimsl
presided. Tho laysnR Of hsnas wss tns