The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-23
THE CHURCH COUNCIL.
Full Report Of the Third Days Proceedings
Of the Body.
BOUNDS OPTHE PROPOSED new DIOCESE,
ParochiaI Reports-The State OF the Church.
Proportion OF Combinations To Com
municants-The 10th Canon.

| PETERSBURG, VA, May Zz.-iop"clhi-j !
Divine service was held at $50 o'clock; morn
ing prayers were read by the Rev. s. S. Ware.
| The Rev. L. II. Mason preached an earnest
sermon from st. John xvi. II.
| POROCHIAL REPORTS.
The council was called to order by Bishop
| Whittle at IL o'clock. After the reading Of
the minutes and the casting of Rev. Job
Turner'S vote in favor of division of the do
cese Rev. A. p. Gray read the report of the
committee on parochial reports. The follow
| ing is the summary: Baptisms-White adults,
| 3l4; white infants, $40; colored adults, oS;
| colored infants. IS: Indians, 5; total.
with last year. Combinations White, I'l51;
| colored 70: Indians. IL; total, 1872,
a decrease of 143 as compared with last year.
Communicates White, 1868; colored. l.259;
Indians, 46; total, 1867, an increase OF Coz.
/ Marriages 392: colored, 49, total.
523. Funerals-White &C., colored, 49, total.
| I,04s. Sunday schools - White teachers,
500: scholars. II. 245, total. 1851; colored
teachers, 1872. scholars 1926; total. 1,43S; In
dian teachers. s; scholars. 1913;
| total. III Grand total, 1880. a decrease
of 149 compared with that of last year: Sun
day school contributions, ss,494.O5. an in
crease of s5S5.52. Parochial schools: Paid
| teachers, q: scholars .045; members OF the
brotherhood, 400 Total contributions, s4O5,-
! 703.41, an increase of s6l ,946.1S.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Reports were then presented from the COM
mittees on the widows and orphans. Bruce
ana Episcopal funds; also on clerical sup
| port, diocesan MISSIONS state OF the church,
new parishes, brotherhood and the nineteenth
| canon.
STATE OF THE CHURCH.
| he on he tot oft tho oburph oftar
commenting the Episcopal work and giving
statistics (Which are embraced in the report
Of the committee on parochial repOrtsl, says:
Your committee are impressed with the fact
that after allowing Tor all regular losses the
| whole number of communicates does not in
crease from year to year IN proportion to the
number annually confirmed. They account
for il in two ways. There IS reason
10 fear that there is often an entire neglect of
special preparation. both privately and in
confirmation classes, and that many cand-
dates are presented who have by no means
learned all those things which Christian in
the Protestant Episcopal Church ought 10
know and believe 10 his souls health. Then
again. it is too frequently the case that It IL
forgotten that when confirmed these young
communicates are still babes In Christ
and need particular watchfulness andnOurish-
ing care The second reason for loss of CON-
municants lies in their utter indifference
TO the rule about transfers when they remove
from one part Of the diocese to another, OF
course transfers cannot be forced upon per-
sons removing, and often they ask that their
names may be retained on the register or the
church Of their childhood. But pastor can
informally notify the rector into whose lurls-
diction any Of his people may move their res
idence. and this should be done as well when
communicates move beyond the borders Of
our diocese.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE.
There seems to bea general healthy increase
in church attendance. but 1t IS in spite of the
fact that very many do not come to church
who should and who used 10 do so. but so
widely is the persuasion spreading that at
tendance at one divine service a week IS sufh-
Gent that our night congregations are largely
different in their personnel from those that
assemble IN the morning. The late hours OF
Saturday night into which business projects
itself and the fatigung. harrassing pressure
of the whole weeks affairs have made the
weary and the heavy laden indeed welcome
the rest of the Sabbath but have utterly I'M
fitted them 10 appreciate the Lords day rs
one of deyOut worship.
THE SUNDAY PAPER.
The Sunday newspaper is a scandalizing in
fuence more potent than the thOughtless can
ever imagine. Published under the specious
plea that il permits the few individuals con-
nected with the paper to enjoy Sunday. it let's
loose on that holiday upon the community
and impels with the most rapid power
of steam throughout the countryside
flood of exciting and engrossng
worldIiness No one more than your com
mittee can value the friendly interest and
helpfulness of the press in all religious enter
prises and church institutions. And your
committee recognizes that the Sunday paper
is furnished TO satisfy "a voracious public de-
mand well as a business enterprise.
We therefore do not propose any at
tack upon publishers OF appeals to
editors But we pray the council as In
Israel and our church people throughout
the diocese as a large factor IN public opinion
to build dyke about their households which
will guard them against the intrusion on the
Lords day of the news and gossip. and
also the scandal of the world. Your commit
tee suggest as a simple compromise which
experiment has proved to be perfectly practi-
cable and very efiicaciOus. that each sub
scriber especially in the cities make an ar
rangement with his carrier 10 deliver at his
house the Sunday paper on Monday morning.
VACANT CHURCHES.
Speaking about the sixty-three vacant
churches in the diocese, the report says: 1T
is not so much money as it Is men that are
wanted. Here again the lack Is far from being
peculiar 10 Virginia. Indeed the reputation
of our seminary as seat of sound vet
thorough theological learning. and especially
now even more than ever as a centre of posti We
spiritual influence, and the well known char
acter of our clergy as intelligent, cOnserva-
tive. pious, godly. consecrated to Christ
both as industrious pastors and practical
preachers, make Virginia source OF
supply TO other dioceses. Still it should be
subject of earnest inquiry among city clergy
especially why from their congregations so
few men are Offering themselves for the min
istry"
The closing portions of the report are de-
voted TO plea for more earnest and expert
Sunday school work and proper aid and en-
cOuragement of woman auxiliaries.
NINETEENTH CANON.
The committee ion the nineteenth canon
recommended the following resolution That
the nineteenth canon lie amended and re-
enacted so as to read rs follows If any per
son within this church offend their brethren
by any wickedness of life such persons shall
be expelled from the Holy Communion agree =
ably 10 the public. In cases ws.e.o
it may be deemed expedient by
the minister or may be requested
of the accused the church wardens, or either
of them shall be summoned 10 assist the
minister in ascertaning the facts of the case
provided that if such warden or wariens shall
fail or refuse TO act within ten days the min
lister shall proceed to act under the rubrics of
the Church.
This resolution was made the order of the
day tomorrow after the close of discussion
on division of the diocese.