The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-05-28

our parochial reports. Many of their
reports indicate a laborious intent to
secure satisfactory data, but in our
larger centers and with population
moving like the tide OF the sea in ebb
and flow, we can hope for no fixed and
definite statistics as to the real numer-,
ical strength of the diocese. Your
committee believe that while baptisms
are accurately set down the number
of communicates, families and indi-
yiduals of the church in our borders
is far greater than the figures given
Unfortunately this gives us no ground
for any assured money increase as
the sources for this supply are gener-
ally fixed and definite. In estmat-
ing therefore financial resources bas-
ed upon reports of committees we are
constrained TO recognize two classes in
our border contributing and nom
contributing members OF the church..
1t is this fact your committee believes
which cause some OF our parishes to
regard their assessments unequ or ex-'
treme. Clergymen are not b' OK keepers;
or census enumerators and with all their
good resolutions we find their reports,
among The most remarkable examples,
ofexperimental tabulation. Yet with all
|
committee are warranted to report;
much, very much, that is encouraging
amidst much that is tantaiiZing and
| intangible.
The unusually large trust funds re-
ported to the council for missionary
aud school purposes with other values
coming soon into use encourages your
committee to outline for the futures
some very positive agencies in our
diocese which we have long waited
for. While public schools and the
large competition in the many excel.
lent private and general institutions
of learning in the land III popular esti-
nation seem to make church schools
supertluous aud unneeded, yet we
ought not to loose sight of the divine
commission that we are sent both
to teach as we'll as to-
preach Jesus Christ. In word the
old duty of beginning with children
and the young and not hope for great
changes from the mature and old; is
the one expectation for the church as
its greater care may in time be more
within the active and daily supervision
of institutions of tn diocese. This is a
hope long deferred but the generous.
requests now in the care of our truS-
tees give us reason to expect that both
| our schools and missions Will be more
in correspondence with the dignity
and wants of our diocese.
The figures gathered from the re-
ports are as follows:
Priests "a, deacons /, lay readers %,
candidates and postlants 3, baptlsmS'
3S5, combinations 220, communicates
1858, marriages ", funerals 16l,
Sunday school scholars, 1898,
sunday school teachers $50,
contributions $40, 1850; value OF
church property $3.50, $50.
Owing to the absence of number
of reports the above figures are not
correct.-Reporter)
Your committee cannot close this
report without rendering thanks 70 AL
mighty God for the prolonged episco-
pate of our present venerable diocesan,
the evenGide of whose work is bright
ened by memories of third of a CEN
fury of incessant services and who has
laid firm foundation for the authori-
ties OF the church to construct the
palaces of truth,
s. M. BIRD,
G. COOPER WADDEL,
OsCEoLA ARCHER
Following is the report OF st. DAY.
ids church for the year:
Baptism 81, combinations II, COM
municants 2Sl, marriages IL, funerals
8, Sunday school scholars $50, Sunday
school teachers ID, contributions $500,
value of church property $780, 900, num-
Der of families 100.
A resolution creating the parish of
st. Mary in the city of Houston was
adopted, and the council adjourned
until this morning at 8 o'clock, when
action will be had and an assistant
bishop elected.
Sin. uiar Accident.