The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-23

The Episcopal Convocation of South
west Virginia and few contiguous
parishes assembled in called session
in Lynchburg Tuesday to consider the
subject OF forming now diocese.
After discussing the matter at some
length and after recommending that at
least $4,000 be insured for diocesan
support, other recommendations were
made as follows:
First. That in the opinion of the
conference that portion of Virginia
composed Of the following counties:
Highland, Augusta, Nelson, Amherst,
Campbell, 'Pittsylvania, Henry, Frank
lin. Bedford, Rockbridge, Bath, Allie
laski, WyGhe, GraYson, Smith, Taze-
we'll, Wise, Scott, buchanan, Dicken-
son, Russell, Washington and Lee,
should be set apart and erected into a
separate and independent diocese.
Second. That the vestry of each con-
gregation in said territory be requested
to inform, by resolution, tho clerk of
the conference, whether they desire the
division substantially as herein before
SCI forth and il SO, what amount they
will need annually for diocesan sup
port.
Third. That tho said vestries be
sevcrally requested to authorize their
lay delegates to the next council to
sign a petition for the cree ton of such
separate diocese.
Fourth. That in the event of tho
erection of such separate diocese, it is
assumed that suitable provision will be
MADE Tor equitable arrangements in re-
spect to common property and repre-
sentation in diocesan Institutions.
Fifth. That the res ponse of vestries to
this resolution be reported to q confer
ence to be composed of the clerical and
lay delegates to the next council from
theterritory above designated at a meet
ing to be held at ST. Paul's Church,
petersburg, at $3.50 p. m, on the day be-
fore the meeting of the council.
Rev. DR.. w. III. Meade, of Roanoke,
was chairman of the committee that re-
ported the resolutions that were adopted
as above.
The forming OF the new diocese has
been discussed for some time, and there
seems to be general desire among the
churches OF this section for the change
Kew. DR.. Meade returned from Lynch
burg yesterday afternoon, and was seen
by TIMES reporter. lie said that tho
chief difficulty in the way is the insur-
ing of the necessary funds for the do
ces and work. If this is done he thinks
there is no doubt that the new diocese
will be formed.
DIR. Meade said that he thought il
some city offers special induccment to
secure the bishop in the way of provid-
ing home, the probability of the new
diocese will be greatly strengthened.
bedford City, lie said, had already in
timated that it would provide homo
for the bishop, and other places are
anxious to become tho cathedral CITY of
the proposed diocese.
When asked what he thought Of Roa-
noke as the home Of tho bishop, Mr..
Meade said: 81 regard Roanoke as the
most suitable location in tho diocese.
1t is almost in the center of the terri
tory and with its present railroad fla.
clllties and those that are sure to come.
it will be one of the most accessible
points. The extreme places are Dan
vile in the South, Lynchburg in the
East, Stanton in the North, and Bris-
toll in the West. With the Roanoke and
Southern and possibly tho Baltimore
and Ohio every point in the diocese will
DO easily reached from Roanoke
For Roanoke to become the cathedral
city it will be necessary for home
TO be provided for the bishop until the
diocese grows stronger. Parkersburg
did this when the West Virginia do
cese was formed"
1t will be year before tho dioces
can be created, as the division must be
approved first by the diocesan council
and then by the general assembly, which
meets next year.