The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-14
CHURCHMEN IN COUNCIL.
THE GEORGIA DIOCEsES Sixty
NINTH CONVENTION.

~
The OH1cers and Commistees-The
Standing Committees Work - The
Mission Work in the Diocese-The
Strength of the Church-The Elec-
ton for Bishop the Principal Topic
Among the Delegates.
The Episcopal diocesan convention of
Georgia began its annual session in Christ
church yesterday morning. The church
was well filed with spectators to witness
the opening services. At IL o'clock the
clergy, who were assembled in the church
Sunday school room, marched out on the
Congress street side and into the church in
procession and were seated in the chancel.
The large body of surpliced priests was an
imposing sight. The lay delegates were
seated in the body of the church.
The service began with morning prayer.
The prayers to the Greed were read
by Rev. 4. S. Barrett, dean Of st. Luke's
cathedral. The Nicene Greed and prayers
were said by Rev. H. K. Rees. Bishop
Thompson oficiated in the communion
Office. Rev. w. c. Hunter Of Columbus
read the Epistle. The hymns and notices
were announced by Rev. Robo White,
rector Of Christ church.
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE.
The memorial service, in memory OF the
late Bishop Beckwith, followed. Bishop
Thomson preached the memorial sermon.
He chose for his text the words of David,
mourning for Abner: "Know We not that
there is prince ana a great man fallen this
day in Israel" ii. Samuel, ill.,. So.
Bishop Thompsons sermon was delivered
in simple and unaffected but impressive
manner. Although somewhat lengthy, the
interest in bis discourse did not cease until
the discourse itself was ended.
Know We not that prince and a great man
is fallen this day in Israel!-II Samuel, Iii, 3S.
am not here TO pronounce eulogy. The
man we commemorate needs none before this
or any other congregation of Georgians. Ia
what fashion he lived among you for twenty
three years you know, who saw his going out
and coming in, for be was the frankest and
most open-hearted of men.
Invited by the standing committee to perform
the duty of speaking at this solemn service, |
accepted. though there are many far more com
petent to the task. Because l knew and loved
the man we mourn, because Mississippi must
respond TO an appeal from Georgia, because O
widowed diocese stands by the grave of her
dead. therefore am here,
And so no words Of mere eulogy would suit
your grief or mine. A great man, a prince in
Israel has fallen, e bishop has passed to give
account of himself to the Great Bishop. A
Christian soul has gone to his Lord. There is
one loyal, stainless gentlemen less in our com
pany, and we gather here to recall, as the world
rushes on and cnance and change sweep across
our lives, memory and good example sacred
to us all forever.
We meet to hang one noble picture more
upon the walls OF the churcn's history, to write
one more name high among the illumined
names that adorn her sacred record rolls.
The providence OF God-the wise, loving,
fatherly guiding that is of our individual lives
and xperiencss-brought me fifteen years ago
to the city of New Orleans, and therein to DO
the rector of Trinity church.
1fncx hut hAN~ ovid n lnd fhaI Nae
care, that wisely shapes our course, in spite
Of ourselves, could have brought me, of all men,
thither.
The city had always seemed to me at the ends
of the world. The name sounded like Samara-
cand or ISpahan. 1t was entirely outside all
my sympathies and all my thoughts "a city, as
il were, beyond the moon.
NOBLE MAN.
But one day. into my stuiy in New York,
came man, who remains TO ine now and will
remain till meet him in Paradise. and them
believe, remain forevermore; one vision and
ideal of the high and sanity
s SsnSp G L taS Ef'e Joseph WORLD Pts bs s
Wilmer. whom had known years before who
had taken me, young, obscure, lonesome mis-
sionary, seeking help for an obscure lonely
field in the far west, TO his house and to his
heart and home in the city of Philadelphia and
had lifted me out of my disbursement and re-
vealed TO the poor missionary boy the strange
mystic and supernatural, because SO utterly
tender son of God-he came to me and said; II
want you for New Orleans"
was content with my work-parish work
literary work-why should changer His sue
cessor the present beloved bishop OF Louisiana
my near neighbor and friend, had sent him to
me He said, and his own cid love had sec.
onded the suggestion, must go 10 New Or
leans; | must help him. l must help the
noblest, most gentle and loving Of people in
their distress and DEPRESSION must not say
''no.'
And so l could not say mo" How could any
man, who ever knew him and looked into the
unearthly simplicity and wisdom of that pure
face. say mo" TO Wilmer of louisiana
promised to go down, at least and see And
went, and fell in love with the most loyal, the
most tender and true" people ever met.
became rector of Trinity church. New Or
leans, and for nearly eight years lived among
my people as one lives among his brothers and
sisters. There was nothing Of cold officlalism
Of rectorial even prieStly officialism All
that was lost in the tender love and perfect
trust that took the stranger to the hearts. Of ID
chlvalrous, generous people and adopted him as
their own. because he couldn't help lovng them.
And there among people who do not forget,
who are outside of the mad material rush and
greed OF gain which we falsely call progress,
who do not believe to-day had no yesterday,
who have past and who believe in it and cling
To II and let memories lnger round and conse-
crate It, to whom the dead are living, who put
flowers upon the graves of those they love:
among these people heard of my predecessors
whose memories were kept green in loving
hearts--of the great Bishop LeondaS Polk, the
gallant young Englishman Dobbs, who gave his
life in the pestilence, and whose dust lies under
meath the Consecrated walls, of Harris, who had
just left them for the northwest and who fel
untimely at last, a great hope darkened In death
toe Bishop of Michigan, of Gallaher whom they
were soon TO call 10 his own people again a,
Bishop OF Louisiana, and among all the names
one that ever required in aifectonate admira
ton, Beckwith, whom Georgia had called away
from them in his youth, to fill the vacant chat
Of Elliott.
A TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD.
Beyond the knowledge of his position aud
few exchanges of letters in troubled times upoI
troubled questions l knew little of Bishop
Beekwith till became pastor of the flock h
had largely gathered, and stood in his place il
the church he had largely built.
And then l learned how strong a grasp h
could take of the hearts of men, how wonder
fully his speech swayed great congreg atoms
what profound meaning men found in prayers
psalms and lessons when the manifold cadence
of that unedualed voice rose and swelled an
sank in duplication, exhortaticn, warning o
pleading.
They told me how he came among them in tn
darkest days, clad in the threadbare confedel
ate gray of his chaplain's service, he and the
all poor together-the remnants and survivor
OF lost cause. How he had cheered an
strengthened them. How full of heart and hop
he was, and how his dauntless spirit lightenet
their grief For h. served a people Where a
every fireside there were vacant chairs Wher
eyery woman was IN mourning for son o
brother, father or husband fallen. We car
hardly realize it to-day, but even in 1876 l re
member how | was impressed by the sombr
gloom or a whole congregation in mourning