The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-25
WORKOFTHEC CHURCH
Episcopal Convocation for State
of Washington.
THE GATHERING AT ST. MARKS.
Bishop Paddock ON Progress of the
Year-seattle's Rapid Advance
Attack on Evolution.

The annual Episcopal convoeation for the ia.
risdiction OF Washington began yesterday morn
ing in ST. Marks church. Religious services
were held in the morning. q business session in
the afternoon and missionary meeting and re-
ception in the evening. The attendance was
large The clergy present were Horace Burk,
Olympia; Edward Davis, Centralia; d. C. Gar
rett, St Marks, Seattle. 8 R. s. GRAY. East
Sound: John BOWS Hills, ST. Lakes, Tacoma: &.
D. Nevins, d. d., Montesano; Albert S. NichoI-
son, Hillhurst: GeorgeHerbert Watson. Trinity
Seattle; Samuel II. Wells, Trinity. Tseoma;
Mardon D. Wilson, Vancouver: T. \. Wilson.
ST. Peters, Tacoma: j. C. Fair, whstcom: O.
Brooks Baker, Port Townsend; s d. Pulford.
Puyallup; W. H. Plat, ID. D., Anacortes. /. W.
Apologize, Fairhaven; Victor NJ Law. Walls
waila; James Cheal, deacon, Seattle: GUY l.
Wallis. assistant. at Trinity. Seattle: P. E. Hy-
land, Blaine; John Morris, Seattle Three can
didates for orders were present, w. j. Dickson
C. Edward Roberts and Mr.. McKinnon. of Sc,
attic.
The following were the lay delegates: O A.
Brooks, Port Townsend: Harry 2. Talcott and
George \. Moore, Trinity, Seattle; Andrew z.
Mann, St. Peters, Tacoma; Charles W. Seymour,
George /. Holmes and +. Vernon Barto. of ST.
Luke's. Tacoma: d. s. Pulford, Holy COM
munion, Tacoma: James ~ Gilmer, II. Burnett
and Charles Prosch, st. Marks, Seattle: William
Fraser and II. F. Gsrretson, Trinity. Tacoma;
William Bond, Cenfralia; George ". Stratton.
Puyallup; W. r Bissell and B. B. Seymour.
Fairhaven; William Arney, Kent: R. W. Grover
and W. Morris, of Ballard.
coSyocATIoS SERMON.
At Q o'clock morning prayer was said, and at
10:30 there was a sermon on 'sPoints of Contact
Between Evolution and Christianity" by Rev.
V. Marshall Law, of Wallis Walia This was fol-
lowed by the communion service.
Mr.. Laws sermon on the points of Contact
Between Evolution and Christianity" was an
elaborate attack on the theory of evolution an
propounded by Spencer, Mill, Huxley, Tyndall
and Haeckel His text was from ST. Jude, .Con-
tend earnestly for the faith which was once for
all delivered unto the saints. For there are GER
tain men crept in privily, even they who were of
old set forth unto this condemnation, uneodly
men. Denying our only Master and
Lord, Jesus Christ" The speaker urged that as
Christ Himself had set example, contending
with strong words for the principles He came 10
teach-as in the denunciaton OF the Scribes and
Phsrisees-so Gods ministers should contend
earnestly for the faith.
After a statement that according to the theory
of evolution we must go back to the primordial
atoms of the fire-rnist for mans origin, Mr.. Law
declared that the evangelization of the world
was in the grasp of the church, but this hydra
headed monster, the theory of evolution stands
between the cross and victory. According to
this theory Mr.. Law believes that moral respon-
sibility becomes q superstition, for man has no
free WILL no moral qualities; for he is helpless
brick in the wall of fatalism.
Evolution was partly true and partly false, but
the portion of the hypothesis which can be
proved nowhere touched the truths of reveIa-
ton. All the rest was speculation, "a modicum
of truth, dissolved into the wide-spreading vista
of fancy"
Mr.. Law then criticised the theory of evolu-
ton. He urged that there is an impossible
break between inorganic and organic life, and
that organic could never evolve from the inor-
ganic. Also that animal life could not be
evolved from vegetable. Further, that there
was break between species, and one could not
be evolved from another. Still another break
was between man and the lower animals; for
there was no missing link Geographical distri-
button, the element of time and embryology
were also against the theory.
The speaker made his last point saying that
by remembering that there was an evolution of
ideas in the mind OF the Creator TO suit an en-
yironment partly changing and partly perma-
nent, the whole difficulty was explained. sTn q
world 20 filed AZ ours with the most diverse
phenomena facts must come to the rescue of hy-
potheses, or hypothesis must strike their tents.
Let the Christian world rise as one man and
contend earnestly for the faith once for all de-
liyered unto the saints, by declaring the true
scientific status of evolution and all other forms
of science and philosophy in which the false
predominates."
At the close of the morning services the con-
vocation organized with the following officers:
Chairman, Bishop John A. Paddock secretary,
Rev. NJ. ID. Wilson; assistant secretary, Rev. A. s.
Nicholson; treasurer, \. B. Coffman, Chehalis
Mr. Nicholson was also chosen registrar.
BISHOPS ADDRESS.
In the afternoon the bishop read his annual
address. He made memorial mention of Rev.
r. N. Johnson, who died at Olympia in April
Rev. George Morgan Hills, who died at Tacoma
In March; Rev. Charles r. Bonnell, who labored
in Washington in early years, but died in Penn
sylvania; Captain Samuel ". Perceval, of olym-
pia; j. l. Berry, of Chehalis, and Mrs. John
Leary, of Seattle.
The bishop urged that in view of the increas-
ing work end his failing health, additional
deaneries be established.
The last half OF the bishops address was de-
voted to the details of the work in the state,
ana the progress in the various parishes. He
recommended the acquiring of real property
Whlcn Is cheap now, but which will enhance in
value. During the last twelve months churches
have been started or services begun in Fair
maven, Anacortes, Ballard, Blaine, Snohomish,
Kent, Elma, Aberdeen, Montesano Hoauiam,
south Bend and Colfax, with occasional ser.