Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-06-17
THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
1924 Annual Gathering of the Diocese
Of Vermont.

vention of the diocese of Vermont was
held in St. Michae's church Tuesday even
ing at 1880. The church was well filled
with worshippers. Evening prayer was
said by the Rev. Mr. Goddard of Wood
stock, after which Bishop Bissell admins
tered confirmation to eight candidates.
After the confirmation the bishop, in a
short address, spoke of the importance of
careful and diligent instruction in the
church catechism as the prime essential in
successful Sunday school work This was
followed by short addresses on the Sunday
school work of the diocese by the Rev. c.
NJ. Niles of Trinity church, Rutland, f.
ID. Buckley of st. Andrews, st. Johns
bury, and VIM. f. Weeks of st. Thomass
Brandon. The topic assigned to Mr.. Niles
was 1.-The relation of communicates of the
church to the Sunday school," Every
communicate, he said, is by virtue of his
VOWS a missionary There would be no
necessity at all for Sunday schools if every
parent would give his children suitable re-
ligious instruction. But since this is not
done the Sunday school "has come to
stay" The Sunday school teacher, when
rightly considered, ranks next in iInpor-
lance to the priest. The classes should be
much larger than they generally are; and
men well instructed in their Office should
be assigned to teach them. 1t would be
well that they should be paid for their la
Dor, just as we pay the clergymen.
Mr.. Buckley spoke on the "Church cat
echism as the basis of Sunday school
work. He spoke feelingly on the growth
of inhdelity and rationalism, advising as
the antdote to this deadly poison the dill
gent teaching and exposition of the cate
chism.
Mr.. Weeks spoke of 1.-The Sunday school
in its relation to the church." The rector
should meet the teachers and 90 over the
/ lesson with them. Sunday school libraries
/ should be purged from improper books.
! Children's services should be held, litanies,
/ short evensong, or, best of all, children's
/ eucharist.
The regular session of the convention
was opened at $50 Wednesday morning
with morning prayer read by the Rev. Dr.
Harris, diocesan missionary, and Rev. Mr..
Smith of Woodstock. At o'clock the
bishop took the chair and regular business
| began. A quorum of the clergy and laity
| being present, on motion Thomas II. Can
field of Burlington was reelected secreta-
ry, and Edward L. Temple of Rutland,
treasurer of the convention. The Rev
Drs. Bliss and Flanders, and +. w. Smith
were reelected clerical members of the
standing committee and Messrs. c. A.
Booth, George Bliss and Henry Wells, Law
members. The committee on the revision
of the prayer book offered resolutions.
which were unanimously adopted, urging
that the present revision of the book of
common prayer be closed with the general
convention of 1892, and instructng dele
gates 10 that convention TO use their influ-
ence to secure its completion. A portion
of the delegates to the general convention
were elected, when the convention adjourn
ed for religious services.
The litany was read by the Rev. Mrs.
Niles of Rutland and the communion cele-
brated by the bishop, assisted by the Rev.
DIR. Bliss, Dr. Harris and the rector. The
convention sermon was preached by the
Rev. Thomas Ockford, of St. Luke
church, Chester from John, XVIII: 80, 81,
on THE Kingdom of Christ" The speak
er dwelt at length on the spiritual and un.
worldly character of this Kingdom. and
concluded with some thoughts on the i'm
portance of Catholic truth, exposing III,
false ''liberalty,' which is liberal TOWARD
any error, but bitterly hostile to the truth
At the afternoon session the venerable
bishop read his annual address. He re.
ferred in feeling terms to the loss which
the church had sustained in the decease OF
Bishops Boone, Bedell and Williams Of
Montreal. He spoke also of diocesan los.
in the deaths of the Rev. DR.. Hopkins
Jabez W. Ellis and other prominent lay
men. The bishop urged upon the par
ishes the importance of placing thei
buildings in the hands of the diocesan
trustees and of securing suitable endow
ments to guard against future losses.
The following persons were elected dep
uties to the general convention to NEE
next October at Baltimore: Clerical. tn
Revs. DIR. Bliss of Burlington, Mr. Collin
of Brattleboro, DIR. Flanders of St. Adams
! and +. w. Smith of Woodstock lay. Messrs
Smith of Montpelier, Haskins of Brattle
boro, Parker of Vergennes and Tempt
of Rutland; supplemental, the Rev
Messrs. Goddard, Niles and Walker: lay
Messrs. Wyman, Briggs, Burdett and Ross
After the reading of various reports tn
convention adjourned for the day, Even
ing prayer was said by the Rev. DR.. Hill
[ of Concord \. H., and Mr.. SWEET.
The convention met at in the evenin.
for the consideration of the missonar
work of the diocese. An interesting dis
= cussion ensued on the raising of assess
= ments, which disclosed the fact, that yer
few of the parishes had proved delinquent
, and that quite a number had paid NOR
than their quota. The Rev. Mr.. Walker O
Bennington, made a stirring address, il
the course of which he related a strikin
l anecdote of the battle of Charlottesville
E showing the result of faithful missionar
4 work in small place
The convention then elected as mission
airy committee for the ensuing year tn
. Rev. Messrs. Weeks, Atwell and Niles, an
5 of the laity Messrs Parker, Temple an,
5 Stanley. The Rev, DIR. Harris, diocesa
{ missionary and Mr.. Atwell related Incl
1 dents of their mission laborS.
1t was resolved that a sum not less tina
Il that of last year be appropriated for tn
; stipends and that the Woman's AuXiliar
be requested TO assist in the raising of tn
salary of the diocesan missionary. Ate
the adjournment Of the convention yer
e enjoyable reception was given by the ladie
5 OF the society at the rectOry to the member
= of the convention.
T. Thursday morning prayer was said b
e Rev. Mr. Anketell of Fair Haven. The II
= port of the trustees of the bishops fund, an
4 the report of the trustees of the dioces
e were presented and accepted On motto
: of Mr.. Hiram Atkins of Montpelier,
!, notification of missionary assessments wa
. adopted. A vote of thanks to the rector
: vestry and parishioners for hospitality wa
r adopted. Also to Mr.. and Mrs. Thoma
! H. Garfield and others for endowment c
: scholarships in the Vermont Episcopal In
/ stitute. After prayers and benediction b
e the bishop, the convention adjourned.
= The musical portions of the differeu