The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-17
EPISG0P0L CONVENTION.
The Afternoon Session
Pensions For Aged and
Infirm Ministers.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT.
The Grand Work Of Christ Hospital
-cor.landt parker's Ideas
on Voting.
specsa, to the JERSEY ctr Ne,os.

the way to tine desire TO do quick work.
The dribbling rain outside had no effect
ON the splits of the convention. Consid-
cradle work was the result, and, although
1t was understood that the convention
would adjourn at 5 o'clock. the quick
work made the hour of adjournment
much carrier.
Rev. w. r. Jenvey read the report or
the Committee on the Aged and Infirm
trustees. The fund amounts to $50. 1s9. AS
This will now allow" he said. "a
pension to be paid to all clergymeu owe I
sixty-1ve years of age"
A letter was read from Rev. Theodore /.
Halcomb,suggesting that zone of the fund
should be given to clergymen receiving
81, 200 a year. The matter was referred to
the trustees having the FUND in hand.
REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE.
The Standing Committee reported that
it has held five meetings during the past
year. The committees organized on May
IS. 1899. by electing Rev. Robert Morris
Merritt, d. d.. president, and Rev. vii
liam r.. Jenvey, secretary. The report OF
the president stated that the president
had received the letters of dismissal of
Rev. Henry p. Scratchley. A. NJ, on June
Il, 1892. from the Diocese of Quincy.
Consent was given to the rector, war
dens and vestrymen of St. John's Church,
Boonton, to mortgage their property on
Cedar aud Cornelia streets, TO the mount
of So, 900.
Consent was given to the formation of
a new parish in South Orange, TO be
known as st. Andrews Church, South
Orange.
Mr.. Solomon Stoddard, Of Jersey City,
was received as a %postulant.
On December 5. 1892. Mr.. Henry Leo
pold Jeffreys, of Philadelphia, was re-
commended to the Bishop as a candidate
for Holy Orders. Permission WAS gwen
TO the rector, members and vestrymen of
Calvary Church. Bayonne. to mortgage
their church property to the amount of
/ 81, 500.
The Bishop was advised not TO consent
to the formation of an organized mission
in the town of Rutherford, and the san:e
prelate was advised TO consent to the
formation of Grace Mission into Il parish,
10 be known rs Grace Church, Town Of
Union.
CHRIST HOSPITAL.
The annual report of Christ Hospital,
Jersey City, was read by the Rev. Will
liam Bennitt, of Grace Church, Jersey
City. The report stated that the mum
Der of patients treated in wards and
private rooms were 507: treated in dis
peuSArg, lao, III eye anu ear Q6pdfLul6u T.,
249: total, Z. lisa. The denominations oc-
cupying beds were:-Episcop ~slians, 60:
Roman Catholics, 1871: all denominations,
507.
The treasurer's report stated that the
receipts were $40, 634. 81; disbursements.
$l0,624.92. The receipts of the Building
fund Committee was, So. 753. 81; disDurse-
ments. 81. 1882; balance, Sy14. 70.
ContrtoaGi9ns amounted to 81. 1915.
The report of the treasurer Of the Aber-
crombie Guild was, cash GU deposit and
securities, $2S. sos. BIZ; received during the
past year toward tue endowment OF beds,
$34. 151. sc; disbursements, $3l. 724. "a.
Tnen came the most important event
of the day, when Cortlandt Parker adj
vanced to the rostrum and opened n
package of WA after wards proved to be
printed copies Of an argument on the
present. method OF voting. Inc document
read:-
NEW METHoDs OF VOTING.
ut is proposed TO uioye at tue Diocesan
Convention the adoption Of the following
resolution
parishes connected with this Convention, to
adopt at their next annual election the follow
ing manner of voting, viz. -
The President of the meeting convened for
such election shall first call tor nominations,
and as each thereof shall be made. tellers by
him appointed shall write the names OF those
DOmllal0u. Que uQQef the OIQbF Qp9Q 4 SuOSL OIL
paper which shall be provided By the secretary
or CLERK and lie on his table; said names to be
written nearest to the left hand side of said
paper, leaving a sufficient margin at the right
of the name Of each candidate, Or be-
low. and between his name and that
next in order for voters to designate their
choice as her e~inafter directed. After five
minutes nominations shall be closed and so de-
clared by the president, whereupon each voter
shall vote by making a cross (x) upon said list
opposite each name he may select, till ne has
-. P@r. n q mi NO nf cpo11 q
as are to be chosen for the offices to be filed.
Twenty minutes or more, il the president or
meeting shall direct, shall be given wherein to
vote. At the expiration OF such time the tellerS
shall proceed to count the crosses made beside
each name placed on nomination, and the per-
shall be reported by said tellers and declared
by said president TO be elected.
MIR. PARKER'S ARGUMENT.
ST submit said MI. Parker, the fol-
lowing in support of this reseIution:-
The canons OF the diocese are silent as to
the manner of voting at parish elections.
Tit ordinary custom is by use of the bal
lot. 1t is proposed TO try the experiment
of viva voce voIing instead. The plan
suggested is a simple, easy aud quiet
mode in which this manne of voting can
be carried out.
1.-The virtue of the ballot is its secrecy.
1t is q defence for the weak and uninhn-
entail against those who are influential
or in any way powerful. In enables men
to carry out their own will without chaI-
ienge, since no one knows the intent or
desire of the voter. and the voter can
effectually conceal his act. But the vice
of the ballot lies also in its secrecy. IL
makes possible deceit, fraud and con-
spiracy. 1t is not manly, frank and
bold. It may be necessary. or at
least wise. in State or Federal cleo
TONS. In free governments parties are
essential, and the ballet is the most con-
venient way in which partisans can vote.
But for a parish, where all men are fro
fessed brethren, where there are, or. at
least, should be, no parties and no par
tisans; where ali serve the same God, the
same Church, revere the same scripture,
worship Ia the use or The same liturgy,
profess to aim at no end but the extension
Of belief in the Gospel, and encourage no
rivalry save in the practice OF Christian
love. the ballot is not necessary. aud it is
susceptible OF geTous abuse. Its in
with tna ~fraukness and mutual love
which should ever characterize Chris
tians.
PARISH DIFFERENCES.
"Unhappily differences do occur in
parishes. aud they are frequently very
acrimonious. Sometimes the minister
gives offence. Sometimes he mis-
Jakenly takes it, and naturally his
friends take his part. Easter
Monday is near. Some one ge 8
up a prepared. often a printed ticket, tue
fruit, generally. OF a caucus. It is secret
ly circulated through the congregation;
slanderous accusation accompany il. Diff
farouf raafivnS i3vfuv o,1t yofars Rha dav