The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-06-12

spirit which should animate the mem
bers OF the kingdom. BY no act Of the
delegates, nor the presiding officer, was
the slightest harm done to the cause of
true religion, but rather was 1t mani
tested that EMO difference of opinion
could make us forget what we owed by
the law of love to the Almighty, whom
we worship and love, and to the brethren
whom we honor and esteem. The de-
bate was by no means q tame affair.
There were strong men ranged on this
one question against each other. We
were in Our Fathers house and OF the
same household Of faith. Not for one
moment did single person, either by
word or deed, forget the courtesy due to
a brother OF take undue advantage OF
any line of argument advanced.
To understand the main question in
all of it's bearings, to get the different
views OF those who favored and those
who opposed. to reach fair and inst
conclusion. these were the principles
which seemed to govern the speeches of
the delegates. From this smicable dis
cussion, alone upon the merit OF the de-
bates, there can come nothing but good
to the church. From this protracted
struggle, alone upon the gracious spirit
displayed, there can come nothing but
highest realization OF our blessings.
From this contact of mind with mind,
alone upon the strength of the brother
hood manifested, there can come moth
ing but mightier impulse to do the
work the Lord Jesus has given us to do.
The greatest manifestation of the unity
of the spirit in the bond OF peace was in
the way in which the result was receiv-
ed and accepted For time 1t seemed
doubtful az to what the decision was to
be. When the vote was recorded ID
seemed for while az II the question
had been decided affirmatively. But
when the final result was delivered by
the chair there was not the slightest
demonstration of success when the OPP
ponents of the measure had practically
carried their point. No one gave q
higher exhibition Of the best spirit and
temper than our own bishop, who
yielded with q grace which did him
honor, and whose eloquent works re-
fected credit upon his character. Surely
the diocese OF California ia favored in so
true and honest and sincere q biahop-
one possessed OF the divine spirit and
displaying the likeness of the Master
who is able to hold his own in any legiB-
labIV0 UOQy Vi LILO CnuICus anu YOU bCtb
up to hie belief that the Lord guides
and governs HE own body, the church. 1t
is not, therefore, question OF victory,
nor of gloating over q success achieved,
but it is supremely and emphatically
spirit OF rejoicing that in the arena of
debate within this church we can match
thought, speech with speech, and yet in
no 60 nf atr ~ foe a
mastery, realize the governing power of
the Holy Spirit and Els influence in the
final result.
Fresh from the convention in which it
was your rector's privilege to represent
the views OF the vestry of this church,
which were also my own, in debate upon
the floor, and helping also to shape the
majority report which followed closely
upon the lines indicated by the resolu-
tions OF this vestry l was commissioned
to present, / wish to bear my testimony
here, not only upon my personal verac.
ity, but upon my orders likewise, thus
by double witness making it all the
stronger, that the convention OF the
Episcopal church, held week before last
in Trinity churchSSan Francisco. was in
its tone and temper, in it's spirit and
action, representative of the best type OF
christianity which ever graced this
world OF ours, commanding itself to all
who would wish to feel the Joy OF breth-
rem dwelling together in unity, and fit
model, were one needed, for any relig-
ious assembly to copy or initiate in every
respect, especially in the strength of ar
guments advanced, and the spirit OF
brotherly kindness, which was visibly
apparant