The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-04-13
BISHOP HALL I'M BENNINGroN.

BISHOP HALL IN BENNINGTON.
Last Sunday was a red-letter day for
st Peters church of this village. The
Rt.-Rev. AGA. Hall, DID, made his first
visit to thi parish as bishop of this do
cese. He arrived on the flyer from the
North, Saturday afternoon, and in the
evening was rendered a reception at the
rectory. He was the guest of the Rev.
Geo L. Richardson while here, Mr..
Richardson's mother, Mrs. Henry Rich
ardson of Troy, N. Y, coming up to be
present and assist in receiving ard en-
PERTAINING the distinguished prelate.
Among those who called to pay respects
were many outside st. Peters. including
the clergy of the village, and leading citi-
Zens.
The services Sunday were as an
nounced. Ar o'clock there was a Cele-
bration of the Holy Eucharist the Bish-
OPP being the celebrant. There was
large congregation present. At 1870,
after Mathis, the new rector was for
mally instituted as pastor, the Letter of
Institution being as follows:
To our lcellbelOUed Christ, George Lynde
| Richardson, PreSbyter. -GREETING:
| We do by these Presents give and
| grant unto you, in whose Learning, Dill
gence, sound Doctrine, and Prudence,
we do fully coufide our License and Au-
thority to perform the Office of Priest in
the Parish of st. Peters, Bennington.
And also do hereby institute you into
said Parish, possessed of full power to
perform any Act of sacerdotal Function
among the People of the same; you con-
tinuing in communion with us, and COM
plying with the rubrics and canons Of the
Church, and with such lawful directions
as you shall at any time receive from us.
And as a Priest economically instituted
into the Office of Rector of st. Peters
Parish, you are faithfully to feed that
portion of the flock of Christ which is
now entrusted to you; not as a man
pleaser, but as continually bearing in
mind that you are accountable to us
here, aud to the Chief Bishop and Sow
ereign Judge of all, hereafter
And as the Lord hath ordained that
they who serve at the altar should live
of the things belonging to the altar; so
we authorize you to claim and enjoy all
the accustomed temperatures appertain-
ing to your cure, until some urgent rea-
son or reasons occasion wish in you, or
in the congregation committed to your
charge to bring about a separation, and
dissolution of all sacerdotal relation be-
tween you and them; of all which you
will give US due notice; and in case of
any difference between you and your
congregation, as to a separation and dis
solution of all sacerdOtal connection be-
tween you and them, we, your Bishop,
with the advice of our Presbyters, are
to be the ultimate arbiter and Judge.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto
affixed our episcopal seal and signature,
at Bennington, this It'll day of April,
A. D., 1894, and in the first year of our
conservation.
ARTHUR A. G. A. HALL,
Bishop of Vermont.
This SigiIlum and signat is handsomely
engrOssed, aud this service was used for
the first time in Bennington. The Office
for the Institution of Rectors was
adopted by the General Convention of
the Il 'iscopal Church, held in 1804-1S0S,
and was revised and appears in its pres
ent form in the Standard Prayer Book of
1892. 1t is a very impressive service, is
but little used in this country, and sell
dom in Vermont, but we are inclined to
think will become general in the Ameri-
can as in the English Church. Follow
ing the Morning Prayer, ETC., Bishop
Hall preached, taking his text from St.
John xx:21, and for his subjecC: "The
Apostolic Commission. He has COM
handing presence, speaks without notes,
and held tho large congregation SPELL
bound during his sermon. A few
thoughts embodied in the Bishops dis
course are new to us.
During the forty days following
Christ's resurrection, the Bishop said,
our Lord appeared with His benediction
of peace four times-to individuals,
| nf In al r.,
delena, who represents those broken
down with grief; to St. Peter, who de-
MED his Master, representative of those
suffering from wounded consciences; to
st. Thomas, the doubter of whom many
are to. day like him; to the two disciples
journeying to Emmaus, types of those
who despair because sin and crime seem
to gain mastery of Christianity, saying:
"Let us get out of Jerusalem" At 9th
er appearances Christ made Himself
known to disciples, representatives of
the church with whom he promises to be
until the end, land the gates of hell
should not prevail"
Dr. John T. Shurtleff, senior warden,
presented the keys of the church, and
at the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist,
the rector was the celebrant according to
the canon.
At Evensong, the church was packed,
the rear aisles and vestibule were
crowded, and nearly as many went away,
unable to gain admission, as were inside.
The Bishop again preached, taking for
his subject: 1.-THE Good Shepherd"
Two person, were confirmed.
Bishop Hall is making great impress
sion upon Vermont people. His manner
is cordial, his sermons able and eloquent
and he advocates unity among Christian
people. He has already visited nearly
all the churches in the State. The pres
ent week he will spend among the
churches and missions in the western
part of Rutland county. The music at
all the services was of an elaborate char
acter, and added much to their interest
Bishop Hall is expected again, soon, to
complete the confirmation of a class, the
members of which were not ready last
Sunday and it is hoped he may remain
8 or days, preaching sermon to Taft
Comnandery, X. T., on one of the even
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