Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-02-09
THE VERMONT NEWS.
Father Halls Conservation.

The Impressive Service AZ RurIIuo,o,,
Frid"y---the History of the Vermont
Diocese---BishOp BisseIl's Work.
The conservation of Rev. Arthur G. A
Hall as bishop of the Episcopal diocese of
vermont took place in st. Paul's church
at Burlington Friday at IL AN. This i'm
posing ceremony was witnessed by distin-
gulshed men of the church from all parts
OF the United States and Canada. and only
small part of those who wished to he
present were enabled to gain access TO the
church. The ceremony was preceded nv
the molly communion at 1880 o'clock and
morning prayer at 9:30. Shortly before
the hour for the services to begin the bish
ops and clergymen proceeded in procession
from the chapel to the church and the ser
vices were carried out in order. The con-
secrators were Bishop Nicely of Maine.
Niles of New Hampshire, and Lawrence of
Massachusetts. The presenters were Bish-
ops Grafton of Fon du Lac and Coleman
Of Delaware. The attending presbyters
were Rev, DR.. j. Isham Bliss of the do
cese of Vermont and Rev. DR.. Lucius Wa
terman of the diocese of New HAMPSHIRE.
The master of ceremonies was Rev. Will
liam w. Weeks of the diocese of Yer
mont.
The bishop-elect was escorted to the al
tar by procession, in which Bishop Law
renee of Massachusetts was a prominent
figure, and the preliminary responses and
readings were given in accordance with the
Episcopal ritual before Bishop Coleman
assembled the pulpit to preach the conse-
Grafton sermon. Bishop Coleman took his
text from l Timothy vi, 20: "Keep that
which is committed to thy trust" Over
30 clergymen, including several from out
side the state, assisted in the service.
Many of the prominent laymen in the state
were present.
A luncheon was served Immediately af-
ter the service in the church parlors, for
the personal friends of DR.. Hall, the cler-
gy of the diocese and the visiting clergy
with their families and members of the
diocesan board.
At 3 p. NJ. a reception was given to Bish-
op Hall in the chapel, to which every one
was invited.
The first recorded Episcopal service held
in Vermont was in the spring of 1864,
when Captain Jehiel Hawley moved from
New Milford, Conn, to Arlington, and at
once began holding Episcopal service in
his own house. No church was built at
| Arlington ullIl llC4, Wueu IAN Oh IWO
shillings a pound was levied for the ex-
pense. The church was occupied in 1856
but not completed till 1903. The history
of the Episcopal church is just entering
upon its fifth epoch.
The first diocesan convention was held
at Arlington Sept. 20, 1900 There were
at that time % or "a parishes in Vermont
and four clergymen, two of whom, Rev
Daniel Bwites and Rev. James Nichols
the first settled Episcopal clergymen il
Vermont, were present. Rev. Mr.. Nichol!
came to Arlington in 1874. The frs
known Episcopal clergyman in the state
was Rev. Samuel Andrews, sent out by tn,
English society for the propagation of tn,
gospel in foreign parts organized unde
William Ill at Lambeth Palace, 170l), whC
made a missionary tour.
Bishop Hall immediate predecessor wa
Rev.William Henry Augustus Bissell, ID.
of Geneva, n. Y. Ia VermOnter by BIRTH
In his % years episcopate, till his death
May IA, 1898, he accomplished more than
was done in any preceding epoch. Bisho
Bissell confirmed in his diocese 5726 pei
sons, 1885 more than the present humble
of communicates, which indicates grea
loss by emigration. He consecrated ,:
churches and two were waiting to be con
secrated.