Evening star., 1895-05-29

Rev. PereErfne WrOth.
ington people are the most Interested, 10
the question of the division of the diocese
the proposed separation of Washington
and four nearby counties of Maryland
from the mother diocese. 1t is needless to
say that the settlement of this question is
awaited most anxiously by all Episco-
palians in this city.
A Picturesque Scene.
The scene presented in the church this
morning was very picturesque one. Many
of the clerical delegates wore the snow
white vestments of their office, and the
big chancel behind the handsome iron
grillwork was filed with the ministers who
were assisting the bishop in conducting
the religious services while the stalls were
occupied by the surpliced choir that rem
dered the music of the morning. commenc-
ing with proc eSSional hymn.
The body of the church was reserved or
the delegates to the convention, the pews
being marked off by white ribbons stretch
ed across the aisles In the galleries and
around the sides of the church were many
ladies and gentlemen who took part in the
religious exercises with which the con-
vention was opened and then remained
as interested spectators of the proceed
ings which followed.
The regular communion service of the
Protestant Episcopal Church was read. and
then Bishop Paret delivered the sermon
with which il is the custom to formally
commence the deliberations of this body os
churchmen assembled for church work.
The sermon this morning was rather an
address on the pending questions before
tie convention, so he began without
text from Scriptures.
Bishop Paret's Discourse.
Bishop Paret at once plunged into tho
consideration of the great question of dio-
oesan division, and SO, he said he would
emit the Episcopal counsels with which he
is accustomed to deal at the beginning Of
each convention. Coming down to the mat
ter in hand Bishop Paret spoke of the
facts in the case as showing that the dio-
cese, as at present composed, is too large
to receive the attention it deserves at the
hands of the bishop.
He did not think that, under the circur-
stances. an annual confirmation service in
every parish is physically possible, nor is
it altogether necessary or advisable. Dur
ing the year just closed he has held con-
firmation services 141 times and has con-
firmed 2,01S people. He has delivered 136
sermons and ninety public addresses.
Bishop Paret then read the names of the
clergy of the diocese who have passed
away during the year, giving brief ac-
count and resume of the minis terial work
of each. The list included six names.
Three of these had taken active part
in educationa work after years and fail
ing health had rendered active parishional
work impossible, and the bishop spoke
briefly to the effect that the church is not
great responsibility of educating the young.
Some Church Statistics.
The number of those economically con-
nected with the diocese this year. bishop,
priests and deacons. is 2o2, an increase CT
three over last year. Other diocesan sta
tstics were included in the bishops ad-
dress, and he said that in his work of pre-
pairing young men for the priesthood he
had been greatly hampered by the fallure
has TO Eann yph a
he had a perfect right to regard as prom
ise from each. namely, contribution 1or
the aid of ministerial education. The bish-
op then touched upon the work of the Ham
nah Moore School, the diocesan institution
for girls and the Warfield School. the dio-
cesan school for boys. Diocesan missions
had felt the effects of the hard times 10
certain degree, but not to such an extent
as he would have expected. He also SPOKE
of what he had been able to accomplish
with the assistance of the bishop vista,
ton fund. In the diocese OF Maryland
there are now but two churches which re-
main closed because there is not the means
at hand wherewith to support them rms
as n comparison with few years ago.
when there were fourteen silent churches.
The bishop urged his hearers not to ne
g;ect the subject of missions while attend.
ing to the matter of division. Even II
division he accomplished it cannot be con-
summated before January, 1896, and SO.
unless unusual care be taken, while the
details of division are being settled, some
the mission fund for aid will be overlooked.
The Episcopal Cathedral.
The matter of the Episcopal cathedral
was touched upon but slightly, as the
bishop said, because of the uncertainty OF
its relations. If division is accomplished
the cathedral will belong to the diocese OF
Washington, while if division fails 1t Will
probably remain for years to come a fea-
| ture of the work of the diocese of Mary
L. hrta HN-
munificence of Mrs. Hearst and others who
had given so generously to the cathedral.
and said ttat he had personal knowledge
of very large requests in the wills of peo-
pie still living, which will bring a very
large amount of money into the possession
of the trustees of the cathedral.
In Favor of Division.
AS to the matter of diocesan division.
Bishop Paret expressed himself as heartily
in favor of such change. He would not
say that division is necessary, but he would
say that, in his opinion, the work of the
y Ira bed