Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-23
HAS ADJOURNED SINE DIE
The Episcopal Convention Has
Ended Its Labors.
THE PASTORAL LETTER READ
And Much Routine and Other Matter Was At
tended TO-
THERE WAS BARELY A QUORUM LEFT
Such an Able Chairman-The Next
Convention Will Be Held in
Washington in 1903.

Minneapolis, Oct. 22.-The pastoral ad-
dress of the bishops of the Protestant
Episcopal church was given out today.
1t is largely routine In character, the
most interesting points being In reference
to the massacre of Christian missiona-
ries in China and the Sunday observance
law. In reference to the latter matter
the address says: Recent events in some
parts of our country compel us to call
your earnest attention to a widely spread
and determined attack upon the use and
purpose of the weekly day of rest, known
at the beginning of the Christian era as
the Lords day. 1t is declared in the law
OF God to be His own day and by the
Savior of man to be made for man. 1t is
protected by divine command and by
the perpetual sanctity of a human right.
Men may and ought to worship God every
day, but for the greater assurance of
this duty one day in seven has, with the
formal sanction of all Christian civiliza-
tion, been set apart for its due observ-
ance. This order cannot be disturbed
without grave evils to the individual and
the family, to society and the state. II
seems almost incredible that our mod
ern life should be capable of bringing
into play any powers of evil that could
seriously threaten the existence of so di-
yet the peril and disaster of such a
menace confront Christian people in wide
areas of the country. We exhort you,
dear brethren, to meet this menace with
unfalterng courage and resolute determi-
nation, and In no opportunity that may
he presented to decline battle with the
insatiate greed of the liquor traffic and
the growing desire for popular pleasures
and amusements which, with increasing
boldness. claim all days alike for their
uses"
The convention on this it's last day,
showed an apparent minority of dele
gates present, evidently only enough re-
ma ining to constitute a quorum for the
winding up of necessary business details.
A message was received from the house
of bishops containing joint resolutions
onstituting the missionary district of
northern Texas. Action concurred in
without debate. f.t,,.git 20
DR.. Elliott of Maryland, by invitation
OF President Dix. addressed the conveD-
ton in relation to the meeting of the
conventions in Washington in 1898, He
assured the convention that the new do
cese of Washington was well equipped.
both in communicates and material
wealth. There are 5000 communicates in
the Washington diocese. They are well
equipped in churches and church prop
erty Everything that a generous, a
hospitable and a noble Christian people
can do WQulQ De dOne Dy the new w ASH
ington diocese for the comfort and con-
yenience of the convention in 1898.
A message was received from the house
of bishops to the effect that the new
missionary district. of North Carolina
shall be konwn as the District of Ashe-
VILE ~
The Pennsylvania delegates offered a
resolution recognizing the uniform digni-
ty courtesy and kindness of the presiding
officer of the house. Dr. Morgan Dix of
New York. -ss
The resolution was adopted by rising
vote and the doctor responded in a touch
ing and graceful manner.
Dr. Hoffman of New York moved that
a committee be appointed to inform the
house of bishops that the house of dep
uties has concluded its business and is
now ready to adjourn.
It was announced that the conference
committee on hymnal was still in session
and Dr. Hoffman temporarily withdrew
A message from the house of bishops
announced it's recession from its action
concerning the binding of the hymnal
with the Book of Common Prayer
Gethsemane church was crowded at
the Joint meeting of the two houses this
afternoon at 8 o'clock. The pastoral let
ter was read and the Episcopal general
conference of 1896 closed sine die, with
the usual services.