The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-10-09
Convention Opened in Mime
apOlis Last Week.
GATHERING OF GREAT MEN
Graphic Description OF Most I'm
posing Bishop COxe's
El0quenee.

been most imposing. The Following ex-
tract from the description in an Eastern
journal wiz be of general interest:
The Episcopal convention is now fairly
engaged in its Deliberations. Yesterday
morning the sermon was preached by
Bishop Coke OF New York, and 1t was a
rarely eloquent address. In the afternoon
the house of bishops and the house OF
deputies organized and began the delib-
erations which are to last for weeks.
Tonight the popular reception will occur
at the West hotel.
The gathering is one of the most not
able bodies Of a religious character ever
convened in the Northwest. In its delib-
erations millions of churchmen high and
low, are greatly interested and vitality
concerned. No matters Of doctrine are
to be discussed; those are fixed and i'm
mutable as the hiiS; but the canons of the
church, those human oontrivances for
running the affairs of the church mill
tant, are to be revised in the light of
recent experience.
The great crowd of men and women
that could gain admittance WAS glad to
partake of the only communion cele-
brated in Gethsem4ne church. Many more
were satisfied to simply witness the cere-
mony from a distance. The streets were
we'll filed with an orderly gathering, and
the adjoining buildings afforded vantage
ground for many spectators.
The surpiiced choir led the march OF
the bishops from Knickerbocker hall to
the church entrance, and these famous
men in their vestments were an impress
eive and memorable sight. Never before
had body of such national prominence
in Episcopal affairs honored the North
west with its presence. Minneapolis has
always been a stronghold of that church,
and no doubt much of the reputation
for honor and virtue that this city pos
sesses is due to the silent workings OF
the church of which these dignitaries are
the leaders.
The house of deputies includes men OF
the greatest national influence and repu-
tation.
1t was an unusual scene inside of Geth-
semane church. The main floor had been
assigned to the deputies and the galleries
to the spectators. "a large force of ushers
was on hand to seat the people, anu
there was comparatively little crowding
when the people were once inside the
building. White the galleries and side
aisles were crowded, there were a few
vacant seats in the rear OF the deputies,
WHICH,, HOWeV6Tb WeI6 lhhcl up ldlcAs 1uo
appearance presented by the deputies was
one of imposing strength and dignity. A
majority of them are men of mature age,
with strong intellectual faces.
As IL O'Clock arrived and the bishops had
not made their appearance. the crowd
began to become little impatient, but
ali impatience ceased in few minutes
for strong voices of the members OF
choir were heard outside of
the church and every eye was straincd
toward the center aisle, down which
the pageant was to pass. Rev. j. j.
Faude rector of Gethsemane church,
came first, leading the choir. DR.. Hutch
ins, the secretary OF the house OF depu-
ties, with bright skull cap, and DR..
Hart, the secretary Of the house OF bish-
ops, with a mortar board, followed the
choir, DIR. Hutchins being on the right or
the aisle.
Bishop Frank Mi1lspaugh was tine first
of the bishops, and he attracted gencraf
attention, as he was well known in this
city. Bishop Lawrence of Massachusetts,,
another of the junior bishops, was with
him, and the others appeared In the order
Of their rank, rank in this case meaning
length OF service as bishop. Every one
looked for Bishop Potter, and he was
found about the middle of the process
sion. Bishop Coke Of Western New York,
Father Hall of Vermont, the venerable
Bishop Nicely of Maine, and lastly, Min
own beloved bishop, H. B. Whip
pie, Closed the procession.
The bishops are a. wonderful body OF
men, the majority of them being giants
both intellectually and physicaqly. Many
Of them can be called very old men, and
II H.,.k .4,.1r NI.a AInnra <rrac a
that when the next convention
meets some Of those present today wiz
have passed AWAY, and there will be new
faces in the front and near the rear.
At the altar the procession halted and
Bishop Whipp9e. the archbishop of Ru-
pert's land. the bishop Of Saskatchewan
and Bishop Tuttle OF Missouri passed
the line from the rear and sat on
the right of the altar. The others found
seats to the right and left Of the choir
and in the blind alcove in front OF the
organ.
The servfe comprised in the holy COM
munion celebration was lofty and beau
tiful in character. Threading the divine
words Of the Master, spoken in majestic
unison, the spiritual harmonies Of Cath
olic music, like a silver stream, enobled
and beautfhed the impressive ceremony.
The dim religious Light" which prevaded
the church was meLaowed by the autumn
that struggled through the STAIN
ed glass windows and touched, as with an
wand, the spiritual charac-
ters and words inscribed upon the walls.
The grand music Of the service was
sung by the distinguished congregation,
an Of the bishops and high churchmen
uniting in a great chorus Of worshipful
song.
The sermon Of Arthur Cleveland Coke,
bishop of New York, followed the singing
Of a hymn. The venerable bishop stood
before the great congregation sick man. |
But the fmpassioned eloduence that feii
from his lips gave little evidence Of the
exhaustion. His fine voice and
he matchless oratory that has made him
famous rose to the greatness OF the occa-
sion. and seldom has a great assemb.age |
listened with such enraptured attention.
rhe sermon was a masterpiece OF histori-
,al acumen, scholarly erudition, and
brilliant and beautifui diction.