Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-19
BISHOP RANDoLPH's ADDRESS.
concentrating the Tooth Session
% the EpiscopaI Council of Va.

Commemorative the lOoth ocNH'""
of the EpiscopaI Council Of Va.
4 feature OF the meeting at Charlottes-
Vile laet we k OF the Episcopal Council
~ the pioc. Sc OF Virginia was the adj
dress Of Bishop Randolph Of the Diocese
NJ Southern Virginia. The address was
made in comm nmoration Of the holding
OF the Tooth council Of the Virginia Do
cese. .-....u,.,... 90
The speaker commenced by relelrihs 20
the nj asure e Afforded MIN 10 look again
into the faces OF those who had extended
10 him many acts OF kindness While ne
was the Assistant Bishop of Virginia. con-
tinuing. he said lessons could be learn.
from the prophets and scrlbes or the
old Testament. aud We are directed 10 l1oh
to them and from them learn OF to-day.
TN. st.dy OF the New Testament the
tcachincs ana works OF the Saviour, ana
the hoy influence " the upper room III
Jerusalem all tell Us to 80 back TO the
BEGINNING and work upward. We nave
sleo n learn the lesson OF tolerance,
patience. and sympathy I'm our acts ana
likes. and I'm forming Judgments, 50 thaI
we may see the truth Ia the acts OF
others. AID have a kindly consideration
for those who 90 rot fully agree with
Us
WHAT HENRY SAID.
Patrick Henry. the eloquent young law
yer. said the Episcopal Church in the
/ Colonies was the Church OF the land-ho
/ one Acknowledged anything else. Inc
| change wrought about by the Reyolu-
/ ton made every one feel that the canon
| OF Christianity was lost. Early training
| had much 10 do with forming opinions.
| In the old virginia her sons were r.
| auirea 20 think and 10 soive great quc5-
/ ions. for she had no ready-made laws
and Constitution for the new state or
| affairs and patient and constant labor
| alone brought us TO the state or prom
! cheney that we were I'm after the Revoiu-
| ton OF our fathers. both as TO Church
| and State.
| EARLY DESPONDENCY.
| The dependency Of the Church from
! 1871 10 1872 was very great. Her clersy
on this side OF the Atlantic were neglect
| ed by the Bishop OF the mother Church,
and no combinations were administered.
The flock in the New Word was LETT
! alone. What a contrast with the present;
| for now our bishops work without rest,
visiting ard upbuildng the scattered
| flock throughout the land. Many OF the
clergy of the early Church in Virginia,
! said the Bishop. reflected no credit on
| her. Some were ecclesiastical advcnturers.
\ PREJUDICE.
The fact that the clergy came from Eng
| land caused bitterness Of feeling among
| the people after the Revolution. which re-
| tarded the growth OF the Church very
| much. The support Of the Church by the
! people as a voluntary act was something
| new. and OF slow growth In l75j David
! Griffith was elected Bishop. he b-ing the
| first bishop that was elected directly ana
| -..HH rrtsa an ~ Ia
| that the bishops receive their call 10
the great office from the people through
the regular channels Of the Church, from
| the election OF yestries 10 the meetings
of the Church in diocese councils or in
| general conventions.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
The act OF religious freedom" passed
in December. 17S5 was tn first act Of the
kind ever passed on earth. and IL was
written by and offered by Thomas JEFF
fcrson. OF Virginia. Bishop Randolph
paid Jefferson q high tribute. He reflted
many errors about the character Of the
great sage Of Monticello and drew a
beautiful picture of jefferson receiving
at his mothers knees the drst impression.
Of God and love Of liberty.
CHURCH AND STATE.
The life and success Of the Episcopal
Church. said the Bishop. was breaking II
clean from the State and putting 1t undcl
the direct charge and care OF the people
Revolutions are not as bad as We think
al the time. The great war Of thirty year.
! ago has passed, and az the time We
thought everything was lost. But look Al
the condition Of the South to-day. ThauB
God. slavery is dead; the Irish Church IS
| released from the State. and ere long the
! great Church OF England Will also b
free from the control OF the state.
The Bishop paid a glowing tribute e
Bishops Moore and Johns and to his Old
professor, Dr. Sparrow, Of the Virginia
Theological 5 Summary. He drew a vivid
picture OF the early struggle. the manly
fight for right and truth, and the present
condition OF the three dioceses in The
Nirglnias.
Bishop Randolph fully sustained his ma
tional reputation as a great pulpit ora
/ tor.