Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-04
DECLARED A DIOCESE
Bishop Paret Launches the Diocese
Of Washington.
CONVENTION READY FOR WORK
A Bishop May Not Be Elected
Until Spring.
STANDING OF LAYMEN

The primary convention of the new dio-
cese of Washington met at 10 o'clock this
morning at st. Andrews Church, corner
of~14th and Corcoran streets
To the church in the District this con-
vention may well be called the most i'm
pcrtant that has ever been held, excepting,
perhaps, the convention of the diocese Of
Maryland, which was held at the Church
of tie Epiphany last spring, when pro-
vision W; made for the erection of the
new diocese out of the District of Columbia
and the four lower counties. This action
was ratified by the general convention, held
at Minneapolis couple of months ago. and
the most important business of the present
convention is the election of a spiritual
head for the diocese, Bishop Paret having
elected to remain with the mother diocese.
Lay Delegates.
The lay delegates today appeared to be
extremely well satisfied with the result of
the conference last night
I'VE certainly want a voice in the matter
of electing bishop of definite and sub
stantial Sort said one well-known gen.
tleman to Star reporter. You know it
is against American ideas and Institutions
to have taxation without representation,
and that's where We put our claim for
vote in the selection of a bishop. l don't
wish to be regarded treating the matter
lightly in speaking as l do. l believe the
convention has perfect right to make
rules for it's own guidance, and the same
right to enact laws for the government of
the diocese which it represents; and l be-
lieve that in the adoption of those rules
and the enactment of those laws the rep
resentatives of the congregations are GER
tainly entitled to as potent an influence of
the substantial sort as the representatives
of the pulpitS.
because precedent has governed certain
things fer hundred years there is no
reason why progress in thought and ac-
ton should be stopped short out of re-
spect for it. We may keep our veneration
for old customs, but we should not allow
it to blind to the best interests of our
church. So l believe l voice the sentiment
of all or nearly all the lay delegates to the
convention when l say that l believe l
have the right to vote on the election of a
bishop and that l will be allowed to eX-
ercise it,
Another Opinion.
The same general sentiment was ex-
pressed by one of the delegates from
Maryland county in a brief conversation
with The Star reporter.
None of the lay delegat tes talked with,
however, could give any idea how the ques-
ton of allowing them to vote was to be
brought up for consideration. While they
were vigorous in their views favoring such
course, they were all at sea as to the way
the desirable object was to be approached,
much less rea ached.
Here and there many could be found not
wearing the cloth who felt that the present
convention should be very careful in taking
any definite action other than in accord
ance with the organic laws already govern
ing the diocese, and a considerable senti-
ment of this sort appeared to prevail even
among the ministers who voted last night
in favor of the majority rule, the adinis-
sion of laymen to voting privileges and
the other propositions. A vote upon such
vital questions as means OF expressing
personal opinion upon their proprety and
a vote to put the system proposed under
them into actual operation at this time
We're regarded very different things in
the estimation of several of them, and this
feeling added to the perplexity of the sit
uation this morning and increased the
d .fficulty of making any Intelligent esti-
mate of what the convention would do.
The sessions of the convention We're open
cd this morning with a religious service,
the morning pI aver and communion of the
Episcopal Church, conducted by the bishop
himself, who will preside over the con-
vsntiCn until its organization is perfected.
He was assisted by Rev. DR.. John H. FL
ltct. Rev. DR.. Perry and Rev. DR.. Town
send.
There was quite a large congregation
present in addition to the clerical and lay
delegates, who number about 125. The
clergy met in the handsome and commo-
dious parish hall which adjoins the church.
AS the choir. quartet of female voices.
sang the hymn. 1.-The Church'S One Founda-
t:Cn," the clergy entered the church, clad
in the full Vestments of their office.
The Morning Sermon.
The sermon of the morning was delivered
by Rev. Dr. ]. B. Perry, the rector of the
church. 1t was an eloquent dissertation on
the nature of Christianity and the relations
of God to man. The conception of Chris
tianlty entertained by the doubling
Thomases was different to that of the dog
matte st. Paul. and God treats his different
children in different ways. Love being an
essential part of the divine nature it can
not be laid aside at any time, and. being
part of the infinite, it is infinite itself In
the new diocese, he said, the great diocese
erected at the capital of this great nation,
the trumpet of salvation must speak with no
eternity of His love into our very being To
us He is too often as one who is far off, and
we are likely to forget His promise that He
will be with us even to the end Gods love
is omnipresent, but it is only evident where
there is human reciprocity. Salvation
comes to him whose embrace is with the
arms of the soul But we cannot bring the
world to Jesus if large tracts of our own
characters are desert wastes.
The new diocese, continued DR.. Perry,
should be like the bright crystal spring at
the foot of the hill, giving an abundance of
clear. sparkling water for the refreshment
of mankind. 1t is our duty to SO let loose
the Christ-like that its influences will per-
meate all classes of society. Its opportuni-
ties for usefulness here at the capital are
wellngh infinite, but we must not forget
that there is much called Christianity that
never came from Christ. He, and He only,
is the light that lighteth the world. Mans
cause is Gods cause. God has an infinite
trust in His children, and he prayed that his
hearers should not betray this trust in the
slightest degree.
Brethren" he said, from end to end of
this country prayers are being offered up
that all that is to be done al this conven-
ticn be done reverently and in order Let
US do nothing that will warrant the world
in casting the least slur upon u.s. Perish
all personal ambitions and let all be done
for the greater glory of God and His
church."
At the conclusion of the sermon contri-
button was taken up for the benefit of the
mission fund of the diocese of Maryland
which undertook the support of missionary
work in the diocese of Washington until
May l next, SO that there might be no
break in the continuity of the work pending
the complete organization of the new dio-
cese.
Bishop Paret then administered the holy
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