The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-21

work, / felt that then 1 had found tins
organic law. You may wipe out con.
situations, canons and rubrlcs, and you
can build them up like q buried city
but not so when you wipe out the or.
ganlc law. Nobody can read the non
1 essentials in the constitution and be-
lleve that is the organic law In
Christs divinely appointed men and the
sacraments l feel that we have the
organic law Of the church."
Mr. Joseph Packard, OF Baltimore
was the next speaker. He stated that
no one questions the statement that
the church is q divine institution. but
/ we find in everything relating to So
ciety that the divine fiat does not work
out details To say that the church Il,
OF divine origin does not answer the
question under discussion. Bishops OF
other days were territorial magnates,
leaders OF troops, and cruel i'm conquest
We can see that they differ materially
from the Bishops of to-day. There has
been development, and society has been
permAted by divine will to organize it
self as seemed best What is the su-
preine power in the making OF the laws
of the church? The Bishops, the clergy
and the laity. The constitution has
been referred to here as trivial, but L
consider 1t vital. The constitution may
be amended, but the will OF the body
tnat adopts the constitution was the
organic law of the church. Churches
may err and when they do people can
leave them, as our forefathers did The
Holy Scripture is the touch stone. We
can find by that if the church is living
according to the divine will
Rev. DIR. Tiffany OF New York: Rev.
w. Il. Roberts, of Virginia. and Rev.
THOMAS Alexander Johnston, of Lau-
rel, Md, made voluntary addresses, at
the conclusion of which. at ! O'Clock,
the Congress adjourned till go.
THE CONCLUDING SESSION.
The concluding session of the Con-
Eress was held a 2:30 o'clock in the af-
ternoon. The topic discussed was sThc
Pastoral Office as Affected by Modern
Conditions"
Before entering upon its discussion.
however, Archdeacon Tiffany delivered
Il snort address, in which he thanked
the citizens of Norfolk for their hearty
welcome and unbounded hospitality.
lie said that the first Congress of the
church met twenty-five years ago in
New York. and he had attended every
session but one since then. and never
iad he seen more hospitabie treatment
better arrangements, nor more complete
carrying out of plans than In Norfolk.
He further said: Had he known
10 what we We're coming when we left
home we should not have merely packed
our grips. but have transferred our on
IRE households and belongings and pre-
pared for permanent residence" Nc
paid splendid tribute to the local
committee of management ana thanked
the owners of the Academy for their
re2sonahieness of charges ana unfail-
ing courtesieS. He thanked the choister
and choir. spoke of the spirited singing
as an unusual occurancc, complimentel
the committee on decorations and that
on the Hampton trip. and finally to
BISHOP Randolph for being himself.
passed"
Long continued applause greeted him.
bishop Randolph replied in Il fe,vent
ana tender speech, in which he thanked
the Congress for coming and blessed
them for the good they had accomplish
cd.
The first writer introduced was Rev.
Edward l.. Stoddard, d. D., OF Jersey
City, y. j.
TRIALS OF THE PASTOR.
Mr.. Stoddard's paper was in part. as
follows:
Organize your young people: get
'he!r bodies and their interest, are yoS
WI. I'M mo II easy To secure their souls.
ihe man who is small in spirituality
VIII help you With n coal funu or y
scheme for the relief of the suffering
poor. as
Receive with joy all who call revcr-
entity on the name of Christ. We have
minimize il.
Now a closing word about the pastor
himself. How long can city pastor
ilst IN these bustling days at the Close
ni me century. The parish call is the
hardest part of the city pastors work
ana ms brings US to consider what
really Is the most important part of The
pastors work.
His duty is. first, to conduct services
ana all the ceremonies Of the church
ana bc her personal representative IL,
the PARISH. He must call on the sick.
organize The charities of the church
re must iu!iil! his position as a scholar.
Neglect or This matter is fatal True.
your HE SEEMS sadly FILTERED Wit,
inr!ii'uie OF small matters. III adli-
'i"h 10 all of these ii is an ancient Gus
tom th9t he shall cal! on his lnr,shon-
erS, ana This custom is causing us to i'll
carr "r'lNCs This is the last straw that
in'tkts IN" young clergyman old before
ms tiine The pastor must keep in touch
with his flock: he wishes to go where no
Is wanted. Ii is his pleasure to 90
when no Is called. therefore call for hin,
ana he "li send. But, in closing. let
me say thtre is no nublcr field than the
glorious office OF the modern pastor Of
our church"
AMBASSADORS or CHRIST.
The next speaker introduced was Rev
q. Frederick Fliichner OF Enclcwood y
j.. who said:
Pastoral duties are those Of a shep-
nerd Modern conditions alter The re-
iaiions Of the Office only as the opinions
"i men have changed regarding Tho an
cicnt iaith once delivered to the saints