The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-14
THE DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The Bishops Annual Address Read Be-
fore the Convention.

The feature of the Convention yester-
day morning was the Bishops annual
address. which was read by him at 1890
O'Clock.
The convention met at 10 O'Clock yes
tertlay morning. Rev. DIR. NJ. Nj. Mar
shall presiding.
After the reading of the journal the
special order of the hour was taken up:
An amendment to the Canons proposed
and passed at the last session of the
convention. reducing the time a clergy
man must reside in the Diocese before
he can vote in the convention, from one
year to six months.
The first speaker on this subject was
Mr.. r. II. Battle, who favored the
change. He pointed out that there were
only two other States-South Carolina
and Rhode Island-requiring clergy to re-
side in the State year before allowing
them vote in the convention. In some
of the States only one month residence
is required, in others it is three months
and others six months. Mr.. Battle said
it was on principle that he favored this
change. It may not mean much in the
conventions-this enlargement of the
voting pcwer-but he thought it an in
SulL 10 sJHP Clergy W luuS shoN a. diS-
trust in Them by requiring them to re-
side in the Diocese year before giving
them a voice in the control and manage
ment of its affairs.
The change was opposed by the Rev.
DIR. Murdoch. who said that statistics
showed that North Carolina, South Car
olina and Rhode Island We're the three
most religious States in the Union.
a4olx- hon tod
Mr.. Battle, ''the three least Episcopal
Stated in the Union"
In his argument, Rev. Mr. Murdoch
claimed that this change was an out
cropping of Romanism. He. considered
it an undesirable innovation. The State
REQUIRES twelve months residence Of a
voter and he thought surely the church
ought not to require less.
At this point the hour for taking the
vote arrived and discussion was declared
at and end by the president. This raised
a number of protests and motion was
made by Mr.. III. A. London to recon
slider the vote whereby it was ordered
that the vote be taken at 1880. This
passed by vote Of u to 70.
THE BISHOPS ADDRESS.
IL he DOlnC was tuel luftuc tudt Cuc
time designated for the reading Of the
Bishops annual address had arrived, and
the Bishop was then present for that
purpose. The president, therefore, va
Gated the chair and the Bishop read his
address.
each hour has it's special burden OF
duty and Of responsibility. and the pres
ent is always big with the opportunities
and possibilities for the future. l never
face this annual gathering Of my dear
friends, brethren and fathers in Christ,
without an. increasing sense Of my in
sufficiency for the burden laid upon me,
and an anxious hope that as we all de-
mend upon goodness and love Of God
in our efforts for His church. so you
would especially give your loving help
and forbearance to one who is your
sarvant for Christ's sake The world
waits. for us to do for it the work which
our Master has sent us to do. Part of
chat work lies before us now as we be-
Gin the S1st annual convention of the
n;ocese Of North Carolina.
Then follows chronological list Of
En;sconal yisita.' IONS and ministrations
Tho niocese for the year ending April
Doh This list shows that during the
49, tho Bishop officiated within the
n;ncese 1872 times, administered the