Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-05-20
EPISCOPAL COUNCIL.

The 1920 annual council OF h Eplsco-
pal Diocese of Virginia convened at
St. Georges church here to-day, and
there is a large attendance. The pro-
liminary services were as follows: 7:15
q. M, Litany and address by Rev. N.
P. Dame; 10 a. M, morning prayer,
sermon, and holy communion. The
sermon was by Rev. E. ?. Burwell.
He preached from the subject, 1.-THE
Power of the Gospel in the World"
and also spoke of the responsibility
resting upon the preacher, "who
should" he said, "be a man free from
personal considerations and selfish
aims" The communion was celebrated
by the Right Revs. F. M. Whittle and
j. B. Newton.
The business session was called to
order at 1920 p. M, Bishop White
presiding. The roll was called, and as
there was a majority of each order
Clerical and lay), the chairman declar-
ed the council organized and ready for
business.
Rev. William NJ. Clark offered the
following resolution, in the name OF
the executive committee of the bio.
cesar Missionary Society, which was
adopted
Resolved, That the report of the
committee be made the order of bust
ness for Thursday morning.
Rev. DIR. Lamb, agent for the dis
abled clergymen's fund, spoke of what
was being done, and contrasted the
work of other churches with that of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, much to
the discredit of the latter.
The council then adjourned until
4 p. m.
The council was called to order with
| Bishop Newton in the chair. A mo
ton was adopted to send fraternal
greetings to the councils of the dioceseS
of Washington and Maryland, now in
session.
Rev. P. P. Philips read the reports Of
the standing committee of Virginia
The committee in the last year have
recommended for holy orders three, fol
priests orders four.
The next report vas that of the com
mittee for considering the expediency
of changing the manner of perpetuating
the board of managers of the Theologi-
cal Seminary and the Episcopal High
School of Virginia. The committee
was in favor of petitioning the Legisla'
ture to allow q change, whereby the
managers shall, as they die or resign
be replaced by men elected by the
councils of Virginia, Southern Virgins
and West Virginia.
The report of the minority on the
same subject was read by Mr.. Joseph
: Bryan. The minority was opposed to 6
change and offered this resolution
"Resolved, That it is the sense of thi:
council that no action be taken at this
time, but that the report be laid on the
table"
Mr.. Bryan stated that it would be un.
constitutional to make a change, as the
property had been given the seminary
under certain conditions of manage
ment, and that a change would be-, I'M
der such circumstances, illegal.
Mr.. r. Powell Page then spoke il
favor of the majority report.
Bishop Whittle gave his views as fol
lows: II must express my regret thai
this matter was ever brought before
this council. 1t will do evil to the semi
nary, and can do no good. Any one
can tear down, but few can build uI
again. Why should this council try tc
govern such institutions ? There are
seven other corporations in this State
connected with church work, which are
governed in the same way Thy a self
perpetuating board). Will this council
attempt to govern them also? Where
will it stop if it once makes this begin
ming. The Bishop added that sit would
be a breach Of trust to make any change
in the constitution of the Board Of
Managers OF the Theological Seminary
and l will suffer anything rather than
any change should be made. There are
legal difficulties in the way which will
not take your time to mention; but they
are Serious
MIR. l.. K. Mason arose to a question
of privilege. He said that there was
no desire to bring into the council the
management of these institutions in de.
tail, but that the council should have a
say in electing members of the board.
No further debate was allowed
after the Bishops speech, though
several wished to speak on the
subject. Mr.. Lee arose to a point OF
order, which was, "Had Bishop Whit
tie a right, when not in the chair, to
| close tho debate ?" The chair said he
had. The vote was then taken on the
minority resolution, and it was passed.
The council then adjourned until
Thursday morning.
The woman's branch of the Woman's
| Auxiliary to the Board Of Missions,
with a junior department, met in the
afternoon at Trinity Church with a full
attendance of delegates. Several ad.
dresses we're delivered by ministers.
A business meeting of this organiza.
ton will be held tomorrow, when Off
GERS will be elected.
The meeting in the interest of dioce-
san missions was at s o'clock in the
evening.
F%AUQUIER NoTEs,-Rev. Erasmus
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