Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-20
THE EPISC0PALIANS.
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND sbs-
SION VIRGINIA COUNCIL.
Reports of Committees-The Ae~-
nndria Theological scmi""''
Donrd-Question of Perpetu"'i""-
BIshop WbittIe Gives Ills views

FREDERICKSBURG, VA, May TO-
Especial 1.-The 102d annual council oil the
Episcopal Diocese of Virginia convened
at st. Georges church here to-day, ana
there is large attendance. The pre-
Iiminary services were as follows: I'D a
NJ. Litany and address by Rev. n. r.
Dame; 10 A. NJ. morning prayer, sermon
and holy communion. The sermon was
by Rev. f.. =. BurwGl. He preached
from the subject, THE Power Of the Cos
pel i'm 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
BIZ the Right Revs. f. NJ. white and j.
B. Newton, and was for members Of the
council only.
The business session Of the council was
called to order at 12:2) Z. NJ, the Right
Rev. Francis VI. White presiding. The
roll was called. and as there was ma
jority of each order Clerical and lay),
the chairman declared the council organs
lied and ready for business.
Rev. William NJ. Clark, offered the FOL
lowing resolution, in the name or the
Executive Committee Of the Diocesan
Missionary Society:
Resolved, That the report Of the com
mittee be made the order of business FOR
Thursday morning.
Rev. l.. r. Mason moved an amendment
TO the effect that the time be this evening,
but when put TO the vote the amendment
was lost. The resolution from the Execu-
tive Committee was almost unanimously
carried. so the most important and in
teresting work of the year will be before
the council tomorrow morning.
With Bishop Newton in the chair,
resolution was offered and passed inviting
all visiting ministers mot members of the
cotnciD. and ministers of other churches
I'm the town, to be present I'm this church
during the sessions of the council.
Rev. DR.. Lamb. agent for the disabled
clergymen's retiring fund, was asked to
address the council on the subject of his
work. He spoke earnestly 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.
Council then adjourned until p. NJ.
The council was called TO order with
Bishop Newton i'm the chair. motion
was adopted to send fraternal greetings
TO the councils of the dioceses of Wcsh-
ington and Maryland. now in session
Rev. =. =. Philips read the reports of
the Standing Committee of Virginia.
The committee in the last year have re-
commended for holy orders three, for
deacon's orders three, for priests or
ders four.
The next report was that of the COM
mittee for considering the eXpediency
of changing the manner of perpetuatng
the Board of Managers of the Theolo-
gical Seminary and the Episcopal High
School of Virginia. The committee was
in favor of petitioning the Legislature
to allow a change, whereby the mana
gers shall, as they die or resign, be re-
placed by men elected by the councils
of Virginia, Southern Virginia, and
West Virginia
MINORITY REPORT.
The report of the minority on the same
subject was read by Mr. Joseph Bryan.
The minority were opposed TO change
and Offered this resolution:
"Resolved, That IT IS the. sense Of this
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 I'M
constitutional to make change. as the
property had been given the seminary
under certain conditions of manage
ment and that a change would be, under
such circumstances, Illegal.
Mr.. r.. Powell Page then spoke forcibly
in favor of the majority report, and
said he was ready to support II. Bishop
Whittle gave his views as follows:
IL cannot express my regret that
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 up
again. why should this council try to
govern such institutions? There are
seven other corporations in TINS state
connected with Church work, which are
governed In the same way (by SELF
perpetuating board). VIII this council at
tenpt 10 govern them also? Where VIII
il stop If it once makes this beginningY
The Bishop added that ii would be a
breach of trust to make any change in
the constitution of the Board or Mana
GERS Of the Theological Seminary. and
viii suffer anything rather than that any
change should be made. There are legal
difficulties in the way which l viii not
take your time to mentioni but they are
serious"
Mr.. l.. r. Mason arose 10 question Vi
privileges. He said that there was no
desire to bring into the council the man
agement Of these institutions in detail,
INIT that the council should have a say
I'm electing members of the board.
No further debate was allowed after
the Bishops speech, though several wish
ed to speak Mr.. Lee arose 10 point OF
order. which was, HAD Bishop White
q right. when not in the chair. to close
the debate?" The Chair said he had. The
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