Evening star., 1898-10-20
FOUR NEW BISHOPS
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1t must go before the next convention for
final adoption. They agreed to retain the
clause in article 2. section 2. giving stand
ing committees of dioceses the right TO con-
firm the nomination of bishops-elect. and,
having passed the last convention, Il be.
Genes a law. They agreed TO the provlso
of article Z that provinces shall not be
to be Incorporated. This must be submit
ted to the convention of 1901.
HOUSE OF DEPUTIES.
Report Submitted the State Of the
Church.
Immediately after the minutes were read
In the house of deputies, Rev. DIR. Hunting
ten arose to question of privilege. In a
Few graceful sentences he stated that In
the anxiety of the moment yesterday ne
had spoken dfscorrteously to the secretary
(Dr. Hutchns). and he desired to make a
public acknow ledgment of 1t and to express
his regret, having already made q personal
apology. He paid high tribute to Dr.
Hutchins' valuable services. Through Pres
ident Dix. the secretary extended HIS thanks
for DR.. Huntipgtcns kind words and for a
Few moments the session resembled the
love feast distinctive of another denomiua-
ton.
When this pleasant episode was conclud-
Si INcN- bf Davenport, from tne committee
on canons. read several reports and resolu-
ttons relating to messages from the bish-
ops.
Concurrence was recommended and
agreed to in the action of the bishops in
Fl ovioing that three academic years should
be regarded as three calendar years IN
computing the time served by candidates
for orders.
change existing law relating to foreign
bishops as proposed by the other house,
ard at Its request was discharged from
further consideration of the subject
Rev. DR.. Herman c. Duncan, chairman of
the committee the state Of the church,
was then recognized. and. taking the plat
fern, proceeded to read the report of his
important committee. Clerical and Law DEL
Dur can, and listened attentively to the re-
cital of the condition of the church during
the past three years, and to the recon-
mendations of the committee regarding the
management OF its affairs hereafter.
State Of the Church
The report was follows:
IN accordance with title l. canon 20 sec
ton 3, there have been submitted TO your
committee the tabulated returns Of the sew
eral dioceses and missionary districts of
this church. In further compliance with
said canon. your committee has drawn up
this view of the state Of the church, and
respectfully submits it for the action of this
house.
Since the last general convention five of
the bishops of this church, many priests
and laymen, have left us, called to the rest
of Paradise Into their room others have
come Ten bishops have been consecrated:
the clergy list is 300 larger today than three
years ago, and upward of 1872 600 laymen
have been baptized.
Your committee has been much hindered
by the failure of certain diocesan secre-
tarfes to comply with the plain letter of the
law, as found in title !. canon 20. section 5.
That canon requires said secretaries to pre-
pare their reports Immediately after the
adjournment of the meeting of the diocesan
convention next preceding the session of
every general convention, and promptly to
forward the same to the secretary of the
house OF deputies. Yet at the opening of
the session as many as six reports had not
reached him.
1T is important that the report Of this
committee should be made promptly. For
this reason we ask that greater care be
had In the observance of the canon.
I'm this connection we have to express
our deep regret that the returns are SO inn
perfect that We are unable to ascertain the
real membership of the church.
Statement of Returns
"a tabuiated statement of the returns
presents these results: Number of clergy
reported. 4,s43, of whom SO are bishops,
1880 priests and 3S1 deacons; deacons or
dained, 557 priests ordained, 564; candi-
dates for holy orders, $40; postulants, go;
lay readers, 2,262: baptisms 192, 725; per-
sons confirmed, 134 ,94I; communicates 6SI,-
645; Sunday school officers and teachers
49317; Sunday school pupils, 43s 96s; pupils
in parish schools, u ia; pupils in indus
trial schools, 15,062; parishes, 8 320S; mis-
sions, 2,9S1; total, 61S9: church edifces
whole number, 1924; church edfces, free
1857; stttings in churches. / .0SS .90l; free
sittings in churches, S43,531; churches con-
secrated, 264; rectories, $50; church hos
pitals, ~; orphan asylums, 52; homes 102;
academic institutions. 1876; collegiate insti-
tutions, 13; theological institutions, %;
other institutions, 3S.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES purposes S31 =
541 1881; diocesan purposes, So, ,456 944. 50;
missionary purposes, other than diocesan,
S1542,96.4 n; other extra diocesan objects
81 1i9 .25S.S5; education of the ministry
S56,575.06; aged and infirm clergy, SILL
55i.0l; widows and orphans of clergymen,
S13I ,925. IA; total for all purposes, S39, ,523,-
1854. IL
"Endowments-Episcop funds 50 $50
9s4.93; support of parishes, s., ,079, ,52l. .02:
aged and infirm clergy, ST45 so: widows
and orphans of clergymen S634 So Il: hos
pitals and other institutions, 1886 11525.
These figures are the indices of the state
or the church. Some of them give cause to
rejoice, others should move to prayer while
others still should invite to thought.
Net Gain in Clergy List.
1.-The net gain in the clergy list is a little
more than in the last triennum, but the
percentage of increase is less. and the total
of ordinations is less, notably so in the
number made deacons, the decrease
amounting to as much as IL per cent
Then, too, there are but three more candi-
dates than there were three years ago On
the other hand, there has been a notable
increase in the number of lay readers 20
per cent. There are other items that ought
to be considered in connection with these
The contributions for parochiaI purposes
are $4,000 less per year than they were
three years ago; those for the education of
the ministry, $4,000 year less; those for
aged and infirm clergy. 81, 700 a year less,
and those for the widows and orphans of
clergymen, over $4,000 a year less. We
pause to ask that serious attention be Civ
en- to these decreased contributions: these
figures all have tongues that speak for the
clergy, in their preparation for the min
istry, in their parish work, in their en-
forced retirement, age-stricken-aye even
for the dead. that their families be not
forgotten.
I'VE rejoice that large an increased
number of laymen have been found ready