The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-18
To Bishop McVickar by
Churchman'S Club.
PROMINENT MEN PRESENT
State, City and Churches Of the
Slate Represented.
LETTER FROM BISHOP HARKINS.

distinguished party of gentlemen gathered
within the confines of Rhode Island than
that which met at the Trooadero last eve
ming, for the purpose of formally wslcom-
ing Right kev. William Nelson Mo-
Vickar. ID. d., Bishop Coadjutor of
Rhode Island. TO the diocese and to for
maily introduce him TO the clergy OF the
state and The laity of tho Churchman' 3
Club. The occasion was tho 2Sth meeting
of the Churchman'S Club, and II was
decided that the dinner should be given
In boI or OF Bishop McVickar.
In the parlors OF the Irocadero at 6:l5
o'clock brief business meetinR OF the
club was held, and committee TO nomi-
nate officers, which are To be- elected at
the next meeting on April 10, was chosen
as follows: William w. White, st. Ste
pheDs: Henry w. Cooke, St. Johns; Fred
A. Cbass, Grace Church. President
Stiness took occasion TO remark that 10
would be we'll to elect president 10 serve
one year, instead OF two, and stated that
it wShild be impossi BILE for him to continue
to hold the Office.
AT 6:46 o'clock Bishop McVicKar and
the guests and msmbsrs or the club ie-
paired To the banquet hall, where seven
long and handsomely decorated tables FUR
nishsd the good things Of life in abun-
dance. During the dinner Langstatf's
orchestra disooursed excellent music.
Among the distinguished gentlsmen
present ware. in addition 10 Bishop Nc
Vickar and Gov. Dyer. Col. William God
dard. Mayor William G. Baker. Rev. q.
a. L. Richards, ID. d., John Nicholas
6rown. Rev. William T. Tucker, ID. d.,
Rev. Emery Porter, Rev. Samuel ii.
Webb Rev. Daniel Henshaw, Chief jus
tce Charles Matteson. Rev. William NJ.
4. Atsth I x0u urd
u. Bassett, Rev. q. McC Fiske ID. d.,
and Bishop William II. Hare. ID. d., of
South Dakota, Hon. ID. Russell Brown,
Hon. Augustus q. Bourn, Hon. Il. ii. i.
Goddard and many others.
At the close OF the dinner President
Stiness said that the club met upon a
rare occasion ani this was clearly Shown
by the unusually large attendance.
Allusion was made by the presiding
officer to the history Of the Episcopal
church in Rhode Island. and he traced
the bispohs from the first to the last. the
three bishops Of Rhode Island covering a
psriod OF 81 years. PRESIDENT Stiffness
spoke touchingly Of bishop Thomas nj.
Clark, the mention of whoss name called
for warm applause. In speaking of the
Of DIR. MoNickar To the post in
Rhode Island, he said that he believed
the main reason was that he was the man
beet fitted for the place. Some people
wanted high churthman and some
wanted a low chuTchmaD, and in DR..
Nc Vickar they had botn Of these.
President Stiffness ciossd his remarks
with pledge of help and sympathy to
the new bishop. and in behalf OF the body
of iaymen he welcomed him To their
hearts and fellowship. The presiding
officer then introduced as the represen-
tativs of the clergy Rev. MIR. Groton of
Westerly.
Mr. Groton spoke Of the brotherly feel
ing which existed among the clergy of
Rhode Islat Il, and IL was with this spirit
Ct harmony that in behalf OF the clergy
he extended n welcome to the new bishop.
lhe Rhode Island clergy breathed the
spirit of loyalty to Episcopal authority,
tney were not men who exalted the Epis-
copats In theory and then forgot what
they had done. All the love that had
been bestowed bv the clergy of Rhode
Island on their bishop would be bestowed
on the new bishop.
President Stinsss then introduced
Governor Dyer, who extended In a most
graceful manner welcome TO Bishop
McNickar in behalf of the state of Rhode
Island and in so doing spoke eloquently
of Bishop Clark, THAT noble ana Rodly
man VINO had done SO much for the body
polite in Rhode Island" Governor Dyer
said the state was large enough for noble
men in the country to come and help us.
- In this industrious little busy beshive
OF ours there is ample opportunity for the
ministers of peace. and | am privileged
that IL has bscn my pleasure on behalf of
tho state 10 welSome you, reverend sir.
to Rhode Island.
President Stlness next introduced,
rather rs reversion of the usual custom.
the Churci mems Club tn Bishop Nc
Nickar. all the mem bers ana guests
rising in greeting to their distinguished
guest, and the room rang with applause.
Bishop MoNickar commenced in a
very pleasant .veiD. which at once put
him on n friendly footing with his many
hearers One or two humorous remarks
furthered this sentiment and then the
reverend gentleman spoke OF the position
IN which he had been placed by his eleva-
tion to the Episcopate. When they mad
pat upon him honor. when he had been
selected TO be the head of this diocese. re
felt lJneline which was natural. Ii
WIS therefore necessary that he should
receive brotherly love and cooperation in
order TO fulfil his mission. Since the
time tnat he was chosen tn the exalted
position he tad had time to fully realize
that he had made no mistake in accept.
Ing Tue blsnoptlO'
He was glad tn have come 60 Rhode
Island, and while looking back with
memories that are very soft and tender to
the city on the Schuylkill he looked for
ward aud believed that there was great
mission for him In Rhode Island. This IL
stats which Is tolerant but 10 had high
principles Rhode Island had given
birth TO grand men AMI women, who
were manly and strong. and at the same
time respectful OF other mems opinions
and views. When he had realized who the
man was who had been at the head Of
this diocese for so many years, the at
fractions OF the field 20 which he had
been called presented them,elves with
renewed force. In concluding his re-
marks DIR. McNlckar said; "ln this new
work the bishop ooadjutor OF Rhode
Island asks your love. your symp patby,
your cooperation and your prayers. lie
would ask you to be- patient with his
mistakes. be patient with his youth ~ =
bishop. Lst us work together. let MS
pray together; let us prospect In the
world 10 come together Aud as We
work here together. Brother by brother
soldier 10y soldier. servants Of Jesus
4 LAT us In ~