The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-19
CHURCHMEN IN CONVENTION.
BISHOP NELSON'S ADDRESS TO THE
DIOCESAN COUNCIL.

lions which Demand Missionary
EHorts-The Introduction of Inn
proper Music in the Services of the
Church and n Failure to Kneel at
Proper Times Called POintedly TO
the Attention of the DeIeGates-The
Bishop DepIores the War and
Prays for Peace.
Many members of the Brotherhood OF st.
Andrews were present at the O'Clock
celebration Of the holy communion at
St. Johns Church yesterday morning. Al
O'Clock there was the morning prayer
and litany. the young ladies choir guild
furnishing the music.
At 10 O'Clock the opening devotional e%-
ercisee of the diocesan convention began
In addition TO the large body of delegates
to the convention the church was well
filled with members of the Episcopal
churches of Savannah.
The music for the service was furnished
by the vested choir under direction OF
Prof. Spencer NJ. White. Many of the
delegates had never before seen or heard
a choir of this character and many ex-
pressions of admiration and commenda-
ton were heard from them. Prior to the
holy communion Bishop Nelson delivered
his annual address and charge to the con-
vention This is regarded as one of The
most important and abIest addresses he
has made on such an occasion.
In the opening. Bishop Nelson briefly re-
viewed the history of the diocese, which
was begun seventy-hve years ago by nine
men, who met at st. Pauls Church, Au-
gusta, in August, 1928. and sent forth
stirring appeal to the members of the
church scattered over Georgia TO rally AMI
unite in laudable effort to extend the
principles of this branch of the apostolic
church and to obstruct the drift of church.
men 10 the folds of the denominations
around.
This was years after the planting of
the gospel in the coast cities. Sectarians
of various kinds had entered into and pos
sessed The land, and by this time were
strongly entrenched among the Inhabitants
of the new republic, and at the date men,
toned, while they. under their then simple
methods of CHARACTERIZATION, were working
In well articulated organizations, the
church had not yet made her influence
felt through the length and breadth of this
commonwealth"
Bishop Nelson referred to the several
forces at work in the early years of the
century antagonistic 10 the development
growth, prosperity and usefulness of the
Episcopal Church. Disbursements and
difficulties, real and obvious, confronted
the church here and elsewhere and at the
first convention of the diocese of Georgia
they We're felt, appreciated and steps taken
to manfully meet and overcome them
The situation" the bishop continued
with certain national and a few local
changes, Is bettered indeed, but very few
far from being completely and radically al
tered The external disposition is some
what modified, it has not disappeared. We
still hear the old gibe and the prejudice
or the eighteenth century has given place
to the prescription of the nineteenth The
right of Episcopalians to the territory Is
questioned, on the ground that 1t has
been covered by Others The answer is
simple and direct. we deplore our apathy.
we appreciate your zeal we applaud the
good and blessed service you have done:
but we have a distinct testimony 10 bear
to apostolic truth and order; sacramental
GIFTS to bestow, specific Interpretation of
the scriptures to perpetuate, and a divine
code of ethics to be taught without sub
fractions or additions, and the unity of a
Visible national church to promote; a COM
bination not presented in the broad land
otherwise than in the church which we
represent TO YOU This answer" said
the bishop. is easily learned and is not soon
forgotten"
The effect of this church policy and its
measures Is telling year by year. The
church is growing in the affections and es-
TEEN Of
the proporhonate faith of our predecessors
OF lS2S. continued the bishop, "and more
OF their spirit of sacrifice, our annual
statements would be surprisingly greater
Ii Is vice which still dings to a multitude
of professed churchmen that thew love the
church because 1t Is the best, they love
their minister because he Is theirs, but
selhshly, with no burning zeal for the pro-
pagation of truth, no industry to extend
Its benefits, no enthusiasm for its missions,
no care for other than local, immediate.
selfish interests, and love is exhausted in
the perpetual effort to adorn and enrich
the local habitation with no thought of
the great privileges we have TO carry TO
others and the large number to whom thew
VIII be revelation. The fewness of the
helpers and the smallness of their help
combine to make the outlook disoourag-
ing"
Bishop Nelson then pointed out the mea
gre increase in the gifts TO the several
church funds: I'VE are living" said he
almost exclusively upon the accumula-
lions of our predecessors to which we ada
little in interest and almost nothing in
principal. We have not their faith and we
do not show their works" THE diocese
might as easily support five bishops now
as II could one when Elliott was elected
yes, II Is said, but we had his personal
influence to help and encourage Exactly
and with more bishops you could have II
again. There is not the man living or dead
who could be an Elliott to all the churches
and missions of the diocese at the presenl
time. by reason of the vast territory and
the innumerable demands, the benefcia
effeets of that close personal contact o,
those early days is put out of the question
Such personal interest applied in each OF
at least four of our cities at the present
time would make itself felt again as il
did IN Savannah. Let US not lightly pas,
by the report Of the committee, which
deals witt this subject"
Turning TO the state of the diocese
Bishop Nelson stated that every parish /,
filled and every mission has regular min
Situations. Never, TO his knowledge. ha.
the diocese had stronger or more earn.