The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-26
THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE.
Doings Of the Annual Convention
in Portland.
BISHOP NELLY TALKS OF THE WAR
WITH SPAIN.
The Business of the Convention Quietly
and Expeditiously Transacted-An In
dustrial Problem Incidentally Dis

dustrial Problem incidentally Dis
cussed.
| The 10Th annual convention of the Epis.
copal diocese of Maine is in progress at
St. Luke's cathedral.
The convention opened with morning
prayer, by Dean stills and Rev. I. G.
Forth. After prayer the business session
was called to order in the parish house
by Bishop Nicely. Thirty-one clergy an6
eighteen lay delegates responded to the
roll call. tE5
Rev. j. B. Shepherd was authorized to
cast the ballot of the convention for Rev.
Dean Stills as secretary.
The bishop appointed the following
standing committee:
| On Canons--Dean Stills, Canons Letting.
we'll and Ogden, j. M. Brown and r.
Fl. Gardiner.
Finance-Messrs George o. K. Cram,
w. ID. Stinson, J. B. Coleman.
Diocesan Education-Rev. James W.
Sparks. Rev. Charles E. Sweet, Rev. G.
+. Ogden.
Unfinished Business-Dean Stills, Rev.
j. B. Shepherd, Benjamin Small.
New Parishes-Rev. I. G. Fortin, Rev.
William +. Livingstone, William P.
Moody.
Under the usual resolution of welcome
to visiting clergy and candidates for holy
orders, Rev. j. Monroe Royce took seat
in the convention.
The bishop announced that he had Civ
en- his consent to the organization of a
mission of the church of Good Shepherd,
in Shawmut, oonditionally, and also to
the organization of the mission of Den
nistown, where all the conditions of the
canon had been fulfilled. This action was
ratified by a vote of the convention.
Mr.. S. W. Lane, referring to some mis-
apprehension which had arisen about the
Interpretation of certain changes made in
the law of the incorporation Of parishes,
offered the following resolution, which
was adopted:
Resolved, That chapter $50 of the pri-
vate and special laws of 1859, entitled
can act to provide for the organization
of parishes of the Protestant Episcopal
church in Maine," should be amended as
| follows:
First, amend Section of said act by
striking out the last two words, "Easter
week, and inserting instead the words,
"the first week in Advent"
Second. amend Section by striking
out the words EASTER week. and in
sorting instead the words, "the first week
in Advent"
Third, amend Section 10 by striking
out the words EASTER week." and insert.
ing instead the words "the first week in
| Advent"
Resolved, That committee be appoint
od IN ho no wv c1o 60,
the foregoing proposed amendments.
The chairman appointed as that com
mittee, S. W. Lane and W. 6. Ellis.
The reports of the treasurer of the dio.
cese and the treasurer of the Maine Epis
copal Missionary Society were presented
and referred to the standing committee.
The secretary was authorized to cast
the ballot of the convention for Mr.. Will
liam G.. Ellis as treasurer of the diocese.
The convention then proceeded to the
election of standing committee, Rev. W
r. Livingstone and Mr.. j. Ambrose Mer
: rill acting as tellers. This committed
was chosen: Rev. Dean Stills, Rev. J.
W. Sparks, Messrs. j. M. Brown, W. g.
Ellis and r. Fl. Gardiner.
At IL O'Clock the business session ad
journed till $50, and holy communion
was administered in the church, follow
ing which Bishop Nicely delivered hi
ref erred to the war between the United
States and Spain:
3 A ssembled orce more to consult to
, gether for the extension and upbuildina
of the kingdom of the Prince of Peace
! we hear all around us the tumultuou
clamor of war. Our own nation is en-
gagged in deadly strife with another nom
inally Christian nation, and we are oallet
to uphold her hands in that struggle
1t is plain, then. that the time has no
come when, under the dominion of tn
, Prince of Peace nation should not lift u,
sword against nation, and when 9Th
people should beat their swords int
J ploughshares and their spears into pru
ming hooks" And that not merely be
cause all the Kingdoms of the world hay
not, as yet. become even in name tn
kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ
for there is, as often before, bloody con
tiict between nations protesting com
mon allegiance to the King whose thron
is higher than that of the kivks Of tn
earth.
And some of us have, in our genera
ton, beheld even a stranger and NOR
fearful conflict. We have seen our ow
Christian nation divided against Itself
and brethren in Christ engaged agains
each other in mortal contention.
Where, then, are there any tokens of tn
reign on earth of the Prince of Peace, Q
of any progress made toward the estat
lishment of His dominion? g.
When such questions are asked, lie
there be recalled His own remarkable dec
laratlon; "Think not that / am come
send peace on earth; came not to sen
peace, but sword'' This does noJ mea
that those who enroll themselves unde
his banner must be ready to yindicate an
enforce His personal claims, and to fur
, Their His cause, even by the hand of vic
lence.
Quite a contrary doctrine was explicit
taught by Him. but 1t does mean tina
His mission is not to bring about peac
through any compromise or compact G
; good with evil, truth with falsehood
. righteousness with unrigheousness. Ie j
5 come to dispossess the strong man armed
the prince of this world, to destroy tn
works OF the devil, and to set up His ow
throne in righteousness, and His follow
t ers are warned that the peace which the
may have in and through Him must b
peace in the midst of conflicts, until tina
Gay when His peOplo shall be all right