The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-19
cHURCHMEN IN CONVENTION.
CONTINUED from Eighth Page.)

a re marks Whcn ADMIT no dispute as 10
their meaning.
,he bishop stated the principal features
70 be a follows:
The constitution, fully debated at our
last session, win be put upon its final
passage. I trust we shall have no OBJ
etuctions to its speedy enactment
.0The sessions of the canons and rules
90 order has been on our hands for three
Years Your committee deserves to have
its work passed upon and our diocesan
laws should not be left In a state of fiux.
"O,ir delegation 20 the general convent
ton is 20 be elected. Great subjects will
ba brought into our legislation; amend
,1ents 10 the constitution, the canons on
marriage and divorce, on provinces, on
an appellate court, the use of the Book
81 common Prayer. The selection of
~nan 10 weigh, to debate and determine
he propositions now before us should be
nraverfully and carefully made. Some
If the issues are vital and far. reaching,
and require for the proper consideration
clear heads, pure minds and studious in
vestlga ton of abuses here sought to be
remedied.
q strong picture of conditions existing in
Georgia: Very near to the heart of every
one of US ought to be the responsibility
f,r the extension of the gospel in this
great mission field Of Georgia, with its
ioothsome immoralities, its perverted IL s.
lice. its prevailing disregard of the value
Of human life, its degradation of man
tood and womanhood in the Infamous,
hprous convict camps, its conteutfnent
with distorted views of religion and a pro-
uganda of sectism. Its gleeful delight in
pulpit buffoonery and rasplng raillery,
Ito kak4 -
scriptures profanely hurled out In vulgar
anpeals TO the emotions and sensations
which demand the most cautious and
nraverful treatment as spiritual diseases.
Where is there to be found a greater need
for the SOLDERING introspection of the real
gospel Where more than here the de-
mands for dignity In worship caution
in condemnation, definiteness of aim and
consistency Of life which the church inn
presses upon the reason and conscience of
mankind by her thorough orderly, COM
plete system Of teaching all the funaa-
mental verlties and accessory graces of
the religion OF Jesus Christ"
The necessity of greater interest being
manifested in missions was pointed out
and then the most important question to
come before the convention, the division
of the diocese was treated at some length.
1T Is a question surrounded with senti-
ment but should not be settled by senti-
mentaHsm. / see no reason why, from
every point of view, the subject may not
be debated calmly, dispassi onately, accu-
rately. Let US simply ascertain whether
we ought TO divide whether we can divide,
and how, If so, it is best to divide for the
independent strength and future progress
Of the diocese created out of this which Is
first in area and population and fourth in
size of territory entrusted TO one bishop.
I shall be 10th, when 1t becomes necessary,
to sever any ties formed in my episcopate,
but I shall not allow any false pride, self
interest or private preference to prevail
over my settled conviction of duty and
ability"
Bishop Nelson stated in a most emphatic
manner and in the most positive terms
that he would endorse the action OF tho
convention in the matter. Furthermore
he stated, he had not given to any person,
even to his wife, any intimation as to
which diocese he would select to preside
over in the event of division being made.
He would reach no conclusion In such
matter until the division Is actually made
He would not divide the diocese. That was
a matter for the convention.
AS giving an insight into the value Of
work now falling on the bishop he stated
that he had, during a period Of about
eight months in the past year, PAID nfty-
seven visits for confirmation, confirming
All persons. He had held $50 services, with
seventy-five celebrations of the holy COM
munion, and preached 145 times. He had
made ninety-six separate visits in that
time to churches and missions at seventy
three different points. He bapIized four
children and two adults, married two
couples, buried three people. laid one cor
nerstone, consecrated one church, attend
ed forty meetings mailed 1850 churches
and Travelled %, 90 miles.
Referring to the archdeaconal system,
Bishop Nelson said that six years trial
of this feature of the missionary canon
enables him to say that he discerns clearly
great failure in the system, because 1t has
not been fully worked. The single in
stance in which an archdeacon has been
in actual and continuous discharge of
the mixed and multiplied duties of his
Office is a signal success. Compelled to be
IN part general missionary actually min
Rtering to the needs of fifteen or twenty
stations, he has been simply invaluable in
those directions which alone afford abund-
ant occupation for such an officer The
various important duties falling to the
archdeacon were mentioned showing that
they have developed a position which Is
no sinecure, have justified the title in
It's every aspect, and illumined 1t as an
institution suited to the needs of the
american church.
The purpose of the canon having been
realized, and its spirit tested, it is quite
ume that we should obey our own law
ana make special provision for the arch
ueacons, whether, as Is the case or not,
me income from their fields warrant a
special outlay" The bishop announced il
as ms intention to develop the strength
OF this canon by the employment of so
many archdeacons detached from parish
work, as may be practicable with the re-
sources at his command. At the same time,
Tor the greater convenience of association,
ne VIII set off Brunswick, with the par
iShes and missions around about as d
separate district. More frequent meetings
III the archdeaconrles were urged, and the
committee on missions was urged to devise
means for more regular and effective meet
Ihgs OF the clergy and laity of the sew
eral districts. In the bishops opinion, con-
stegationalism is responsible for failure in
this important matter.
The work OF the Lambeth conference
was discussed at some length. The ques-
uohs discussed there were mentioned, and
me opinion expressed that the utterances
OF that body carry with them weight and
value not equalled by any acts of the