Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-08
CHURCHMEN IN SESSION
One Hundred and Thirteenth Annual Con-
YentlOn Of the Diocese of Delaware.
1T OPENED TODAY AT ST. JOHNS
Arohdeacon George C. Halls
Interesting Report.
WORK AMONG THE CoLORED PEOPLE

Protestant Episcopal Church in the
Diocese of Delaware was opened in st.
Johns Church, Market street and Cen
cord avenue, yesterday. A missionary
meeting was held In the church last
evening, at which addresses were de-
livered by Silas McBee, editor of The
Churchman, and the Rev. 9. N,
Spaulding, d. D., Of Laurel. The
clergy present included. Bishop Cole.
man, Archdeaoon Hall, the Revs M.
B. Dunlap, II. Ashton Henry, Henry
Ward Cunningham, Kinsey J. Ham
mond Of this city; DIR. G. N. Srauld-
ing of Laurel; j. Leighton McKim Of
Seaford E. X. Miller of Newport and
F. Lewis Of Delaware City; q. r.
weeden of Clayton, and j. 2. Du
Hamel of Dover.
OPENING OF CONVENTION.
Morning prayer was said in the
church yesterday by the Revs. j. P.
Du Hanell of Dover, and z. X. Miller
Of Newport, and at its conclusion the
convention assembled in the parish
house. Bishop Coleman presiding.
Secretary s. Minot Curtis OF Newark
was in his place. John s. Grohe Of
Trinity parish was appointed assistant
secretary. The rules of the last con
vention were adopted.
The Rev. e. X. Miller, Mr.. Moore
Of Georgetown and George F. Brady of
Middletown were appointed COM
mittee on unfinished business.
The Rev. George O. Hall Of st.
Johns, presented his annual report as
archdeaoon Of Wilmington, in which
he spoke of the reduction of the debt
Of All Saints Chapel, Rehoboth, to
$500, Of the meeting of the Arch
deaconry of Wilmington. and of the
need of aid for ST. Matthew's Mission
for colored people.
AS TO THE coIoRED PEOPLE.
II am we'll AWARE said Mr.. Hall,
that there are those who honestly
believe that others are better qualified
than we to reach these people and give
them saving and elevating truth; that
the Methodists and Romanists, il
may speak Of them in this connection
for example, can do for them what we
are unable to do. That, however, is
an acknowledgment which for one
am unwilling TO make. 1t means that
we as church lack at least some Of
the gifts which God bestows for mis-
sionary activity among the very classes
which in our age most need the Gospel !;
Or while we preach the same essential
truth, we, by perpetuating apostolic
practice and accepting what the
highest and purest spirit of devotion
has produced, have acquired services
that handicap us for successful evan
gelistic work among some conditions
OF men, 4f..
Instead Of thinking that, / believe
that the colored race in our country
today would be much further on in
betterment, " it more largely
worshipped in our churches. There
is room enough In our rites for the
requisite and healthful exercise Of its
emotional nature. 1t is a question
whether the baokman in this part Of
his life has not his greatest peril L,
within the year, upon earnest solicit
tation, Of Sunday evening, entered
the grounds of a colored bush meeting.
What | saw and heard was painful
iravesty upon religion, demoralizing
orgie in the name and with the sanction
Of Christianity. The minister, himself
colored man from neighborine
State, left the meeting in short time
after the sermon, because he blushed
at what occurred. y II, as il
probably the case, millions OF this folk
in the country at large have nothing
essentially better, is it any wonder thai
the lower instincts dominate and fire
quently result In outrages that stii
communities into revengeful indig-
nation?
The fact that they as .
race undoubtedly are inferior to ouI
own; that while the centuries in slav
cry by no means were an unmixed evil
they yet accumulated and SO to say un
folded the disposition to become de
pendents in that undue measure fol
which we often blame them that the!
through emancipation and entrance
upon citizenship acquired prerogative
Or which they were wholly unfit fact
ike these make it absolutely impera
live that we, the white men, through
she Church Of the Triune God, figura
lively speaking take the black men b,
the hand and help them up to th'
strength of character, that they I'm
aided will reach SO as to cease to be
1exation to the body polite"
Mr.. Hall made plea for the supper
Of the project to build church for tn
figures to show what Christianity ha
done. He thus concluded:
Less and better politics on the par
OF many Of her SONS, more bushes
conducted BY them, not simply for self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT but for use in the ser
vice of Almighty God, and under en-
llstment in the noble operations tina
Christ, the great King, is inspiring TO
the upliftal of the race and the inau
guration Of the reign OF eternal trut
and justice, will make the church ON
nipotent as the evangelizing and civil
izing agency in the earth.'
On motion, the section of the repor
referring to work among the colore
people. was made the special order TO
4 O'clock.
recess was taken for services in tn
church, the holy communion bein
celebrated.
:, The sermon was preached by the Rev
+. M. Munson of New Castle, who's
text was st. Mark 4, 1894.
AZ the business session which fol
lowed the service, reports were receive
rom the standing committee, mis-
sionary and education committee, tn
trustees of the diocese, and tn
treasurer.
The missionary and education CON
mIittee reported the following receipts
u From churches, 81, DIG 80 from Sunday
s schools, 1863. 20; special offertories
gao 40; personal contributions, 1886. 5a
i loan, 5000; balance, S135.3l. &
Inc Rev. q. N. Spaulding, r. L
= Armstrong and e. r. Paynter wer
appointed committee on ne
il Bishop Coleman invited the member
J u me convention to spend the evenir
NJ w. bishopstead. The invitation VT