The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-19
BISHOP BREWERS VIEWS
Topics of Current Interest Com
mented Upon in Passing.
CONVOCATI0N ADDRESS
He Deprecates the Criticism of the Ad-
ministration's Policy in the Philip
pines-The Past Year in the
Episcopal Church.
Special Dispatch to the STANDARD.

special DlSpalCn TO the standard,
Helena, June 1s.--The ninth annual
convocation of the Episcopal church
of Montana commenced in Helena to-
day with appropriate exercises at st.
Peters Episcopal church. There are
between So and 40 clerical and lay dele
gates in attendance. The convocation
sermon was preached this morning by
Rev. c. H. Lindley of Missoula, Rev.
Mr.. Blackiston of Butte, who had in
tended to preach, being detained at
home by illness of his family.
This evening st. Peters church was
crowded, the principal feature of the
evening service being Bishop Brewers
convocation address. He spoke for
about half an hour, giving a terse and
interesting summary of the years his
tory of the church in Montana since
the last convocation, at the same time
touching upon some of the momentous
events that have transpired in the
country's history during the past -
months The triumphs of the Ameri-
can army and navy in the late war
with Spain, the signing of the peace
treaty and the subsequent trouble with
the insurgents were commented upon,
as well as the new duties devolving
upon the nation in administering gov
eminent to the inhabitants of the ISL
ands that have been acquired. The en-
larged fold of the church was also re-
ferred to. The bishop said that he dep
recated the criticisms that had been
made of the governments actions in
the Philippines. Until peace had been
restored there the government should
be sustained and differences of opinion
as to the manner of handling the ISL
ands postponed. He felt that congress
could be trusted to settle the vexed
problems of governing the country
when the proper time came. Whether
this country should embark upon a
career of colonization was something
that could not be determined now. If
it was deemed the wisest course, he
believed like the other great English
speaking nations, justice would be
melted out to the peoples affected
which in the end would result in glory
to the whole nation and rebound to the
cause of Christianity.
Turning from national affairs, the
bishop told what the Episcopal church
had done in Montana in the past year
He was glad to note that the clergy
are taking more pains to prepare the
candidates for ordination. There had
generally been a growth in the number
of communicates. Although there had
been falling off in some instances, he
| believed this was, perhaps. the result
| of defective parochial reports rather
/ than any lapsing. He felt gratified in
I the increase of funds subscribed in the
| diocese for missionary purposes and
| praised the work of the Women's
| guilds, whose assistance to the church
| had become valuable. During the year
| three new churches had been built, at
| Wibaux Centervile and Hamilton. A
number of parishes had reported hav-
| ing gotten out of debt.
The bishop spoke feelingly of the SER
| vices of the Rev. C. E. Dobson, who
| had been compelled to resign the Ana
| conda parish on account of ill health,
| and had been succeeded by Rev. Alfred
| Brown. He said he had recently re-
| ceived letter from Mr.. Dobson, who
| has regained his health, asking to re-
| turn to the diocese provided he can be
| given a field of work in a lower alti-
| tude than in the mountainous section
of the state, a request that would be
remembered. The bishop said that he
| had recently paid the treasurer of the
diocese the sum of $4,000, received as a
legacy from Mrs. Lucien Lord.
st. Johns parish of Butte came in for
praise for assistance that had been
rendered the new church in Centerville
During the year the bishop delivered
1874 sermons, baptized 10 children, con-
| firmed 20I persons, celebrated holy
| communion So times and officiated al
| two marriages The bishop was absen,
from the diocese four months of the
| year, attending church meetings ano
working in the interest of the do
| cese.
Tomorrow the business of the con
vention will commence in accordance
with the programme printed in to-day's
Standard.