The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-20
THE LAITY GIVEN
POWER TO VOTE.
CONTINUED from First PageJ

Continued from First faBe)
right 90 participate in the election OF
Bishop and Bishop-Coadjutor. while under
the constitution as IN stands no" Uie
clergymep only have the right TO eject
while the lay delegates only nave '"'
right t0 reject.
Rev. :. 5. Ware. Of Port Royal opposed
the report. saying that he thought the
clergy was better fitted than the lalty
10 know the fitness OF certain men iof
these offices.
The only thing that could be said
against the Lass AS it stood now was that'
apparently. it inierfered With coordinate
rights and privileges 0f the two orders OK
the clergy and iaity.
80 MORE POWER
A good deal 0t discussion was brousnl
on by the consideration OF this amend
ment. during which Rev. il. b. Lee point
ed out trat This measure practically did
not give the iaity any additional power
as they DOW had The right OF rejecting.
The only thing intended by the amend
ment was $50 give the laity the right 10
participate in tho deliberations, 20 ask
questions and make suggestions.
Mr. Joseph Bryan called attention 10
the fact that a present the lAty was
compelled 90 sit mute. while the amend
mtnt, II adopted. would work advantas-
eousiy s- some times the iaity msht
know something OF candidates when Inc
clergy ought tO be informed OF. Ihose
who had been present az recent elections
OK assistant bishops would admit that
50 was mortiryins 90 see that the lalty
had 10 SIT mute during the discussion
and even was not allowed 10 leave the
meeting. although the chair was perfect
IN right 20 rule So under the existing law.
AMENDMENT ADOPTED.
Rev. Mr. bowman stated that when
De was preparing the report ne wrote 20
"A number OF li0coses and that every one.
except one. had the law as &c was In
tended hy rhc amendment.
The amendment was finally adopted
without O. dissenting voice.
The question under discussion when the
rel gious services Interrupted the busi-
ness session was taken up again and
bishop peunk spoke la detail DOB favor of
his proposition TO have in the future dur
ing the discussion of diocesan missionary
work the needs ~ the city ana The needs
" the country distinctly presented.
All he asked, he said, was that the
same consideration bee given the CITY
people rs had been extended 60 the people
lu The country
The Chair stated that tho amendment
offered by Rev llr Goodwin was practi-
cauy "a substitute and under the rules
was ont of order az his time. Mr. Good
win then Withdrew bis amendment and
the resolution offered by Bishop Penick
was voted down.
FOR SPECIAL DISCUSSION
Mr. Goodwin at once again presented hts
resolution. which was adopted. Il was
as follows.
Resolved That q special hour De scr
apart during our next Council for the
consideration Of the religious needs OK The
city.
Resolved. That tho Bishop be request
cd 10 appoint n speaker 10 introduce the
subject-after whose speech there shall
be q general discussi0n-speeches limited
To five minutes
Mr. Joseph Bryan presented the report
Of the Finance Committee and expressed
regret that that committee had not found
the same prosperous condition as the
Committee on Condition o. Church. The
receipts OF the church during the past
year were as follows: Contingent fund.
s. 5st25: interest on bank balances. $685.:
total ordinary receipts N66}6l Dividend
on Southern Railway preferred stock.
s5S; contributed by Bishop Whittle from
his salary. $500. brought forward from
previous year s99f5e. gross total. S92i6t.
THE EXPENSES.
Tho ordinary expenses during that
period amounted 10 ySCl212. and The extra
ordinary EXPENSES 20 s9ft2. making
total Of &c 5s2 30 and leaving a balance on
hand of S6i7 IT,
THE COMMITTEES CRITICISM.
The report then continues.
From these statements it viii be seen
that the ordinary expenses OK the Diocese,
to-wit, si.6Sl52. exceeded the ordinary
receipts tO-wit.. Sl6ls.n, by $SLo2 while
the extraordinary expenses for the year
including the expenses OF deputies 10 the
General Convention and the assessment
ON the Diocese for expenses OF General
Convention exceeded the extraordinary
expenses 81 last year by s2o593.
eve We're fortunate In being abls 10
carry forward last year a balance 81
f99453. This has been reduced 10 {cil.2A
Of which sum 500 has been generously
contributed by the Bishop out Of hts SAL
airy But for this self-deuiai of the bishop
the fund on hand would be to-day only
siI14
Your committee feel bound 20 say that
this narrow margin upon which we arc
moving IS now entirely unJu~tihable.
Last year your committee said We
doubt not that the growth OF the church
and the return Of a normal condition Of
prosperity in the country Will eyentu-
ally increase the contingent fund so rs
TO give "a reserve-which IS highly de-
sirable'
This reasonable expectation has been
disappointed. The church has grown and
certainly a normal condition Of prosper
ity IN the country has returned. but We
ind that the collections from the con-
tingent fund for the prosperous year OF
1850 is only $50 more than In the year
1861. when the country was IN a state
al distress and prostratiOn. Your com
mltee are obliged 20 say that they do not
think this unfortunate condition rs due
% the members of the church. They be-
llnve that II he rectors warned their con-
gregatiOns Of the necessity Of this con-
tingent fund. and II the treasurers were
more diligeut In collecting II, we would
not be lowering upon the border line Of
an absolute deficiency, a deficiency which
would inevitably have occurred, If the
General Assembly had been held az re-
mote spot and the usual expenses or
donutles had been collected
THE COUNCILS RULE
.g. has been distinctively established
nc the rule 81 collection OF this contin.
es,, fund that 81 should be upon each
oorereqati0n in the proportion Of one
49, for each COMMUNICATE. This does
. ,,oo, that evarv commnrioant r. -
pad, thnt dollar. because some are I'M
.t, a. NV ord others are n'cre than