The Jersey City news., 1899-05-16
EPISC0P ALIANS
MEET.
Diocesan Convention Opens
in Grace Church,
Orange Today.
BISHOP STARKEYS ADDRESS
Eloquent Tribute to the Late
Mrs. Martha B. Stevens
To Discuss Parish
Elections.
BISHOP STARKEYS ADDRESS
Especial TO "The Jersey city News."l

Diocesan Convention Of the Protestant
Episcopal Church was opened by the
Right Rev. Bisnop Thos A. Starkey.
Grace Church where the convention Is
being held is one of the prettiest churches
in the Oranges and its rector is the VEN
erable Rev. Dr.. Anthony Schuyler.
He was husti.ng around the churcn al
a very early hour making wretched the
lives of the small army of men putting
the church IN order for the business ses-
sions.
At half past nine O'Clock the bishop
came In and at ten o'clock the ceienra-
ton of the Holy Communion was op-
served. The bishop was the celeorant and
he was assisted by the Very Archdeacon
Mann. Rev. W. ". Davis and Rev. L.
Cameron.
Among the clergy present, this morning,
were the following from HUDSON
County:-Archdeacon VIM. r. Jenvey' Oh
Hoboken; Rev. DIR. Geo. S. Bennitt, OF
Grace Church, Jersey City; Rev. w. r.
Brush. of ST. Paups; Rev. Augustine
El,nendorf, OF Holy Cross; Rev. Elmer
Forbes of St. Johns; Rev. e. Lascelles
.Jenner. of st. johns, Bayonne; Rev. =.
c. Pyle, Grace Church. Greenyille; ReV.
TT Naguirs. St Matthew's, Jersey Clty,
Rev. DR.. Warren. st. Mary's, Jersey CITY
and lay deputies; L. A. Lewis, Oh Hopo-
ken: Capt. Williamson, of Hoboken; x. :.
Stevens Hoboken; Rev. f. M AerAls'
,rrinit. Bergen Point, and Rev. L. +.
Bessen. of Bayonne.
At the close OF the beautiful COM
lnunion service the bishop began his an
nuaI address and his opening words were
as follows
Brethren of the Clergy and Laity-
The past year has been in some respects
a very notable one in our annals anu
destined in all probability to leave en-
during marks in the political and econ
omie history of the country. The Civii
War which came to an end thirty-four
years ago, destroyed slavery on this con-
tinent forever and made out of group OF
discordant communities one united and
harmonious people. 1t required four years
of conflict, bloody almost beyond parallel
to accomplish this result.
..One year only has elapsed from our
last time of meeting and that brief space
of time has seen the reversal of our past
National policy in relation to coloniai
possessions beyond our borders In that
interval great war with an European
kingdom has begun and ended; two large
islands with an alien population of two
and a half millions have been conquered
and possessed, while the Caribbear3 has
been made virtually into an American sea-
way.
s.The exauisitely beautiful Hawaiian
Islands have become American; while
still beyond are the beginnings OF
colonial empire whose eight millions of
mixed and half barbaric races salute the
flag unwillingly off the southeastern
coasts of Asia. 1t is new venture; the
first step in a new national career. Would
be seers, gifted as they believe with pro-
phetic visions. foretell what they think
will be the outcome, while in fact no one
can predict what the future is to be.
For one, do not fear it. If our peo-
ple will only show themselves Christians
in truth as we'll as in name; If they show
themselves capable of reaching UP to the
unusual occasion; If for them the prob
lem to be solved shall be not merely an
economic, but a moral and religious one,
then even politicians may be found 10
have built better than they knew and
the result verify once more the oft quoted
words of Hamlet
!. There's divinity doth shape our ends,
Rough hew them how we will.
Turning to general work, the Bishop
touchingly referred to the death of Mrs.
Martha B. Stevens of Castle Point ana
said
.sThe life of my dear and honored friend
70 of
church in Hoboken and with various
charities that her name must always be
associated with their history. She built
and endowed and afterwards enlarged
and beautified the parish church to whose
interests she was SO devoted, and 1nsti-
tutions like Christ Hospital and ST. Kath-
arine's, in Jersey City, and the old ladies'
home in Hoboken numbered her among
+ba;r most generous benefactors. Such a
life where simple kindness went ever
hand in hand with unstinted charity
roads no eulogy. 1t creates unconscious
ly as it goes on its own memorial
The Bishop then spoke OF the history
of the diocese which, during the year, he
said had been uneventful, but its prog
ress had been satisfactory. Three Bish-
ons had died during the year. he said,
and one local rector, the Rev. j. Parsons,
af Hackensack The financial condition
of the diocese was in very satisfactory
state and although many of the churches
had been hampered with dull times
among their supporters, yet their progress
had not been retarded AS for the de-
tails Of the church work, the Bishop
referred to the archdeacons' reports
The business session then opened with
the reelection of the Secretary, the Rev'
J. 6. Appleton. and Treasurer Henry
HAYES. The election Of the standing
committees will take place tomorrow
morning, when there promises to be
very lively balloting. The reports OF
Christ Hospital, Jersey City and of Arch
deacon william r. Jenvey on the Jersey
civ parishes will be read tomorrow
morning.
Some time during the day there Will pc
an animated discussion on certain changes
n narfsh elections. The subject is the
proposed supplement to the Religious So
cieties act and proposed under joint COM
mittees Of the Dioceses Of Newark and