Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-05-20
EPISCOPAL COUNCIL.
THIRD pAY-MoRN1NG SESSION.

| Cl- dul 3 CuuTCD, hlCnmOnu, L TluhS,
May 10, 1S99.-The third days session
OF the Episcopal Council of Virginia
opened with religions exercises this
morning at 1880 o'clock at st. Paul's
Church. The business session was
opened by Bishop Whittle two hours
later with smaller attendance.
The committee on parochal reports
submitted its report setting forth the
work done during the year and the
status of the diocese, in part, as follows:
baptisms-adults, white, 142; colored,
3; total 147. IOfants-whte, 432; col
ored, IL total, 443. Grand total, $50
Con6rmations-white, GOA; colored, y;
total, GIG. Communicants-white, TO-,
ILL., colored, AS; total, 1879. Sunday
schools-white teachers, 1,014; scholars,
1869; total, 1888. Colored teachers,
81; scholars, $685. total, 1913, Grand to-
tai, GIG
Contributions, sS,12O. Parochial
schools-paid teachers, II; scholars, 554;
total, 81. Members of the brother
hood, 120; Brotherhood of st. Andrew,
3S3; Woman's Auxiliary, 1904. Total
contributions, S1S5, 6S602.
The Rev. Preston Nash presented
the report of the Virginia Prayer Book
| Distribution Society. a memorial from
the committee was accepted by coun
Gil authorizing the society to add the
hymnal to the prayer book for distrl-
button as soon as the funds of the So
ciety will permit.
The reports of the Bruce fund and
the Episcopal fund were presented by
| the Rev. E. Meade for Revs. Jno. Nc
| Nabb and Carter Page, respectively.
Bishop Penick offered resolution,
which was carried, that so much of the
bishops address as considered the ques-
ton of deficiency of candidates for or
ders be referred to committee to re-
port at the next council.
Bishop Fenick offered a resolution
providing that hereafter when diocesan
mission work is desired one speaker
| shall explain the needs of the cities,
another those of the country. neither to
exec ed twenty minutes Rev. K. A.
Goodwin followed on the same line and
spoke against Sunday excursions and
the degrading influence of whisky.
The subject was discussed at length.
Bishop PeDick s resolution was not car
ried and the resolution to offer an op-
| portunity for presenting the needs OF
city work sometime during the council
was then passed which called for an
! hour to be devoted to this purpose dur
\ inn q M atipn nj 10 pOI1ppil
Messrs. Valentine and Rose, Of Rich
mond, were appoiI ted on the vacancies
,, IN the board of trustees Of the invested
funds OF the diocese.
Rav. G.. w. Nelson preached on the
Influence of the Holy Ghost"
The most interesting discussion OF the
days session was on the proposition to
amend article five of the constitution on
the election of q bishop, making the
concurrent votes of both orders, the
clergy and laity. necessary 10 choice,
the voting to be by ballot. Hitherto
the vote of the laity has been to APP
prove or disapprove the action Of the
clergy in the election, without any OPP
portunity of speaking on the nomina-
tons for bishop. At present only the
clergymen can vote for these dignita-
ries of the church.
Mr.. Joseph Bryan called attention to
the fact that at present the laity was
compelled to sit mute while the amend.
ment, if adopted, would work advan.
tageously, as some times the laity
might know something of candidates
which the clergy ought to be informed
Of After further. discussion the amend
ment was unanimously adopted.
The report of the finance committee
was as follows: Contingent fund, 81
ISL 25 interest on bank balances,
| $40. %; total ordinary receipts, 81, 663.-
81. Dividend on Southern Railway
preferred stock, S5S; contributed by
Bishop White from his salary, $500;
brought forward from previous year,
1894 80; gross total, S9,216.14. The Or
binary expenses during the year
amounted to $6,072 81, and the extraor-
binary expenses to $496,1S, making
total OF S, 56S 80, and leaving balance
on hand of $647 "a. The report showed
the Importance of paying up the assess
ments for the contingent fund more
punctually.
The Rev. George Somerville present
ed the report of the committee on Sun
day schools, giving about 5000 as the
number of children in them, and the
contributions as $1,000, including the
Lenten offerings. The work of the
Sunday school is Justly regarded by
the committee as next in importance to
the ministry of the Divine Word in the
services of the church.
Among ether reports presented was
one recommending the dissolution OF
the Brotherhood, which was represent
ed as practically dead now, the assets
to be turned over TO the fund for the
widows and orphans OF disabled clergy
men. After q good deal of dissension
the subject was referred to special
committee of three clergymen and three
laymen.
The Rev. G. W. Nelson, of Warren.
ton, presented the report OF the COM
mittee on the state OF the church. IL
expressed great thankfulness for the
continuance OF the church of Virginia on
the old foundations OF the faith, es
pecially as regards the Holy Scriptures.
The clergy delight still to preach the
simple truth as it is in Jesus and the
people to hear it. The diocese was con-
graduated on the greatly improved |
health OF Bishop Whittle. The COM
mittee are fully assured that the imam
cial condition of the diocese is good al |
though they regret to say the parochisl