The Delawarean., 1900-06-09
THE DIOCESAN
CONVENTION.
Bishop Coleman Told Why He
Gould Not Accept Seat in
THE "ECUMENICAL" CONFERENCE
Saw Therein Lamentable Confession
of Church Differences Which
So Greatly Hinder Evangeli-
cation of Heathen Lands.

The Episcopal clergy and laity of
Delaware were present in Milford
on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,
at their 114th annual Diocesan Con-
vention, and they accomplished the
transaction of much important bust
ness.
The convention was presided over by
Rt. Rev Leighton Coleman. bishop of
Wednesday morning by delivering his
annual address and presenting his
triennial charge.
Bishop Coleman's address touched
upon the growth of the church in this
country. In 1900 there were only ten
dioceses with eight bishops and 225
other clargymen Now, in 1900. there
are fifty-eight dioceses, twenty-one
missionary jurisdictions, eighty bish-
ops and 1900 other clergy men, There
were only 10000 commuli:ants a cen
tury ago. Now there are nearly 100000
The bishop reported the building this
year of new churches at 81. Matthew's,
Wilmington, and All Sans, Delmar.
S Minot Curtis was elected secretary
of the convention for the sortieth year.
BY rising vote the convention decided
TO meet next year at at Rehoboth.
a new committee was formed known
as the committee on constitution and
cannons. as follows: Rev. Charles N.
Spaulding, D. D., Archdeacon Hail.
and Judge Edward G. Bradford The
following standing committee was
chosen: Rev H. Ashton Henry, d. D.,
Rev. X. j. Hammond, D. d., Rev ]. L.
McKim S. NJ. Curtis and Judge Ed
ward G. Bradford Last night the
committee held a meeting and organ
lied with the following officers Presi-
dent, Mr.. Henry; Secretary, Mr.. Ham
mond.
Rev. F. NJ. Munson, D. D., and Joseph
Swift We're elected delegates to the mis-
sionary council. The following mis-
sionary and educational committee was
selected Rev William j. Wilkie. Rev.
E. X. Miller, F. G. dupont and John S
Grohe. James ]. Ross and Charles NJ
Curtis were elected trustees to fill va
cancies Rev NJ. B. Dunlap was elect
ed registrar and William R. Brinckle
treasurer.
Bishop Coleman disproved of the re-
cent ecumenical conference in New
York, observing that he received an
invitation to the conference, but did
not attend. He said:
Far from rejoicing at what appear
ed to some as beautiful exhibition of
comfy and unity, it was to me a mel
ancholy confession of a practical dis
cord and real variance. The spirit of
those composing the Heterogeneous as
sembly may have been faultless as to
charity, but there were present too
many evidences of determined and ap-
parently irreconcilable differences to
enable the spirit to atone sufficiently
for the grievous wounds on the body
of Christ by reason of their differ
ences.
'The spectacle of so much diversity
of preaching the Gospel and of so much
multiplicity of organizations is not
only stumbling block in the way of
Christianizing heather people, but of
others who are reckoned among the
civilized. Its removal is the one great
desideratum in all missionary work
while no doubt some benefit may
be derived from the comparison of
various methods and results in the
friendly spirit manifested lately in New
York, there is woeful need of much
else before such gatherings become the
object of rejoicing and hope"
A dramatic scene was enacted
a q a q a a