The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-18
'emony Wit 'aSt ThrOng.
 Es PRESENT
St. I, Luul.h Scene 0f Impressive occasion. Bishop Thomas U. Dudley of Ken- lucky Presided and Bishop G. H. Kinsolving of Texas Preach
 ed a Sermon of Great
 Power.

With solemn splendor and impressive dignity, beftting the occasion Dr' Charles Minnigerode Beckwith Of Texas in the presence of a great concourse oi ~,.or,e that filled the beautiful edifice to pvsraowine. was inducted into his sacred office. Bishop of the Episcopal Church 5;ocAse of Alabama at St. Johns Church yesterday.
 Interest in the occasion was enhanced hv the presence of eight distingulsheo prelates of the church and nearly every ane of the clergymen of the State. The smnosing figures of the Bishops, wear ing their Episcopal robes, the clergy men in their yestments of snowy white ness, the vested choir, the superp music and the impressive ritualistlc service or inc consecration combined to make spectacle beautiful in its soiemni'y anu inspiring in its dignity.
 As if to emphasize the softness or ola winters cline in the Southland. cut now CTS of rare sweetness were placed inside the chancel rail and intensified the beauty of the scene.
 St Johns Is one of the most imposing houses of worship in Alabama. It's seat Ing capacity is perhaps the largest or any church in the city. It was niied with h consregation that listened with pro found interest to the ceremony so fraugnt with meaning, not only to those or the Episcopal Church of the State. but to ev- cry citizen of the State; a ceremony that gave to the Episcopal Diocese of Alsba- ma a leader one who Is to dwell within Alabama as the head of one of its great church organizations, one who Is to walk fin the steps trod by the great Nicholas ETanner -Cobbs, to lift aloft the standard eo long borne by the scholarly end de- vout Richard Hooker wItmer. ts teach his people and win their love as did the xealous and earnest Robert Woodward Barnwell. s-f .-.s---,
 A Vast Congregation.
 while a majority of the people or the two Montgomery parishes of the Episco- pal Church were in the. conSregauon which witnessed the ceremony. the big couerexation was not confined to mmbers of, the Episcopal Church. In the congre- ration were ministers of nearly every church in Montgomery representatives or civic organizations And men and women of every church and creed.
 It was the first time in the history of Montgomery that so important church ceremony has taken place here Perhaps 1t was the first time in the history or Montgomery that so many high church men gathered here at one time, The vis- iting prelates of the church who assisted fin the consecration are: Right Rev. Thon- as U. Dudley, Bishop of Kentucky; Right Rev, Alex c. Garrett. Bishop of Dallas; Right Rev. c. K. Nelson, Bishop of Geor- Ria; Right Rev. Thomas F. Gailor, Bishop of Tennessee; Right Rev. J. B. Cheshire, Bishop of North Carolina; Right Rev. G. H. Kinsolving, Bishop of Texas; Right Rev. w. c. Gray. Bishop of South ern Florida, and Right Rev. David Ses- sums, Bishop of Louisiana.
 The consecdation in itself was a not able occasion but 1t was made the more so by a sermon preached by Bishop Kin solving of Texas which for strength, e&- quisite diction, power of delivery and ef- fectiveness has never been surpassed in Montgomery Bishop Kinsolving is man of superb physique and possesses a strong voice which while of extraordinary depth is musical in its sweetness. He spoke forty minutes and enthralled the vast congregation.
 The visiting prelates, clergymen and laymen, reached Montgomery Tuesday and early communion was held at St. Johns Church at 7:30 o'clock yesterday morning.
 A short service consisting of morning prayer was also held at St, Johns
  and others who were to actively partici- pate in the ceremony of conservation assembled in the chapel of St. Johns promptly at 10:30 o'clock where the pro- cession was formed by Rev, E. E. cobbs. rector of St. Johns Church, who had been designated as master of ceremonies.
 Procession Enters Church.
 The procession entered the church by the front doors on Madison Avenue just as the city clock near by sounded the hour of eleven. It was headed by the vested choir after which followed the dio cesan clergy in the order of ordination. Then came the visiting clergy after which walked the attending presbyters, Rev. William P. DuBose of Sewanee Tenn. and Rev. George c. Crockett of San Angus tine, Tex, who immediately preceded pr. Beckwith. the Bishop-elect. Dr. Beck with. wearing the rochet of the Bishops robes. walked perfectly erect. It was the first time a great many persons in the large congregation had seen him and his fine scholarly faces and vigorous phy- sique made most favorable impression.
 Following pr. Beckwith came the ven erable Bishop Dudley of Kentucky, rep resenting the Presiding Bishop of the House of. Bishops. and after him came the other prelates in the order of their conservation.
 The professional hymn was No 4S1, 'The Church's One Foundation by $. S Wesley. It should be said in passing that the communion service music which | was beautiful and appropriate was Rev. l C. R. Hodges Communion Service in B | flat
 Reaching the chancel rail the bishops | who were to participate in the ceremony l of consecra ton passed within the rail | while the clergymen of the diocese took | seats reserved for them at the front of 1 the church and adjacent to the chancel | rail. Dr. Beckwith was seated alone at | the. head of the central aisle where he l remained during the preliminary services. i
 The Service Begins.
 The Presiding Bishop. Right Reverend | Thomas U. Dudley of Kentucky was as- 1 sisted throughout the service 1y Bisho2 | Nelson of Georgia and Bishop Garrett of | Texas.
 Tnmsdiately after entering the ehancel