The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-20
ANNUAL SESSION
OF EPISCOP PAL..ANS
Bishops Charg3 10 he Clergy an I'm
portanf Feature Committees Appoint
ed and Various Reports Pr0senGd.

The ll2th annual session OF the Rhode
Island Episcopal convention was held
today in All Saints Episcopal church
with very large number of the clergy
laymen and delegates in attendance.
The opening service was held at lC
o'clock and consisted OF the regular SER
vice of morning prayer. conducted 10y
Bishop McVickar, assisted by Rector
Emeritus Henshaw of All Saints church
and Rev. Samuel II. Webb. rector OF
Christ church, South Providence.
The chief feature OF the morning ses-
nfon was the annual address of the bishop,
which took the form OF charge to the
churches rather than formal sermon,
as In previous years.
CHARGE OF THE BISHOP.
The address, masterpiece of elo-
quence. was I'm part as follows
Brethren Beloved OF the Clergy and
Laity of Rhode Island-I bid you heartiest
greeting in the name of God, 10 this, the
112th annual session OF your convention.
IL any explanation Is needed for my oc-
cupation OF the convention pulpit second
time in two consecutive years IL is my
desire to facilitate the very evident pur-
pose of this body at its last meeting TO
shorten, as far as is compatible with
necessary duties. it's sittings. Although
final action IA needed at this time To so
amend the constitution as TO allow OF
the bishops address ordinarily to take
the place Of the convention sermons, by
the single change of its title TO that OF
charge" q conceive that the bishop :
address should ever partake of that ma
ture), am able, so far as with me lies
TO aid in carrying out your purpose today
In the first place, then, as my diary
OF official acts is 20 be printed and pub
iished with the journal of the conven-
don, it will not b. necessary for me
20 give you more than a mere summary
VI what / have done.
During the year | have received three
Postulants and two candidates for holy
orders. have ordained two deacons and
hree priests. have received from other
aioceses three clergymen. OF whom one
was a priest and two were deacons.
/ have transferred TO other dioceses four
priests. l have taken part in the conse-
Grafton of one bishop. j have held 81
combinations within the diocese (seven
Of these being in private), at which 5Sl
persons have been confirmed.
Outside of the diocese / have held four
combinations in Pennsylvania, at the
request of its sick bishop at which l4i
persons were confirmed In addition To
these duties / have officiated at ten cele-
brations OF Holy Communion, five OF them
In private, at three marriages and at -four
funerals.
I have delivered In the couse of the
year IS sermons, and made sc addresses,
beside delivering one charge and reading
q special paper.
In making this report / must remind
you that the year 1t covers is, by the
change of the conventions date short
one, and that. therefore some import
been counted in here must, under the new
order. flnd their places in the next year
record.
The roll OF the convention, as Il will he
presently called, will show us that while
~e have cause for deep. gratitude 10 a
merciful providence. that death has
spared us the loss Of a single member OF
pur clerical STAFF. We mourn the loss OF
ct least two eminent laymen. who for
years have graced these councils with
their presence and wisdom and who will
not only be missed I'm this place. but I'm the
work and influence OF the church every
where and were known and loved indeed
I speak. as you will know, of Mr. John
III. Cozzens of Trinity church. Newport
whose membership is OF more than 20 years
stand. and Mr. John w. Vernon OF st
JOun CnuTGn FIONlutlttt VINO ntlonEot
here for more than 80 years or the first
others doubtless can bear this testimony
OF the last a very dear personal friend
as well as an adviser OF mine | can only
say that he was loved. honored and look
sd up to by all who knew him, and tn,
church and the world is vastly poorer foi
his loss.
THE LOCAL DIOCESE.
To return to our own diocese TIL,
record of the year as contained in paro.
shial reports as well as that OF our dio.
cesan missionary board, will show tn,
work to have gone on quietly. with n,
very noticeable deviation from that OF Z
year ago In some directions there ha.
been unusual gratifying advance and
revival OF life. ln the missionary holt
services have been held In places wher,
they had been never or rarely beer
known before. or where they had lapse,
for years. Some new ana regular place,
Of worship have been established. or
where that has been impracticable.
Sunday school. at least has been start.
ed; and this missionary activity on oul
part, even whore there has bs.. nttl,
chance of Independent DEVELOPMENT. hai
at least stimulated other churches to re
newed energy. 20 save their people from
possible detection 10 the Episcopal fold
This In the churchs immediate realm
while beyond that we have reason 60 h,
grateful for the part which we hav,
been given 20 bear in the efforts ate,
moral reforms. which. In society ane
state. although yet In their infancy hav,
this year made decided advance I'm n,
establishment OF n Watch and War
society" and IN the improved ierisia tior
IN the matter Of diYorce which has hnal