The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-10
ST. PAUL'S
BISHOP NELSON PLEASED WITH
WORK OF THE RECTOR.
PARISH HAS PROGRESSED
DURING YEARS REV. MIR. SCULLY
HAS BEEN AT ITS HEAD.

Bishop Nelson Has begun His Visits
to the Savannah Churches-Was
at st. PauPs Yesterday Morning.
Confirmed n Class There and "A
Glass Last Night at st. Ausustine's,
COlOred-WilI Be at POOler To-
niGht-His Visits to other Savan-
nah Churches-BishOp Nelson Re-
views the Work of the Diocese for
the Last Ten Years-His Tenure o.
Office ms Bishop Passed the Ten
Year Mark Last Month.
Ri. Rev. C. K. Nelson, Episcopal
Bishop of Georgia, visited st. PauPs
Church yesterday morning. conducted
the service, preached the sermon and
confirmed a large class. At night he
visited st. Augustine's Chapel, colored,
where he confirmed class.
The Bishop will probably remain
several days in Savannah. He is the
guest of Judge and Mrs. Henry Meal
pin. Tonight he goes to Pooler to visit
the church there, but will return to Sa-
vannah after the service. Next Sunday
week he will visit st. Johns Church
and st. Stephens, colored. His visit to
Christ Church and St. MichaeTs will
be the first Sunday after Easter.
Bishop Nelson, at st. Pauls, COM
mended most highly the work of the
rector Rev. John L. Scully. He said
that great improvement in the parish
had followed Mr.. Scully's taking
charge. When the rector appeared in
the parish it was much in need of such
a clergyman as he has shown himself,
and the Bishop congratulated the con-
guidance of one who has so satisfac-
torily shown his ability.
Upon the rector's assumption of the
parochial duties, the Bishop said, St.
PauTs was deep in debt and was lack
ing in strength. The debts have either
been removed or greatly reduced, and
the church has grown until it offers
as excellent promise as any in the do
cese.
Bishop Nelson was seen yesterday
by representative of the Morning
News, to whom he talked of the work
III LHe UlOCeSe. Last InO0In ne COn-
cluded his tenth year as bishop and
he has observed the progress of the
diocese since his connection with it
with qualification. Bishop Nelson al
luded to the fact that there are now
but two vacant pulpitS among all the
churches and missions of the state.
an evidence of the faithful energy
of our clergy" said Bishop Nelson, L
may say that in 1891 we had thirty-one
active priests and deacons administer
ing twenty-seven parishes and forty
six missions, while in 1902 there are
fifty clergymen administering to TWEEN
ty-six parishes and one hundred and
five missions, an average of two sta
lions to each clergyman, and an in
crease of 81 per cent. in the stations,
while the clergy have increased but SO
per cent. The slight decrease in the
number of parishes is explained by the
fact that several, which for years had
been more dead than alive, have been
RENTED to their true position as mis-
sions, and are doing far better as such.
THE erection of new churches is a
specially notable feature for the past
ten years. l could point out at least
dozen towns where they would be well
coined to-day, but for which there are
no means at hand. The increase is
from sixty-seven to one hundred and
forty-two or ITO per cent. Not less
than six of these represent the replac-
ing of buildings destroyed by fire or,
storm, and three new buildings for old
ones.
From share in the spiritual re-
sponsibility of thirty-seven counties we
have spread out into fifty-two coun-
ties; but there are yet eighty-five coun-
ties in which the voice of our beloved
liturgy is not heard; so it may be per-
ceived how vast is the field yet before
us.
The Mission Board of the diocese
instead of twenty-seven has thirty
one stations, claiming portion of our
support, with nearly 1000 less to work
with. All others are sustained by To-
cal effort, supplemented by grants
either from the Georgia Mission Fund
an endowment generously made by the
late Rev. A. G. p. Dodge, Jr., whose
memory is thereby perpetuated for all
generations or by appropriations
ayers, without whose aid twelve con-
gregations would go without the
Bread of Life.
Thirteen thousand dollars was ex-
pended in this. the largest part of
our diocesan field in 1891, a sum which
has been increased to nearly $500 in
1902. OF this whole sum the parishes
more than One-fifth, the missions
themselves more than one third there
being a falling off in one of % per
cent in ten years, while the revenue
from the missions (not including build
ing, equipment or current expenses),
has increased more than 81 per cent.
in the same time, or from $500 in 1891
to ISL in 1901.
THE spiritual results, which of
course represent the real test of our
fidelity, are not phenomenal, neither
are they discreditaIble, as will be seen,
when it is known that there are more
than % per cent. more baptisms an
nually than ten years ago; while the
combinations are II per cent. greater
than in 1891, and reach a total to this
date of 1882.
THE sources of accessions by this
holy ordinance are peculiarly inter-
esting; little over one-half (2714) are
Of people baptized in the church and
a little less than one-half (2,200) have
come to us from twenty different COM
munions."
PREACHED AT ST. JOHNS.