Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-06-12
EPISCOPAuANS IN
ANNUAL SESSION
Proceedings of the 116th
Diocesan Convention, Which
Was Held at New Castle.
AN ADDRESS BY BISHOP COLEMAN
Reviewing the Work of the Past
Year.
Fhe Qualifications Necessary for a Person
to Vote for yestrymen and the Articles
Governing Mission stations Were Inter-
esting subjects for Debate.

Delaware, held in Emmanuel Episcopal
Church. at New Castle, Wednesday, greetings
were received from the Episcopal conven-
tion in session at Easton, Md, and greet
inas were sent to the convention in return.
John S. Grohe was reelected secretary of
the missionary educational committee,
Bishop Coleman made his annual address,
In which he said:
cit seems to me more and more strange
that in our really catholic church there
should still be found so mnny persons that
are practically congregationalists, II ap-
pears to be almost impossible to arouse
them to any sense of their relation to
and responsibility for anything. out
side their own parochial boundaries. 1t
is well therefore, that at stated inter
walls we should assemble to consult about |
the affairs and conditions OF the diocese |
as such, and to further any and every |
plan that may promise to promote its vel |
fare. -
Speaking of the general convention, the
bishop said: 81 shall content myself in re-
verting to its proceedings by expressing my
deep disappointment at the failure to enact
the proposed canon, by which it would have
been unlawful for our clergy to solemnize
the marriage of any divorced person. The
bishop called attention to the fact that the
house of bishops voted in favor OF the
car4on as did also majority OF the house OF
delegates, the canon falling not only by lack
of concurrent majority when the vote was
taken by orders and dioceses. The prevail
ence of such erroneous views as to the
sanctity of marriage VOWS and the lncreas-
ing Indifference as to their violation and
disannulling surely constitute a menace to
society in its very foundations. 1t is only
one out of many proofs OF the selt-com-
placeney with which a great many people
nowadays play fast and loose with the most
vital Christian principles. The bishop spoke
of improvements made in st. Peters Church,
Smyrna, Old Swedes, Wilmington, the
churches at Newark, Laurel and other places.
He expressed heartfelt gratitude for the con-
tributions for diocesan missions. The bishop
in commenting on the condition of the
country at large said:
81 do not mean to deny that deep down
in our national conscience there is kind of
belief in Christianity which may be more or
less responsive under extraordinary circuin-
stances, but ] do mean to assert that as to
self-sacrihce and courage in the exhibition
and maintenance of tine distinctive princi-
piles of Christianity this land is far nom
exemplary At the time of the illness and
death of our late honored and beloved
President the nation at large showed, at
least outwartlly, a respect for religion and a
faith in God which was very comforting to
contemplate. This was all the more SO when
we recognize the fact that it WIS largely in
spired by his own eminently religious con
victions and his remarkable acquiescence
in the divine will, but when one sees the
growing disregard for the Lords day, eithel
for meIe amusements and pleasure, or fol
DecunlHry gam hllu Ihb lbIsAhthg vi tilt
sanctuary by so many who are reckoned a:
Christians one cannot but conclude thai
there is widespread need of missionary
lahors in our own midst.
The bishop spoke OF the building OF tn
pretty Chapel of st. Mary at Townsend, ant
the beginning of regular services at Ches
void. During the year just passed he CON
tirmed CLASSES as follows. Ascension Church
Claymont, A.; Old Swedes, Wilmington, II
Trinity, Wilmington, IL; st: Andrews, vii
lNDT l111TN vtF11 4
Calvary, Wilmington, 60; Emmanuel, vii
mington, 8; st. Miehael's, Wilmington, 8
Chapel of the Good Shepherd, 6; Chris
Church, Christiana hundred, z Emmanuel
New Castle, IL st. Thomas, Newark, j
Christ Church, Delaware City, 3; St. Ann't
Middletown, 8; st. Mary's, Townsend,
st. Peters, Smyrna, 10; Trinity, Clayton
A.; Christ Church. Dover, 8; ST. Paul''
Camden, / /; Christ Church, Milford, a; >
Philips, Laurel, s.; All Saints, Delmar,
ST. Peters, Lewes, O.; St. Andrews, Ell
Grove, / st. Georges, Indian River, 2.
outside dioaeses the bishop confirmed On
persons. During the year the bishop bal
tized %; confirmed / 1853; married ].
deacons; ordained four priests; institute
one priest; consecrated two churches; he
two services of benediction; held 50 Gel
brations of the holy communion, and d
Hyered $50 sermons and addresses.
The Rev. Frank Merton Munson, LII. T
the Rev. w. ]. Wilkie and John N. Pond
were elected the committee on admission
new parishes. The Rev. George M. Bon
Edward Farrell and DIR. Harmonson we
appointed committee to select the ne
place of meeting. The report of the Del
ware Churchman was read by O. Nj. Curt
The report of the endowment fund col
niittee was read by George A. Elliott a
The committee on increase of the fund "
continued. The committee consists of Jose
Swift,sG. A. Elliott, Il. T. Warner, Wilt
Denney, Dr. r. e. Watson The commit
appointed TO audit the report of Treasu
Brinckle consisted of Charles Nj. Curtis a
Horace G.. Rettew.
The qualifications necessary for pers
TO vote for vestryuien was a subject of d
pute, during which several OF those pres
became excited. 1t was decided that
persons must be contributing members
the church, paying for the support of
parish and registered.
The greatest excitement occurred in
articles governing mission stations" 1
matter has been under discussion for tn
different sessions. The sponsor of the art
was the Rev. @. N. Spalding of Deln
who has been laboring assiduously to h
the missions properly represented at the
sions of the episcopal diocese. The Fl
Yesterday was bitter. Dir. Spalding arg
for half an hour or more on the stations
their value in Christ's kingdom. Ju
IRnatius O. Grubb, member of the |,
Of Old Swedes parish, took sides with
Spalding and ably set forth the rights
& voice in the conventions. Archdeacon Gee
q. Hall, also went to the rescue of
Spalding and stated that he was HEARTH
favor of 1t and gave logical reasons there
The Rev. Jesse G. Taylor claimed that
method proposed would mean the establ
inent of congregational church, in
the people would have the say and not
members of the vestry, which duty
been laid down in Episcopal Church
from time immemorial He claimed
organized parishes alone should have
right to vote and the mission church
81 scat without voice in the convention.
The proposition to table and ther
postpone indefinitely failed and Rector
~ Tor left the room. The articles, as amen
passed by vote of % to ID, which m
each mission will be allowed one delega
the convention, who will have equal ri
with delegates from organized and self.
porting parishes. The convention adjou
at Clio p. m. for supper
AT the evening session. which conven
S.05 O'Clock, the committee on place to
at the next session stated that st. Pc
Church, Smyrna, had been selected,
an invitation from the rector. The n
was adopted and the committee dischal
1t was decided that certificates of lay
gates should be forwarded three days
to a convention.
The following members of the star
committee were elected: Rev. Fl. A,
Henry. Rev. Kensey ]. Hammond, Re,
M. Jefferis, Charles NJ. Curtis, Judge
ward G. Bradford. The tellers at the
tion were Reys. NJ. Karcher and ]. B.
mour.
The treasurer was directed to pay thu
of printing confirmation cards rec
adopted by the bishop of the diocese.
On motion of the Rev. Hubert W.
Alfred s. Elliott, W. E. Waters. DIR. Wi