The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-14


episcopate." said The Bishop, THAI
our convention has met o.
this historic spot. the first time sine
the diocese of Georgia, widowed AN
fatherless, came together for the double
purpose of honoring Chrysostom late
Nv deceased and to take counsel for
the pressing needs and interests of a
great missionary field.
1T is quite impossible as it is UNI
reasonable. to expect that we shall
plunge into the midst Of the business
of this body without some reminis-
cence of that occasion, which 1t is
good to revive, and some comparisons
that are exhilarating to our future.
The honor and happiness of knowing
nv predecessor were not mine, but
/ vividly recall the impression made
upon me by the reading of the memo
rial sermon preached on the opening
dav of your session and how I was
warned from a fash decision by the
portrayal of that noble character.
The special emphasis laid upon lone
liness of the Episcopate and the i'm
mense difficulties to be encountered
by the man who should succeed to the
mitre, the staff and the keys in the
diocese of Georgia.
Experience has taught me the intri-
cacy for ordinary men of the model
which Beckwich set forth; the lonel-
ness prophesied has been tested ana
felt; the difficulties l have found not
to have been exaggerated
In them all, and through them all,
and probably by them, we have gone
forward dutifully, earnestly, and nope
fully. in the conviction of the truth OF
Tennyson's thought, that Men may
rise on stepping stones Of their dead
selves to higher things.
IF anything can fix in our minds
that the night cometh when no man
can work. the changes wrought IN me
last three years should do so.
"The preacher OF that day 1 myself
committed to the dust under the altal
of the Columbus chapel, hard by th'
Episcopal house.
Many Gone to Rest.
"Of the thirty-nine clergy then min
istering in Georgia sixteen have gone
to their reward, while twelve of th'
delegates have also ceased from theil
labors. Within the same time, by
twenty deaths and fOrty-six accessions
I have come to be forty-six in tn
whole number of ninety-three living
bishops in America.
1T is a more cheering reflection that
while deprived by bodily infirmity o.
association with us, the Rev. Samue
J. Pinkerton enjoys many of the bless
ings of Providence and is an inspiration
to the toilers among whom he begaT
his labors in 1865; that in the spring
of this year two of our best known
and revered clergy, the Rev. DR.. vii
liams and the Rev. c. II. Strong, eel
ebrated their silver anniversaries il
their respective parishes, and the Rev
Mr.. Mcconnell, fourth in seniority II
the priesthood, is still able to ministe
to his little flock which honors hin
for his many virtues. There remain
but seven members of the clergy (eleY
en- in alb who have continued with ms
through these years of planting anC
sowing. each one of whom has made 3
distinct and imperishable mark upor
the community in which he was be
loved.
1T IS a cause of profound thankful
ness. to which I refer without apology
that in all these years we have admin
istered no discipline. nor had any oc'
casion for so doing; and of all oui
clergy, it may be asserted, that in tone
aim, and character they are noble
set of men, worthy to be leaders IL
the highest enterprises.
Indifference DeplOred.
TN casting up the account of the
past year l cannot disguise the pain
and modification which 1 suffer in
the prevalent indifference to church
schools, signalized by the enforced
Qfp1, lott
School for Girls.
a profound conviction of the neces-
sity of such provision for our white
children of all grades of society is
borne in upon me daily by facts an6
conditions, which shadow forth the
paganism of our modern educationa
methods.
with less opposition from us the
same contest is on here as in Eng
land-to eradicate religion from tht
schools-with the obvious result Of
rearing cultured heathens, and to pro
mote a renascence of the classic form
and models of Greece and Rome, such
as inspired the physical beauty and
temporal splendor of Lorenzo di Me
dici, and Louis XIV. Churchman as
am, committed to every line of his
toric catholicity in doctrine. discipline
and worship, 1 bless Almighty Coo
that He puts into the hearts of mel
and women to sustain with whatever
mistakes may in our opinion be made
in education that is distinctly Chris
tan to infuse young life with tn,
morality not OF Plato, or Marcus Au
relius, but of Jesus Christ, and to tes
tify to the complete and destructive
inadequacy Of any education which ha.
not Christ as the central truth anC
which does not present Him as bOtl
Saviour and eXemplar
"Sewanee grammar school and Ra
leigh brilliantly fulfill their purpos.
: and merit our good will and patronage
but what answer do they make to tn,
distant 300 to 800 miles from sucl
schools? To make the cost of the tril
is greater than q years tuition neare
home.
IT shall continue to pray and to hop
that among the men and women o
moderate wealth Il have little faith il
and less expectation from anothe
class, God will raise us up as bene
factors in this age of need for sount
education of The entire man and hi
every faculty.
Some Good Work Accomplished.
without any diminution in pureI,
spiritual interests, but rather as a sub
stantial test of growth in grace, thu
practical works of our parishes ar,
full of encouragement
st. Pauls, Albany, has paid all in
debtedness and was consecrated thi
IThe Natural Laxative Mineral Water,