The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-10-25
TnE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION
Closing Days Of September Witness
ed Episcopal Convention at
ss Jamestown.

One Of the most interesting con
ventions held at the Jamestown ex-
position was that Of the triennial
session Of the Episcopal General Con-
vention held at Richmond, Virginia,
during the last few days of Septem-
Der. The nature and object Of the
convention is we'll explained by
an article In the Times-Dispatch, of
Richmond, printed during the meet
ing, which is as follows:
THE triennial session of the
Episcopal General Convention is al
ways an occasion Of national and
even of international interest; the
session this year is signalized by the
proyidential coincidence that 1t oc-
ours on Virginia soil, in the veal of
our Jamestown Tercentenary cele-
bration within a few miles of the
primal church In which worshiped the
first settlers and the founders of the
republic. The corner stone of the
Protestant Episcopal church of Am
erica and the foundation of the Am
erican republic were laid in the
same year and by the same hands.
The seeds Of civil and religious liber-
~ were planted together in the same
soil and by the same hands; and by
sthe grace Of God they have sprouted
together and grew together as kind
red plants. and yielded their fruit in
session each after its kind. The
voices which sang the first song Of
liberty In the American continent
were the voices which chanted the
s'Te Deum" and the Gloria in Elk
icelsis" in the first church at James,
town. BY q wise provision the found
sers of our federal and state gov
sernments drew the line between
and state. and ordained that
Episcopal church of America has not
meddled in the affairs of state, and
has kept itself well within its own
sacred Jurisdiction, but it has indi-
'rectly played an important and a
-A4OOlO P0kJ IA JAO lOIlldLlOu I'll Jig
republic and especially in establish
ing and intoxicating those sterling
principles and rugged virtues that
have characterized and distinguished
the American people and wrought
for civic Righteousness. The Episco-
pal church has contributed generous
~ Of its men and influence to the
republic, and yet has committed no
act OF trespass. fnathings spiritual 1t
has been as the temple in Jerusalem,
but has scrupulously rendered unto
Caesar the things that are Caesars.
It has ever been true to its own
creed and has made no compromises;
yet Its articles Of religion. its canons
.and ordinances are so broad and lib
oral and catholic that there is scarce
" q Christian denomination or sect
that might not find comfortable hab-
itation In its organization.
This catholicity Is the Joy Of the
Episcopal church and another Joy is
It's unity. The Bishop Of London is
here to bear witness that the war of
the Revolution did not separate the
church of America from the mother
church in England. and delegates
from every state in the union are
here to testify, that the bonds Of the
American church were not broken
even by the war between. the states.
It is q notable record.
The General Convention which
assemblies today represents 1918
parishes and missions. with 5,381
clergymen, $4,000 Sunday school
teachers, 451.511 Sunday school pu-
pills. and q great army of 84s,976
communicates, in which are many
veterans who have e service more
arduous than the veterans Of many
wars.
1T represents also the doctrine
that was delivered to the saints and
the Christian endeavor and activities
OF the ages. It comes with the pres
tige and accumulated spirituality of
nineteen centuries, and its presence
cannot fail to be both a benediction
and bepefaction."
The convention opened in Holy
Trinity church, Richmond, and the
sermon was preached by the Right
Reverend Arthur Foley Wilmington
ingram. p. D., Lord Bishop Of Lon
don. who had been specially invited
for the occasion. Among other dis
tinguished guests were the Lord
Bishops Of st. Adams. England,
Quebec. Mackenzie River, Bishop
Montgomery. the archbishop Of the
West Indies, the Duke Of Newcastle,
and others. One hundred American
Bishops we're present and it was an
impressive sight.
The business sessions are being
held in the state capitol building,
tenderedsby the governor OF Virginia,
deyOutt cnm ~ thnr h,,roh