Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-04-16
BISHOP OF LONDON'S VISIT.
REVEREND GENTLEMAN TO BE
AT JAMESTOWN.
May Also Come To Annapolis After TAX.
ing In The Sights at The Ter-Cen.
tenniaI Exposition.
COMMUNICATION OF RECTOR
OF ST. ANNE'S.

The last issue Of The Scroll. edited
and published by Mr.. Eugene lgle-
hart, contains the following commu-
nication from the rector of st. Anne's
Parish, the Rev. Joseph p. McComss
with the colonists, who came TO
Virginia in 1907, was one of the petit
tioners for the charter of the London
company, which sent them out; the
Rev. Robert Hunt, founder OF the
church nj Jametown. He properly
held the Bishop of London TO be his
diocesan. From then, until after the
American Revolution, the Chureh OF
England in the colonies was unfer the
spiritual oversight of the Bishops of
London. These ecclesiastlcs, busy
with the affairs of their important
diocese at home, were unable TO give
much care or oversight to the greater
diocese beyond the sea. In conse-
auence. church affairs in the colonies
were, as il was in Israel in the time
of the Judges; Every man did that
which was right in his own eyes.
In 1859 Sir Francis Nicholson became
Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia and
in 1894 Governor OF Maryland (indeed
he served as Governor or Lieutenant
Governor in several colonies) he APP
pears to have been jealous Church
man. promoting church interests and
solicitous for the church's welfare.
His concern discovered the sad neces-
sity for closer episcopal oversight in
the colonies. AS early as 1859 he Sc
cured commissary from the Bishop
OF London, for this work in Vir-
ginia; the Rev. James Blair, ID. ID.
OF Or. Blair's work in setting the
Virginia church affairs IN order too
much cannot be said William and
Mary college, in Williamsburg,
stands as a monument to his memory.
1.-TWO wears previous to this time,
| 1857, the clergy of Maryland petition
ed the Bishop of London, the Rt.
Rev. DR.. Compton, to send them an
ecclesiastical superior; ITO redress
what is amiss and supply what is
wanting In the meanwhile, Sir
| Francis Nicholson became Governor,
1894, and Annapolis became the colo
nial capital, 1895, and in 1896 the
Governor and Assembly Bacon S
Laws of Maryland NIN) agreed in n
unanimous petitionary act to the
Throne; to authorize the Bishop of
| London to send out Commissary,
| clothed with judicial power in matte rs
| ecclesiastical. To this Office Dr..
| Compton (the Rt. Rev. Henry, Lord
| Bishop of London, appointed the Rev.
| Thomas Bray, ID. D., in 1896. He
| supplied the office and jurisdiction of
| the Bishop without enjoying the power
| to administer the rites of ordination
| and confirmation, and although he
administered discipline, deposition
| from the sacred ministry was beyond
| his authority. Or. Bray spent the
| next four years in England in the
| interest of the colonial church, col
/ lecting money and Libraries for the
| clergy. He sailed from Maryland
December 20, 1899, and debarked
| March IL, 100. After consulting
with the Governor and Legislature,
| his first act was to assemble the
clergy in convocation, in st. Anne's
/ Church, Annapolis, May %, "a, 20;
about which time he, also, preached
before the Governor and Legislature.
ssThere is still extant a pamphlet
entitled 1.-THE Acts of DR.. Bray's Wis
itation Held at Annapolis in Mary
| land, MAY %, "a, %, Ammo, 1700. y
| It was printed in London by w. Down
ing in Bartholomew Close near West
Smithfield, 1900 1t contains the acts
of the Commissary and Clergy He is
STYLED therein Ellis Reverence, Dir,
Thomas Bray, Commissary of the
Right Reverend Henry, Lord BisllpT
of London"
cit is fitting that his Lordship ol
London should make an historic pill
grimage this year to jamestown and
Williamsburg, (Which are to all in
tents and purposes, as one place) fol
il was there DR.. Blair so well served
his predecessor as Commissary,. mor'
than two centuries ago. 1t is als'
fitting that we should invite him Il
come to Annapolis and st. Anne S
where the other Commissary-o abou
the same date-Dr. Bray, enjoyed th'
confidence of all who were in author
ity; and effectually redressed wha
was amiss.
1.-The report of DR.. Bray's visitation
ends with this Latin Inscription
"Laus, Dec, Patri, Fllio and Spiritu
Sancto Amen.' Efforts are beinj
made to have his Lordship, the Rt
Hon. and Rt. Rev. A. F. Winning
ton Ingram, ID. D., the present incum
bent of the See of London. to includ
Annapolis in his itinerary, when h
| visits jamestown this coming autumn
| 1t will serve TO demonstrate that, al
though political reasons have mad
the two portions of what was once hi
vast. diocese, to be parts of two ma
tions, the bond of language and Law
and religion holds us, yet, one peopl
in our zeal for free institutions an
the pure gospel of Christ. For thi
we may also thank Father, Son an
Holy Ghost, and take courage for tn
future.
st. Anne's parish in Anne Arunde
county was founded in 1892 and wa
called Middle Neck Parish. When An