The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-10-04

Richmond, Va, Oct 2.-The 45th
triennial general convention of the
Protestant Episcopal church conven-
tion in the United States convened
and was fully organized for business
today.
The beginning was as auspicious
as could be desired. Of the 102
members of the house of bishops on
ly ten were absence and the atten-
dance of the clerical and lay mem
bers of the house of deputies was
nearly complete. A large number
of foreign high church dignitaries
were present, including archbishop
of the West Indies and the bishops
of London, st. Albans, Montgomery,
Niagara Quebec, Ontario and Mac
Kenzie River.
The business of both houses were
confined to organization and both
bodies reelected all of the officers
by acclamation.
2 Routine business, preliminary to
E1he general business that will come
before the convention was then dis
posed of.
BY far the most interesting of
the proceedings today was the holy
communion service at Holy Trinity
church, where the Right Rev. Win
ningtOn-Ingram, bishop of London.
preached the sermon and all the Wis
iting bishops participated in the
professional.
The day was perfect, the sun shin
ing brightly and a bracing breeze
blowing. 1t brought out thousands
of spectators who surrounded the
church and filled Monroe Park oppo-
site the church where a number Of
overflow meetings were held during
the impressive service inside.
When the bishops entered the
church in their robes of royal pur-
pie and crimson, an imposing scene
was presented.
The robe of Presiding Bishop Tut
nrtlemCas of black and white trimmed
' in Z loyal purple, while the bishop
OF London wore a black and white
robe trimmed in crimson. Many of
the older dignitaries wore caps of
purple
An adapted form of the morning
prayer service was used to open the
convention.
After singing by an excellent choir
the ten commandments were read
by Bishop Tuttle and extracts from
the Scriptures by Bishop Porter, of
New York, and Bishop Satter1ee of
Washington.
The congregation sang hymn
and this was practically the only
prelude to the sermon of the bishop
of London.
The sessions of the house of bish-
ops which were held in the Virginia
state capitol building were execu-
tive and will continue to be so dur
ing the convention. At the close a
statement of the proceeding was
made by DR.. Samuel Hart, of Con-
necticut, the secretary Of the house.
Afterwards the house was called to
order by Bishop Tuttle, and eleven
bishops. appearing in the house for
] the first time, were presented They
we're Bishops Strange, East North
Carolina, Roots, Hankow, Spalding
Salt Lake. w. F. Johnson, South Da-
kota; G. d. Williams, Michigan ::
Parker New Hampshire: McCorm-
ick, Western Michigan; Webb, Mil
waukee, Scadding, Oregon, Tucker,
Southern Virginia, and Guerry of
S&Nh Carolina.
Nr Turtle announced deaths that
had occurred in the membership
since the last convention.
Bishop William Lawrence of Mas
sachusetts was reelected chairman
and DR.. Hart, of Connecticut, sec
retary of the house.
After, this busines shad been dis
posed of Governor Swanson was ush-
cred into the house and spoke al
some length welcoming the conven-
tion He was given a pleasing ova-
tion and thanked by the distinguish
clergymen for his courtesy in plac-
ing the state house, which is the
old Virginia capitol building of the
Confederacy at the disposal of the
convention.
Archbishop Nuttall of the West
Indies, and Bishop Ingram, of Lon
don, were escorted to the house b!
a special committee and both respon
ded to an enthusiastic welcome By
making brief remarks. The house
= of bishops then adjourned until to
morrow at o'clock
simultaneously with the assem-
bling of the house of bishops, the
house of deputies was holding it.
preliminary gathering at St. Paul:
church.