The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-30
A NOTABLE ANNIVERSARY.
Next Meeting of the Episcopal Council VIM f'e Oh
Unusual Interest.

(From the Southern Churchman)
The council the Diocese of Virginia assem- onns
in Richmond on the 18th day Of May, Will nave the
pleasing duty privilege OF celebrating the one
and twenty-hfth anniversary of the organization
o the church in that diocese.
As all Churchmen know. the church in virginia
was founded at Jamestown In 1907, the beginning OF
the history church in this country The church
there established was what would be CAMEO .ouas a
mission of the Mother Church Of England, ana part
OF the English Establishment 1t was, aid for more
than a hundred and fifty years continued to De- uhoer
the Jurisdiction of the Bishop Of London AS the
church spread through the colony ana 1ohoWeo tne
march of population it was supplied with clergy from
the church. and drectly-though tenuously and
indiferently-under the gre and supervision OF the
Mother Church
This condition of affairs continued to the Ameri-
can Revolution and was responsible for the l-wli
that telt and manifested towards the Church
when the colonies became an Independent nation
With the approach OF the Revolutionary war, be-
gan the evil days the Church. Its clergy In
many identified with Tory sentiment, and even
where. in very many cases they were not manu-
featured public sentiment'-so-c aled-took advan-
tage of the legal Establishment to feeling
against the Church
After the Revolution the Church was dlsestablished
hisendowed subject large spoation; and at the
close Of that struggle left scattered largely
beref of clergy stripped of support and without men
trained to leadership in Church affairs In fact, II
would be hard to conceive of more ptable condi-
ton than that in which the Church found itself at the
beginning of American independence.
A few earnest and faithful souls. viewing the field
and realizing the situation. saw the vital necessity
the conditions II absolute destruction and
extinction. These faithful men began the effort for
their efforts eventuated in the convention of 1885.
the Church convention held in the old colony
and State of Virginia, This convention met on
the 18th day OF May 1888, in st. Johns church.
Richmond, Virginia, and then and there begun the
independent organized existence of the church in
Dioceses OF Virginia. West Virginia and South
Virginia. 1t most notable gathering OF ear
nest faithful and able and led to great and last
ing results.
1t is this gatherng-the first convention the
future Diocese OF Vrgnia-which the Church in the
present Diocese of Virginia is to celebrate when 1t
meets in annual council in Old st. Johns church
10 A NJ. the 18th day of next month
The diocese through a committee appointed It's
last council has taken steps to commemorate this
important event In a suitable manner. The coun-
ell will meet in the same church and the same
day OF the same month did that first council lhe
Rev. Edward l.. Goodwin historiographer OF the
diocese, will deliver address the Personnel and
Work of that first Convention; and the Rev Robert
A, Goodwin, present rector of Old St Johns Will
colonial rector OF st. Johns. and who for than
thirty held that position, and Rev John
buchanan hrst rector Of ST. johns under the new
conditions ana rector when the first convention was
held. And memorial tablets to these two worthless
will be unveiled at that time
To Mr. Buchanan, in conjunction with MIR. Crit1th,
rector Of Christ church Alexandria Va was largely
due the holding Of convention they were the
chief movers and workers in the good ea.se-Aatt
to Mr.. buchanan. too, largely due the contin-
ance and growth of Church life in Richmond
That convention was a notable gathering.
many reasons chiefest Of which Its leadership,
to large extent. in the effort towards organized
Church life in this country.
II s essentially wise and useful for the diocese to
httngy observe and mark this great anniversary and
it will furnish pleasing vantage ground from which
to survey great past and hopefully TO forecast an
equally great and useful future.
The Church in virginia has gone far, since that
pioneer convention, hut she should never forget
debt Of gratitude she to those pioneers of the
fhth-the men who bla2ed the way into the unknown
wilderness Of new ecclesiastical life and she does
well 10 give them and HfAfnoriess due need of
enduring work They huided better than they Knew.
and thFtr descendants have entered into their abors