The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-05-06
MAY DIVIDE THE DIOCESE.
COUNCIL ADVOCATES CHANGE
WHEN FUND Is INCREASED
committee. With Bishop Guerry as
HEAD, to Look Into Matter of Suf-
fragan BishOp-RepOrt on Church
Finances


diocese desirable when $4,000 is
added to the present bishops perma-
nent fund.-" is the wording of a reso-
luton adopted by the Episcopal
diocesan council here today. This
with the adoption Of a resolution pro-
viding for special committee to look
into the advisability of electing a ne
gro suffragan bishop of the diocese
were the chief matters of interest dis
posed Of by the council today.
Bishop Guerry submitted his an
nual report this morning, and in it he
explained his position on the division
| of the diocese. He stated that he did
not mean by his open letter issued
last June to stop the special commit
! tee in its work TO raise an endow-
ment for the episcOpate. What he
/ said had reference to the notice
served on the diocese that the mat
| ter Of division would come up again
at the Yorkville meeting.
In this letter he expressed himself
as believing that the continued agita-
ton of division of the diocese was
setting back the work of the church
| and preventing cooperation on mat
ters Of great Importance. which con-
| cerned the welfare Of the diocese as a
| whole. He opposed a discussion Of
| the division in advance of an increase
| Of endowment with which to provide
money to finance the additional dio-
| cese. When a division is made FEAST
Bile by increased endowment, and
when it is clearly the wish of a ma
| jority Of the laymen Of the diocese to
divide, Bishop Guerry says, he will
not oppose the division.
| The special committee which was
| empowered to raise the endowment Of
about $40, 900 for the division re-
ported this morning that they con-
sidered it useless to attempt to raise
| funds after Bishop Guerry had issued
, his open letter in June, therefore the
COMMITTEES had not acted. The COM
| mittee, however, met and formulated
report, which was submitted to
council today, in which it was stated
that it was their belief that tn, en-
/ dowment could be raised and recon-
mended that the council appoint a
committee of three with full power TO
! carry into execution the issuing Of
! coupon bonds in several denomina-
| tions maturing in 10 years. This rec
ommendation was adopted and then
this council went on record as think
ing division Of the diocese desirable
when the endowment Of $4,000 Is
raised
| The vote on this resolution stood:
Clergy--21 for; II against. Parishes
-23 for; II against. One delegation
was divided.
The finance committee, which
| was appointed one year aga
made its first report this afternoon.
OF greatest interest were the tinan-
cial report on the bishops perma-
nent funds and the Church Advance
} ment society. Due to a change of in
vestments from low rates of interest
to higher ones, the proceeds from the
funds of these two organizations had
| been greatly increased during the
past year, the former by S1.7OO and
the latter by more than 1000 over
the receipts Of any former year.
Bishop Guerry in his annual re-
port advocated the appointment Of
the committee to investigate the mat
ter of a negro suffragan bishop. The
| idea is to have the negro bishop pre-
! side over the negro councils and to
! make episcopal visits to the negro
| parishes, but who shall be under the
direct supervision and control of
Bishop Guerry. \ suffragan bishop
has all the powers Of bishop coadiutor
excepting that he does not automati-
cally succeed to the bishops chair.
Bishop Gucrry was made chairman Of
this committee.
The missionary session of the coun-
| ci was held tonight. Rev. \. r..
| Mitchell, secretary and treasurer Of
| the diocesan board of missions. re-
ported that during the year all appor-
! ionmcnts had been met. The deans
of the three conyocations. Rev. John
! Kcrshaw. y. D.. Rev. \. l.. Mitchell
| and RoV. II. II. CoNington. mad, their
annual reports.
TN" convention was addressed to-
! night 10y Dr. j. !. wilkins Of 81. I.uui-