The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-09-25

mediately preceding the chief ser
vice of the convention. This is the
122nd annual convention OF the do
cese. An informal reception to the
visiting clergy and laymen was held
in the Parish house last evening.
Rev William F. Weeks of Shell
burne and Rev. Philip Schuyler, rec
tor OF st. Peters assisted in the cele-
bration of the eucharist at the $3.50
service and the bishops chaplain,
Rev. George b. Johnson of Burling-
ton was also in the chancel. Mr.
Johnson is the registrar of the con-
vention. Music was by the vested
choir.
The convention opened with the
election of Rev. William F. Weeks as
secretary and he appointed as his as
sstant, the Rev w. c. Bernard of
Chester This was followed by the
bishops annual address which was
of peculiar interest this year be
cause of the fact that he requests the
appointment of a bishop co-adjutor to
assist him in the work of the diocese
This is the nineteenth year of the bis
hops episcopate and it is only dur
ing the past year that because of
several illnesses and enforced alb
sences abroad he has not been able
to carry on his work without the as
sistance of a standing committee.
There had been so many protests
throughout the diocese to his sugges-
ton of resignation, and, as the con-
sent of the House of Bishops, which
would not meet before another year
was necessary, the bishop said he
would take the only other alternative
and ask the convention to appoint a
bishop co-adjutor.
The bishop expressed his apprecia-
ton of the assistance he had receiv-
ed in his work from Bishop Goldman
of Maine and the other clergy and
laymen, when he had not been able
to discharge all the duties of his Of
fee. During the past year, he has
confirmed 50 candidates, while the
other bishops have confirmed 262.
making an increase in the diocese of
31S communicates
There are at present 80 priests in
the diocese. two deaths having oc-
CURED during the year, that of Rev.
Benjamin Atwell of Shelburne and
that of Rev. f. n. Goddard of Wind
sor.
The bishop brought before the. con-
vention several matters OF canonical
Importance. one OF which referred to
the qualification of clergymen voting
at the election OF a bishop and at a
parish meeting and the question
which might arise as TO residence.
A motion TO refer this matter to the
committee on cannons was made and
carried and the portion OF the bishops
address referring to the appointment
of co-adjutOr was referred to a spec
ial committee to be appointed by the
president of the convention. This
committee, made up OF three clergy
and three laymen was as follows.
Rev. @. Y. Bliss of Burlington. Rev.
ID. l. Sanford OF Hardwick. Rev. J.
B. Reynolds of Rutland. Hon. r. J.
Ormsbee of Brandon. Guy NJ. Wilson
Of Bethel and l. r Abbott Of Ben
nington.
The report Of the standing commit
tee was presented by its chairman.
Rev. George Y. Bliss Of Burlington.
This report and the report Of the reg
istrar. Rev. Geo. b. johnson Of Bur
lington were accepted and adopted.
Rev. Homer A. Flint Of Montpelier
reported for the committee on parish
assessment and the report was ac-
cepted carrying the same assessment
as last year.
The most Interesting feature Of the
morning session Of the convention
vas the report Of the special commit
tee on social service This committee