Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-02-06


talk for them The laymen have to do
with the material things of the parish
SO that is what I will discuss. On this
occasion l wish ! could speak on what
is in our hearts at the present time.
Our love. admiration and esteem for our
diocesan but all that eloquent tongue
could say. the bishop knows exists in
our hearts.
This diocese has existed something
like 30 years and during that time we
have had only three bishops. Bishop
Hopkins was with us SO years. Bishop
Blssell Is years and now we come to the
25th anniversary of our present bishops
service in this diocese.
1--WE have heard the different reports
this morning so l need not dwell on the
progress of the church during this time.
Briefly, I might say there are about Is
more churches in the diocese, and the
funds have increased :enfold We also
have had spiritual growth. Giving is
grace and the grace of giving comes
through spiritual growth. This growth
we owe to the spiritual force of our
beloved bishop. In closing I wish to
say to you Bishop Hail. that you have
the love. honor, esteem and affection of
, this whole diocese"
PRESENTATION TO BISHOP HALL
The speaker for the clergy was
Bishop G. Y. Bliss. who was introduced
as the man who always leaves behind
him the aroma of perfect guest.
Bishop Bliss read several letters con-
graduating the members of the diocese
in having Bishop Hall so long among
them and testifying to the great SER
vice he had rendered during his stay
in Vermont. Il hardly feel" said
Bishop Bliss. that l am qualified to
| speak to-day, but as there are only
| two clergymen here who were here
twenty five years ago, myself and the
| Rev. E. S. Stone. I must speak. am
! quite sure that whatever appreciation
! you may have of the Bishops work
now, no one who has not been here the
full twenty-five years can realize the
| fire and vigor with which he took up
the work on those first days. Those
days have impressed themselves so
deeply on my mind that 1 believe I
could retell every event and even the
sermons the bishop preached"
| Bishop Bliss told Of the conservation
service, and of the sermons which the
bishop had preached directly after
wards. He told of the wonderful SER
les of lenten courses the bishop had
given every year, until his health
failed, in st. Pauls Church in Burling-
| ton, ST. Luke's Church at ST Adams
and Christ Church, Montpelier. In one
Of the lectures In a course he said the
bishop preached on the law of Christ
ian marriage and he had held firmly
to the principles he set forth that time
through all these years.
"The bishop has been among his
i-r
lectual stimulus" said Bishop Bliss
Sometimes his criticisms have been
smarting. but he kept us going. But
what we are most grateful for is his
spiritual leadership. We know 1t here
because we have been with him more
than anyone else. The impressions he
has made are indelible."
Bishop Hall, your friends want &c
give you a substantial sign of their es-
TEEN. We could not find out what you
wanted so the committee decided simply
to place in your hands to-day a sum OF
| money. We planned first to give yol
800 for every year you have been witt
us, but It gives me great pleasure to tel
you that the affection and esteem of your
people are not limited to that, If we ar,
to give you 800 a year. the amount W,
will give you will place you in debt tc
US for a few more years. for to-day
give you this check for 81, 7G7 IS from tn,
diocese and from a few friends in Massa
chusetts."
BISHOP HALLS RESPONSE
In response, Bishop Hall said: Real,
and truly. it was easier for me to speal
25 years ago than it is to-day. Then ther'
was a certain buoyancy of expectancy
now my feelings are mixed.
"There are two things l have tried t.
. do since ] came here. | have not tries
20 be popular and | have tried to be just
IL has always seemed to me that justic
is most important, to be just TO tn
clergy, just to the individual men ant
} to be just to the laity and to the churcl
at large.
"As for this gift all OF this ceiebra
ton was got up unbeknown to me. Whe
/ was asked II wanted window in tn
chapel, said If there were windo'
there, there would be no light. reail
have feeling of hesitancy and reluctanc
in accepting this gift when l know 5
many Of the clergy are really pinched,
~ appreciate your gift and l promis
you that the money will be used to hel
the diocese There is considerabi
needed to keep tho house at Rock Poin
In repair. II had been farmer III
farm there would have paid the eN
ponses but you see | wasn't. This none
will help me to make the house NOR
suitable to hand on TO my successor.
> Il still think ] ought to have bee
allowed TO resign six or seven year
= ago when / ceased to be able to
a that most necessary work, going abou
= the State. But You would not allo'
e me to go and supplied ME with on
/ coadJutor and then another. sti
e think that l was right and you wer
d wrong. / think Bishop Graves was rgf
n when he suggested that all blshol
c should retire at 65 or 6s. though tina
e suggestion has never been carried out
c ''I think that l have unique exper
h ence in that have consecrated tw
= clergymen. / want you to know thu
o | am ready to do all that can to tn
d very utmost of my power Tor YOU an
i then sometimes a little more. ] can
y help but feel that this Is rehearsi
for my funeral. for there are all kin
n words here with a veil thrown over tn
= faults and the failures.
/ Il thank you for your kindness, 20,
d forbearance and your cooperation wit
20 me during these rs years. and ] pledl
y once more all that l can do for you ar
10 for the diocese"
e The luncheon, which was delicious, al
e which consisted Of chicken patties, cake
10 ice cream and coffee, was served by Il
ladies' society The committee In char
,e kconsisted Of Mrs. II. w. Macrae. MI
X A. c. shufeldt and Mrs. b. J, Boynto'