Year: 1859

the gentleman would accept the following amend
ment it would meet the general desire:
That in providing for increase of Episcopal service
the General Convention is respectfully requested pre-
serve the original Constitution of the p +. Church
union of the churches of the several States of this poti
cal Union
DR.. Kerfoot accepted the proposition.
DR.. Coke said he desired the Convention to act
carefully in this matter. The proposition of Mr.. |
Carroll carried with it great revolutionary idea
and it might be for the benefit of the Church, but
before step of the kind was taken the Convention
should give the great changes which it seeks to ac
complish thorough consideration.
Rev. Mr.. Hall moved to lay the proposition on
the table, which was carried.
DR.. Kerfoot asked the Chair to put his resolution
to the Convention.
Mr.. Carroll said that in accepting his PROPOSE
ton it had become embodied in the original resolu
tion and in laying it on the table the entire matter
was disposed of.
The Bishop decided that tie question had been
disposed of.
DR.. Kerfoot moved reconsideration of the vote
Carried.


The Bishop then stated that the entire question
by the vote just taken was revived


DR.. Kerfoot-"Will the Chair please put nv reso-
luton to the hOuse?"


Mr. Carro-"ltis is out of the power of the Chair
to comply with the request of DR.. Kerfoot"


DR.. heroot took an appeal from the decision of
the Chair stating that he had accepted the propo-
sition of Mr. Carroll through kindness, and now
found that it would defeat his proposition, and
therefore asked the gentleman to withdraw his
proposition.


Mr.. Carroll refused to comply with the request
for withdrawal He said he was determined to have
a vote on his proposition, and the gentleman could
not get clear of it any other way than by vote.


Dr. kerfoot then withdrew his acceptance to the
proposition OF MIR. Carroll, and asked for a vote on
his resolution.


Rev. Mr.. Hall took the floor in opposition to the
resolution of DR.. Kerfoot. He said he thought it
was unwise and impolitic for the diocese to ad-
dress the House of Bishops a subject which must
originate in that body. He thought it a step from
which no good would result, and it would be dan
gerous precedent. He therefore moved to Law the
entire subject on the table.


The Bishop said he desired the members to vote
freely on this matter He had no desire as to how
the question should be decided, and he therefore
desired all to exhibit freedom of thought in voting


The motion to lay on the table prevailed


An order was passed directing the Treasurer to
pay all expenses incurred by the Committee on the
Division of the Diocese.


The Committee on Canons, on the proposition
to exclude from seats in the Convention all non
communicates, presented their report 1t was
made the order for one O'Clock.


Mr.. Briscoe moved to lay the report on the table.
Lost.


Judge Tuck moved to make it the order for one
O'Clock. Carried.


Rev. Mr.. Leakin presented the report of the Spe-
clal Committee on the distribution of the Bible and
Common Prayer Book, with resolution requesting
each rector to send up the collection taken on
Trinity Sunday for the benefit of this cause.


Inc Committee OF Accounts presented their re-
port stating that they have found the accounts of
the Treasurer of the Diocese and the Committee
of the Pastoral Aid Fund correct


The Committee on Diocesan Missions presented
their report with a resolution requesting the rec
tors to take up a collection the fourth Sunday
after Easter for such purpose.


II. ID. Evans, Esq, presented the report of the
Trustees of the Episcopal fund.


Messrs Campbell and McKim's term of office ex-
pred this year, and on motion they were reap
pointed


The Trustees of the Fund offered resolution
authorizing the payment to the Bishop of the usual
amount, so long as the finances of the Board will
admit of it.


Rev. Mr.. Van BOkkelen said that he desired to see
the salary of the Bishop settled permanently He
therefore offered resolution that the salary of the
Bishop shall be SO, 900 per annum, paid quarterly
in advance, together with the of the Episcopal
parsonage, and all his legitimate travelling ex-
penses.


DR.. Kerfoot moved that the salary be $780, in
cludiug travelling expenses.


Rev. Mr.. Van Bokkelen stated that perhaps there
was too heavy a tax being laid on that Fund. The
travelling expenses could be raised in different
manner.


Hon. James Carroll said that there was now
surplus in the Fund of S2,400, and it would be
vastly increased by present collections.


The proposition of DR.. KerfOot, making the salary
of the Bishop S3,5OO including travelling expenses,
was passed.


During the settlement of the salary, the Bishop
had vacated the Chair, and DR.. Smith Pyne pre-
sided.


Rev Mr. Van Bokkelen addressed the Convention
in behalf of the cause of the Diocesan Mission.


He was followed by Rev. Mr.. Barbour and Rev.
Mr.. Hall.


Bishop Whttingham then said he had no desire to
consume the time of the Convention but he felt it
his duty to say something. He knew of rectors
that were laboring comparatively without him. He
knew OF one who was compelled to support his fam
lily by raising vegetables, and who wrote to him
hn nDuld NOT Oft tha b,
had not $500. He knew of another who was COM
PEELED to pay, twice and oftener a month, carriage
hire, so that he might preach in the waste places
The laity might say what they pleased, but they
were not coming up to the work properly The
gentleman from Charles, Mr. Stone, J who had ad-
dressed the Convention yesterday, had spoken of
the iberaity of the laty, and yet within 20 miles
of that .gentleman's home, the Bishop and
his Minister were compelled to knee on
| the cold clay to consecrate dying man
who had not roof to shield him from the
rain. If the laity knew the sutferngs of
some OF the clergy, their hearts would sink with
sorrow. They tOiled but received no adequate re.
muneratiOn. They led life of privation for their
Masters sake, which was not appreciated by the
world. The laity must not think that God does not
! require their services. He has purchased them
with his blood, and demands that they, as well as
the clergy, shall labor for the good of His Kingdom
Some of the laity thought that when they gave
half OF one per cent. Of their income to the Church.
! they were acting literally They never think that
there are rectors who are not only giving all their
pecunary means, but offering up their lives to
| the service Of Christ The commands of God are
just as binding on the laty they the
clergy. All bought with the same
blood and are TO inherit the same glores; and
he would say, the same labor required ofthem
"a life dedicated to God The speaker desired
that his tongue might cleave to the roof of his
mouth and his lips refuse to open to give utterance
when he became afraid to tell the laity that they
were not doing their duty in regard to the cause Of
Christ.


The report of the Committee on Diocesan Missions
taken up and adopted


Mr.. Tighman offered a resolution that the rec
tor of each church be requested to collect from
each member of the church the sum of 25 cts to be
devoted to the benefit of the diocesan missions.


Rev. Mr.. Reach said it would be better to alter
the resolution to make it read that each rector
would be expected to collect sum equal to 81
from each commitment from his congregation
| The Bishop said that the resolution was a good
one, but resolutions generally failed in accomplish
! ing good. Let the members of the Convention 20
home and labor for Christ. Let them work with
out passing resolutions. Let them think that their
Master has bought them and demands portion of
their time to his service. This was the manner to
work, and success would be sure to follow. The re-
solution is good one, and no harm will be done by
its passage


The resolution was then passed as offered by Mr..
| Tilghman.


The order of the day was called up, being the re-
port of the Committee CanOns in reference to
excluding all persons as delegates from the Diocesan
| Convention who not communcants.
Mr.. Hare said that if such a principle
was engratted in the of the church, it
would be ruinous. fit adopted there would
be no necessity for division of the diocese. There
would soon be falling off in the membership, and
there would be no demand for more clergy. There
would be thinning out of the clergy. This body had
no right to say who shall fix taxes. Those who pay
them are the parties who should say what amount
shall be paid. The act of baptism made members
in the church. and if men did not choose to become
communicants, why should they be forced to such
a ceremony or forced from the Church The mem
bers by baptism would resist this proposition to
| any and the farthest extent.


H. d. Evans, Esq. said that the young gentle
man who had just spoken had started off with a
threat.


Mr.. Hare.-"I appeal to the Chair, that the word
threat should not be used in Christian discus
sion."


The Bishop Ito Mr.. Evans. )-"Say caution"
| "Mr. Evans said that Mr. Hare was mistaken when
he said that this was a body which imposed taxes.
There are no taxes imposed here"


Mr.. Hare.-'W hat is meant by directing certain
sum of money to be raised by a parish?'


The Bishop.-"lt is merely assessed"


Mr.. Evans said that the parishioners were not
compelled to pay the assessment-it a mere
pleasure with them. He then proceeded to argue
the proposition, saving that it was a matter for
which he had struggled for year after year. He
believed it involved great Christian principle
and one which must become engrafted in the can.
mons of the diocese. This body had a perfect
right to say who should compose it. 1t was a
right which every legislative body possessed. The
good Of the church demanded that this change
should take place. and he felt he would not be doing
his duty to his God if he did not raise his voice and
exert his powers in advancing this Christian prin-
cipe. He wanted to hear the question thoroughly
discussed