Year: 1859

At eight O'Clock the clergy, delegates and all
communicants present partook of the Holy Sacra-
ment OF tie Lords Supper, Bishop Whittingham-
and the Rev. VIM. \. White, of Somerset, officaf
ting. After which the Rev. R. H. Waters,
Cecil, read the morning prayers. At half-past
nine O'Clock the Bishop called the Convention to
order.


A motion made to dispense with the calling
of the roll Of delegates and adopted.


The Secretary then proceeded to read the min
utes OF the proceedings of the previous day. They
were approved.


The order of the day then came up, being the
question of division of the diocese, and DR.. Ker-
foot took the floor and moved that 'it is expedi-
en to divide the Diocese of the State of Marvland
lie SAID that perhaps some of the members had not
given this question much consideration as he
had, and he would therefore state where and how
the present Convention got the authority for its
proposed action. The power was derived from the
9TH article Of the Constitution which governs the
Church in this country. He here read the 5th ar
tice of the Constitution amended in 1888 He
continued 1t will be observed that it is necessary
for division of the diocese, to have the consent of
the Bishop of the same, and the concurrence of a
Convention similar to the one he now Addressed
The speaker then went into a history of the
division of the New York diocese, showing
precedent for the action proposed by the
committee. There never could be unanimity
a question of this kind. There would be diver
sity of opinions Where the cause of God the inte-
rest and prosperity of the church demanded that
certain course should be pursued, individual





and all should work in harmony for the cause of
the Redeemer. 1t is absolutely necessary that the
different congregations should be visited frequent
y, and that the Bishop should 60 among his con-
gregations with his physical and mental energies
fresh and vigorous, in order to discharge properly
the duties of the office. This it is impossible for
the present Bishop to do. The field is too large
and the demands for spiritual food too great, for
one man to perform the duties required of him.


No religious community in Maryland is so Grip
pied in its good works by the want of Bishop as
the Episcopal church, which is now working in
many sections of the State without a Bishop
This certainly detrimental to the cause of
Christ, but 1T was not the fault of the Bishop. His
time was employed to the utmost and his entire
energies were given to the church. As far as the
ability OF section to support Bishop is concern
ed, it is matter which should be left with the
Laymen, who are most deeply interested in the
matter. They have spoken on the subject in a man
ner which cannot be misunderstood. They should
be best able to Judge Let the Bishop visit CON
gregation frequently. Let the members of the
Church have the benefit of his presence among
them. Let them see the good results which invari-
ably folloy his ministrations, and there will be
difficulty in securing his support. They will raise
five times the amount of means which they do now,
and with more ease.


Mr.. Clarke, of Prince Georges asked if he could
offer an amendment to the resolution.


The Bishop said that the resolution could be
amended.


Mr.. Clarke-"Wil the gentleman please read the
resUlution?''


DR.. Kerfoot reads: "Resoloed, That it is expedi-
Gent to divide the Diocese"


Mr.. VIM. b. Stone, of Charles, said he was OPP
posed to a division. He then entered into a review
of the prosperity and success of the Church in the
State. 1t had increased more rapidly than the pop
ulatlon OF the State-more rapidly than the wealth
and intelligence of the community. 1t had ad-
vanced in intellectual strengthchristian dignity
eminent piety, and purity and virtue. There no
means of measuring the good which had followed
the history of the Church. and he believed that
the same good results would continue to follow the
action OF the Church under its present OrgariZa-
ton. The proposed division, by forming the East
ern Shore counties into diocese, was a very un-
fair one 1t was throwing almost four-ffths of the
numerical strength of the Church into the old do
cese, while but onc-itth would be in the Eastern
Shore diocese. This is an unfair division 1t ony
relieved the.diocese one-tifth. How long would it
be until the duties of the large diocese would
be just as onerous as they to-day. The increase
OF the Church will soon cause the same Difficult
ties to present themselves and demand to be
remedled. The other proposed division is more
fair, but the speaker could see no necessity for a
division, and thought that the interests of his and
their Master would suffer by the change. The
memories of the past were also to be considered.
There were bonds Of affection existing between the
different parts of tie diocese, which were stronger
than bands of brass or steel. The report, and the
gentleman who had Just preceded him in addressing
the Convention had failed to refer to these ties of
| the heart. He for did not feel like severing
them and breaking up associations which had been,
ana stlll were source OF pleasure. IhoSe, VINO,
like himself, were within step of the grave, did
not feel like forming ties and associations,
but he could assure the gentleman that these were
no small considerations against division. The
| Chairman of the Committee had, in his remarks,
referred to the ability and willingness of the aymen
to take upon themselves the Indebtedness which
will attend this division. He would call upon his
aged rector to bear him out in the assertion that
he, the speaker, had never turned back from
the plough. But the clergy, generally, were mo-
aware of the amount which was given yearly BY
the laymen. The speaker thought that it could b,
counted by hundred thousands of dollars