Year: 1874

BISHOP srEyEYs's ANNUAL ADDREss-Hg REFERS IN


SEVERE TERMS To THE REFORMED EPISCOPAL


CHURCH.


PHILADELPHIA, May 20-The Protestant Epis-
copal Convention ID in session in this city. After
hgious exercises Bishop Stevens read his annual ad-
dress giving summary of the services dhrng the year
lie referred, In the OF the address, to the Re
formed Episcopal Church as follows:


since we last met in convention event has occurred
whlcb II unDrecedented in the history OF Church
Oe .. IIs bishops has abandoned its communion and


transferred as he declares, his work and Office with the
consecra0n he received from this Church, TO another
sphere The other sphere proved 10 be the establish
laithiulness to his three-!old VOWS Of ordination,
ms needless rending OF the Church Of Christ no
s mas a crowned by an act unparalleled In the annals
OF Chrsts Church. IN the consecrdting by his single
sell on lawfully deposed cergymen to the work and office
of % bishop Vigorous efforts have been made by dis
hHected sects 10 asperse the purity OF Church and
SOW seeds OF dlscontent among our Clergy and laty
sions have been resortei to through the press
ana pulpit, IN reference 10 our prayer-6ook,
our policy and our legislation. In this diocese 1t Is
satisfactory to know that only one clergyman has
been led away IN this schismatc movement. and he
Windeyer, TO whom refer. mnistered in the church
building erected at the sole expense OF wealthy lay
man who kindly loaned 10 be congregation OF Trinity
Church, at the Falls Of the schuylkil The property.
however never belonged 60 the parish and they had no
excellent ayman cast in his lot with the Reformed EplS-
copa Church ne. OF course carried the church budng
natural, under the circumstances in which they
were placed, that large portion OF the congregation
wOrshping In that building. and many OF whom were
ess connected with the manufacturing works or
that ayman, should follow their minister and their
benefaetor.


The future OF this sect very much depends on the
course which shall be taken in reference TO certain
grave questions by the next General Convention
should that body representing whole icOmmuniOn
and looking the interest OF all It's mem
bers, and egslatng not for tue mOmen-
tary issue, but for tie future welfare Of
the Church. modify OF the existing canOns, and
give emphatic condemnation to the doctrines and prac-
tees br0ached by the advanced sOcaed cathO-
c party, which has recently appeared among us NOT
only will all occasion for leaving Our Church be cut or
but the movement itself Will have host Its leverage IN
removal of those things from our liturgy wnIch
gave it origin and power


The Bishop then called attention to tho action OF the
last General Convention the subject OF ritualistc
usage. and sacramental There an emphatic
denuncIauon OF them. Then followed dissection Of
the fallacies upon which it founded and the Bishop
pointed out the which nsduously lurk in rites
snd ceremonies which sought to be fOsted into the
Protestant Episcopal Church"


AT the afternoon session, an election was held for
members OF the Standing Committee and deputies to the
General Convention The election resulted in the sue
cess OF the Low Church element.