USA > Virginia > A digest of the proceedings of the conventions and councils in the diocese of Virginia > Part 10
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The Committee on the State of the Church note "the steady progress of religion throughout the Diocese, and the decided improvement that seems to have taken place in attachment to the distinctive principles of our Church."
They say also: "The only infallible security against the fanatical 'inventions of men in the worship of God,' and against the deplorable and soul-wasting disorders and here- sies, which follow in their train, has ever been, and ever will be, found to be a strict and conscientious adherence to the rubrics and canons, to the ordinances and institutions of the Church. God himself has joined the leading truths and duties, the rich promises and blessings with the ordi- mary institutions and ordinances of religion; and what God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
They also "most earnestly urge upon the clergy the reli- gious instruction of young and old among that portion of 'the degraded race of man' with which an inscrutable Provi- dence has been pleased to afflict our country. For their moral and spiritual wants we are as imperatively bound to provide as for their temporal; and if the myriads under bondage which have 'perished for lack of knowledge' shall one day be required at our hands, it may well curdle the
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CONVENTION OF 1835.
warm blood at the fountain to look forward to the tremen- dous account that must hereafter be rendered in by minis- ters and by masters."
After other unimportant and routine business the Conven- tion-adjourned.
CONVENTION OF 1835.
Convention met in Lynchburg, May 20th.
In the absence of Bishop Moore, Bishop Meade presided.
The President read the annual address of Bishop Moore, in which he recounted his official acts and prefaced the same with an earnest statement of the duty of congre- gations respecting the support of the clergy. He spoke plainly of the fact and of the effect of the meagre support that some were receiving. He laid down as the rule for them all to observe, the precept of the apostle, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him."
He took .occasion to recommend the Southern Churchman, edited by Rev. William F. Lee.
The Seminary Trustees reported the centre building com- pleted, also the financial condition of the Institution as considerably increased. The building was ample to accom- modate two professors and sixty students and a library. There were invested funds amounting to more than $20,000, and of uncollected subscriptions from twelve to fourteen thousand dollars, "all which we desire to record to the glory of God."
The amendment to the Constitution requiring lay dele- gates to be communicants in the Church, was adopted, after
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a motion to strike it out had been lost, by the following recorded vote:
Clergy, ayes, II Clergy, noes, 25
Laity, ayes, 7 Laity, noes, 2I
So that a large majority of each order refused to favor striking out. The amendment then passed.
It was-
Resolved, That the Standing Committee of this Diocese be requested to inquire into the expediency of obtaining an act of incorporation from the Legislature of Virginia, and in the event of failing in that object, of connecting the Society of this Diocese for the relief of widows and orphans of deceased clergymen of the Protestant Episco- pal Church, with the Society incorporated for the same purpose in the Diocese of Maryland. And if the terms offered by that Society be such as said committee approve, that they be authorized to transfer the funds of this Society to the Treasurer of that Institution, to be held in trust for the purposes set forth in the Constitution of the Society of this Diocese for the relief of widows and orphans of deceased clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
The assets of the Society were reported to be $8,104.96.
The Committee on the State of the Church called atten- tion to the appearances of energy among her members, all indicating a healthy action throughout the whole system. Also to the attention given to the religious tuition of youth by Sunday Schools and Bible classes, and to the increased regard recently extended by the Church to the spiritual necessities of our colored population. They followed up the Bishop's words about weekly offerings, called attention to the fact that the Virginia Prayer Book and Tract Society were offering Prayer Books at half price.
A list of places for the meetings of the Convention was adopted.
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CONVENTION OF 1836.
CONVENTION OF 1836.
Convention met in Fredericksburg, May 18th.
Falls church, Fairfax county, West Russel parish, Bed- . ford county, and St. Peter's church, Caroline county, were admitted into union with the Convention.
The Convention approved the action of the General Con- vention in 1835 in declaring the Protestant Episcopal Church a Missionary Church, and every baptized member of the Church a member of the Missionary Society.
The Rev. Dr. Milner, Secretary and General Agent of the Foreign Committee of the Board of Missions, was invited to present the subject committed to his care to the friends and members of the Church there assembled.
The Southern Churchman was urgently commended to the patronage of the Diocese by the Bishops and by the report of a Special Committee.
The Revised Constitution was adopted, " but not to take effect until after the adjournment of this Convention."
In their report, the Committee on the State of the Church say :
Testimony from all parts of the Diocese goes to show that, with a few insulated exceptions, comparatively much less religious sensibility is manifested than formerly-that a spirit of slumber seems creeping over the churches, and that even much spiritual apathy is beginning generally to prevail. Indeed, for the space of two or three years past, it is to be feared that the interests of vital godliness have not been promoted in an equal degree with its outward forms, but that the cause of inward piety has at least been stationary, if not in a state of declension.
Various causes probably have contributed their quota to this result. The painful political excitements that have of late years pervaded the State-the all-absorbing spirit of speculation that has spread its infec- tion over all classes of society, and the reaction consequent upon that
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CONVENTION OF 1836.
over-excitement which, through a misguided zeal, some religionists of the age have labored to promote in many of the churches around us, from which it has, in many instances, exerted an unfavorable influence even upon our own congregations-in fine, the religious languor which we experience proves, and according to the laws of our Constitution most generally succeeds even a state of moderate religious excite- ment-these have all had a tendency to induce a state of spiritual re- missness- to bring religion into disrepute, and substitute the form for the power of godliness, and to withdraw both the attention and affec- tions of Christians from the work of grace and the influence of Divine truth upon the hearts and characters of men.
Standing upon the watch-towers of Zion, your committee cannot but notice these evils now in their incipient stages, in order that the ser- vants of God may at once gird up their loins and brace themselves to the task of counteracting and removing them.
These things cannot but address a powerful and stirring appeal to the hearts and consciences of the clergy, and of all others who love the Church and the religion of the Saviour. And while they unfold the evil they suggest the remedy. Let the ministers of our Church faithfully do. their duty-let the friends of Zion at once put themselves on the defen- sive, and in a state of holy vigilance, and let every effort be made to. redeem what we have lost, to excite our too languid zeal, and to resist. the further encroachments of the above-mentioned evils.
As to the recommendation from the General Convention in reference to the manner in which the general confession should be repeated-a subject which our Diocesan submitted to the Convention, and the Con- vention to your committee-we have to observe that, though a minority of us believe our former practice to be in conformity with the original intention of the Rubric, and, therefore, that it is not competent to the House of Bishops or even the General Convention to alter its obliga- tion by a mere resolution or recommendation, yet the majority of your committee concur in believing that the proposed alteration is not incon- sistent with the Rubric, that it is expedient, and that for the sake of promoting uniformity the observance of it ought to be recommended to all the churches of the Diocese.
At the same time they desire distinctly to state, and to put it on record-and they are pleased to know that in this particular the Con- vention of South Carolina have set them the example-they desire unequivocally to state that they think it inexpedient for the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies to solicit the separate action of the House of Bishops in any case whatever.
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CONVENTION OF 1836.
The plan of obtaining an act of incorporation from the Legislature for the Trustees of the Widows' and Orphans' Fund was abandoned, and a committee was appointed to report to the Standing Committee of this Diocese whether it was expedient to transfer the funds of the Society to the Treasurer of a similar Society in Maryland. The Standing Committee would have power to order the Treasurer of the Society in this Diocese to make the transfer, the funds to be held by the Treasurer of the Society in Maryland, sub- ject to the control of the Convention of this Diocese.
It was
Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to ascertain how many trustees of the General Theological Seminary this Diocese is entitled to, and select the proper number from the delegates to the General Convention, and certify their appointment to the Board of Trustees of the General Theological Seminary.
The following are the trustees of the General Theological Seminary appointed on the part of the Diocese of Virginia: Rev. Nicholas H. Cobbs, Rev. Thomas Jackson, Rev. William F. Lee, Rev. Edward C. M'Guire, and John Nelson, Esq.
The Missionary Society reported having made appropria- tions to five missionaries.
The Seminary Treasurer reported a vested fund of $20,676.15.
The assessment for the salary of the Bishop was ascer- tained to be fourteen cents for each communicant.
Resolutions adopted by the Convention at the periods stated below, and renewed in May, 1836.
I. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Convention be requested to. transmit, annually, the proceedings of the Conventions of the Diocese, to the Secretaries of the Conventions of the several States, and to re- quest of them to send in return, annually, the journals of their several Conventions. (Adopted May 26, 1815.)
2. Whereas, an erroneous impression prevails among the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church of this Diocese, that the Convention,
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CONVENTION OF 1836.
at its last session, in May, 1816, by repealing the sixth canon, then in force, intended thereby to withdraw from ministers of the Church the power of reproving, censuring, or repelling from the communion, any member who may be guilty of the offences in the said sixth canon de- scribed. This Convention, for the purpose of removing such impression, feel themselves bound to declare, as they do now unanimously declare, that such cannot be fairly considered as the effect of the repeal of the sixth canon; and further, that the Convention expects each minister will conscientiously execute the duty imposed on him by the Rubric of the Church, as it relates to communicants.
3. Resolved, unanimously, That the Convention do seriously, and in the most affectionate manner, call on the members of this Church, and particularly heads of families, to comply with the requisitions of the third and fifth canons of the Church in this Diocese. (Passed May, 1817.)
4. Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Standing Committee, at every meeting of the Convention, to submit, in addition to the report of their proceedings, the documents also, which have been laid before them during the year. (Passed May, 1817.)
5. Whereas, differences of opinion prevail as to certain fashionable amusements, and it appears desirable to many that the sense of the Convention should be expressed concerning them, the Convention does hereby declare its opinion, that gaming, attending on theatres, public balls, and horse-racing, should be relinquished by all communicants of the Church, as having the bad effects of staining the purity of the Chris- tian character; of giving offence to their pious brethren, and of en- dangering their own salvation, by their rushing voluntarily into those temptations, against which they implore the protection of their Heavenly Father, and this Convention cherishes the hope that this expression of its opinion will be sufficient to produce conformity of conduct and una- nimity of opinion among all the members of our communion. (Passed May, 1818.)
6. Resolved, That the annual contributions from Christ Church, in Alexandria, of $100, for raising a fund for the support of the Bishop, which have now been paid, or which may hereafter be received, together with all other sums which may be any where subscribed and collected for the same object, be vested in bank stock, under the direction of the Standing Committee of this Diocese, in the names of the Church Ward- ens of Christ Church, Fairfax Parish, Alexandria, and their successors, for the purpose aforesaid.
7. Resolved, That, in aid of the Episcopal Fund, the several ministers of the Church, in their respective congregations, at some fit season in
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CONVENTION OF 1836.
each year, deliver an appropriate discourse, recommending the pious object of the fund, and thereafter make a collection, the amount of which they shall specially mention in their parochial reports.
8. Resolved, That no part of the Episcopal Fund shall be withdrawn for any purpose until its annual interest shall suffice for the attainment of its object ; and that in the interim, it shall be the duty of the Standing Committee to see that its enlargement is hastened by the prompt con- version of its revenue into principal. (Adopted May 21, 1818.)
9. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the different clergymen and vestries of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this Dio- cese, to have collections made in their respective churches in the Sabbath preceding or succeeding the 4th of July, in aid of the funds of the Virginia. Colonization Society. (Adopted May 20, 1825.)
10. Resolved, That this Convention do most fully approve of the holy enterprise of the Virginia Bible Society, and earnestly recommend it to. the patronage of the various parishes and churches in this Diocese. (Adopted May 16, 1828.)
II. Resolved, That the General Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union be recommended to the patronage and support of the members of our Church in this Diocese. (Adopted May 19, 1827.)
12. Resolved, That this Convention, regarding the intemperate use of ardent spirits as one of the most deploring and alarming vices of our country, as presenting one of the most formidable of all barriers to the spread of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour, feels itself called upon to express its decided approbation of the efforts that are making in many sections of our land to arrest the progress of this acknowledged evil, and to pray that abundant success may crown the labors of the Chris- tian, the patriot, and the philanthropist, in their laudable associations for this important purpose. (Adopted May 22, 1829.)
13. Resolved, That the restriction annexed to the election of the As- sistant Bishop of Virginia, be hereby removed, and that the Rt. Rev. William Meade is hereby declared successor to our present venerable Diocesan, in case he should survive him. (Adopted May 22, 1830.)
14. Resolved, That it be recommended to the clergy and laity of this. Diocese, to make the week previous to the annual meeting of this Con- vention a special season of thanksgiving and praise to God, for his mercies in times past on such occasions, and of prayer and supplication for the continuance, increase and efficacious outpouring of His Holy Spirit, to the conversion of sinners, edification of Christians, and build- ing up of His holy Church. (Adopted May 19, 1832.)
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CONVENTION OF 1837.
15. Resolved, That the Treasurer be directed to pay, annually, to the Assistant Bishop, out of the contingent fund, the sum of three hundred dollars, besides paying the necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of his Episcopal duties. (Adopted May 23, 1834.)
16. Resolved, That the funds collected by the weekly contribution, on the plan suggested by Bishop Moore in his address in 1835, be paid into the hands of the Treasurer of the Missionary Society of this Diocese, to be appropriated by the Society as they shall deem expedient. (Adopted May 23, 1835.)
CONVENTION OF 1837.
Convention met in Petersburg, May 17th.
Boyden parish, Augusta county, was admitted into union with the Convention.
The plan of transferring the funds of the Society for the Relief of the Widows and Orphans of Deceased Clergymen to the Treasurer of a similar Society in Maryland, which had been incorporated, was adjudged to be impracticable because of the terms of the charter granted to the Mary- land Society.
The Missionary Society reported having aided six mis- sionaries.
The Right Reverend Bishop Meade presented the follow- ing report and resolutions, which were read and adopted :
The committee, to whom the preamble and resolutions concerning the fund for Widows and Orphans of deceased clergymen were re- ferred, report the following as a substitute for the same:
Whereas, a certain fund, called the fund of the Widows and Orphans of deceased clergymen in Virginia, has providentially come into the possession of the Convention of Virginia ; therefore,
I. Resolved, That in order to effect the pious object of the donors and subscribers to this fund, the Convention recommends to the clergy
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CONVENTION OF 1837.
of this Diocese that they form themselves into a society for the benefit of Widows and Orphans of deceased clergymen, after the example of other Dioceses, and, in order to encourage them so to do, this Conven- tion resolves to pay to such society the annual interest of the above- mentioned fund: provided, that the regulations and future conduct of the society shall be such as to meet the approbation of the Convention.
2. Resolved, That this fund be continued in the hands of the Stand- ing Committee of the Diocese subject to the directions and order of the Convention at all times.
3. Resolved, That the clergymen who heretofore subscribed to this fund shall be allowed to withdraw the amount paid by them with in- terest, or if preferring to unite themselves to the society, if hereafter formed, be credited with the same by such society.
4. Resolved, That Mr. John Hooff, of Alexandria, be continued as treasurer of the said fund.
5. Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the treasurer to present annually to the Standing Committee a statement of the condition of the funds, which statement shall form a part of the annual report of the proceedings of that committee.
6. Resolved, That nothing in the above shall interfere with the claims of any who are entitled to annuities out of the same fund.
The following report was received and accepted :
The Trustees of the Theological Seminary beg leave to submit to the Convention the following report :
The general condition of this institution is prosperous. The means and the facilities which it now offers for a sound and thorough theolo- gical education are such as to call upon the Church for grateful ac- knowledgments to God.
During the past year the number of students has been about thirty- being nearly a third greater than that of the preceding year.
Since the last Convention, the new professor of Biblical literature, the Rev. Mr. Packard, has entered upon the discharge of his duties. As a scholar and a Christian, he has the entire confidence of all who know him, and as an instructor is highly acceptable to the students.
In conclusion, the trustees would express their sincere gratitude for the good which the institution confided to their care has already been the means of accomplishing, and their ardent hope that it will long continue a sacred fountain of learning and piety, from which shall annually issue streams that shall make glad the Church and city of our God.
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CONVENTION OF 1837.
The Committee on the State of the Church presented the following report :
In contemplating the present condition of the Church in this Diocese, your committee see but little that comes within their province to spread before you. The aspect of our affairs differs but a few shades from that presented to you at your last annual meeting. In its external condition our Zion continues prosperous. The misconceptions and ignorance and prejudice which long presented so extensive a barrier to the ad- vancement of our Church are still yielding to more correct views and more favorable feelings. The increasing calls for more laborers, the organization of new parishes, and the multiplication of churches, afford pleasing evidence of the enlargement of our borders. While an in- creasing attachment to our ecclesiastical system and our liturgical ser- vices encourages the hope that both our own members and many others are becoming more sensible of the excellency of our polity, our doc- trines and mode of worship, and of their tendency to promote good order in congregations, good morals in society, and a high tone of piety, charity and harmony among our members. But while the exter- nal condition of the Church is thus encouraging, but little improvement can be perceived in its internal and spiritual state. There is still ground for the complaint heretofore expressed of a comparative cold- ness in religious feeling, and insensibility to the sanctifying influences of the means of grace. The reports from the several parishes, with very few exceptions, furnish but little evidence of the existence of that life and earnestness as to eternal things, which is all important. Although they exhibit no positive symptoms of a relaxation in effort on the part of the clergy, and no deficiency either of faithfulness or orthodoxy in preaching the Word of Truth, yet they do indicate most plainly that our ministrations have wanted that Divine unction which is essential to their wholesome influence upon the conscience. Accordingly the in- crease in the number of our communicants has not been proportioned to the external advancement of our Church, and it is much to be feared that the zeal and spiritual sensibilities of our ministers and members have been much weakened by the unholy influences of that wild spirit of speculation and covetousness which has prevailed so generally through our country.
From this view of the condition of our Church, it will be seen that while there is cause for much gratitude to God for his fostering care, there is at the same time need for much humiliation and contrition, for more watchfulness and prayer, that the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit may be poured out more abundantly upon us.
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CONVENTION OF 1837.
The present is a season of trial and of danger. A reaction is taking place in society from a state of unexampled commercial excitement and temporal prosperity to one of greatly apprehended depression and distress. And that a mighty moral influence will be exerted either for good or for evil may reasonably be expected. * Your committee would therefore suggest to the Convention the pro- priety of setting apart some early day for the public acknowledgment of our sins before God, and the supplication of pardon for the past, and the blessings of his grace to quicken and revive his work among us. * * * *
In conclusion, the committee perceive with regret that some dissat- isfaction still exists in a few of their parishes with that portion of the second article of the Revised Constitution which requires that the lay delegates from the parishes shall be communicants in the Church. Deeply deploring such an effect of that measure, and that anything should disturb the hitherto unbroken harmony of our venerable and beloved Church, we ardently hope that this effect will give way to the healing operation of time and of religious influence; and would recom- mend to this Convention to cherish a fraternal spirit towards those who differ with us in opinion.
The following paper was adopted:
Whereas there is at present no institution of learning under the care of the Episcopal Church in this Diocese; and whereas the sons of our Episcopal families are too often entrusted to local and irresponsible schools, which are either sectarian in their character or totally unor- ganized and desultory in their operations ; therefore,
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