USA > Virginia > A digest of the proceedings of the conventions and councils in the diocese of Virginia > Part 18
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The Executive Committee of the Diocesan Missionary Society reported $2,396.98 receipts, and aid extended to seventeen missionaries. 933 Prayer Books and 26,808 pages of tracts distributed.
Rev. Messrs. Castleman and C. K. Nelson were appointed agents to raise $20,000 additional for the vested funds of the Theological Seminary, and, in the event of a vacancy, the Bishop was given power to fill the same. The Seminary Trustees reported an invested fund of $40,442.50. Ac- counts from both the Seminary and High School were encouraging.
CONVENTION OF 1848.
Convention met in Christ church, Norfolk, May 17th.
Trinity church, Martinsburg, and St. George's parish, Ac- comac, were admitted into union with the Convention. A petition was presented for the admission of a new congre- gation in Trinity parish, Portsmouth. This petition, with a counter-petition, was referred to the Committee on New Parishes, and considered on Saturday night.
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CONVENTION OF 1848.
The Executive Committee of the Diocesan Missionary Society reported having aided fourteen missionaries, at a. cost of $2,018.50. Paid for Prayer Books $61.62; receipts, $1,806.63.
The Trustees of the Seminary say-
The Church in almost every Diocese is feeling the salutary influence of the Seminary. Its Alumni are scattered from Maine to Texas, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In Africa, in China, in Greece, they are faithfully endeavoring to fulfil the last command of the Lord, to preach the gospel to every creature. It is emphatically The Institution of the Diocese. It is identified with all our future anticipations of the prosperity of the Church.
A report was adopted warmly recommending the South- ern Churchman to the confidence and patronage of the Diocese.
H
The Committee on the State of the Church warned the Diocese against the growing "eagerness for scenes, exhi- bitions and amusements, the thoughts of which would once have been repelled as utterly incompatible with the dictates at least of female delicacy and propriety. As nothing could be more fatal to the social and domestic virtue of our land, not to say its piety, than such ruthless inroads of foreign fashions, manners, and principles, we do earnestly deprecate so great a curse, and trust that the public virtue may lift up a standard which may turn back the tide and save our be- loved country from the foul ravages with which we are threatened."
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On Saturday night the Convention proceeded to the con- sideration of the petition for a new congregation in Trinity parish, Portsmouth.
The petition and counter-petition were then read, and, on motion, James Murdaugh, Esq., appointed by the petitioners to appear before the Convention, was introduced into the house.
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CONVENTION OF 1849.
Holt Wilson, Esq., then addressed the Convention, and was answered by Mr. Murdaugh, and after a lengthened debate, the following resolution was adopted by a nearly unanimous vote.
Resolved, Without expressing any opinion in the slightest degree re- flecting upon the character of the Rev. Mr. Wingfield, that the prayer of the petitioners be granted, and that they have leave to form a new congregation in Trinity parish, Portsmouth.
CONVENTION OF 1849.
Convention met in Christ church, Charlottesville, May 16th.
The assistant Bishop laid before the Convention another overture to him from the Visitors of William and Mary College to accept the presidency of the same. In speaking of it he said:
"In the month of November last I received a communication from the Honorable John Tyler, Rector of the Board of Visitors of William and Mary College, informing me that, at their recent meeting in Oc- tober, they had appointed me President of the College and Professor of Moral Philosophy, to take effect on the first of July next. As im- mediate action was not required on my part, and as it was now made under circumstances which gave it an aspect very different from that of the overture of 1847, I deemed it my privilege, and but due to the Church in this Diocese, to wait and take their counsel before forming my own decision. My reply to the communication from the Rector, therefore, was as follows :
"'My relation to the Protestant Episcopal Church in this Diocese is. such, that it would not be proper for me to act on this important ap- pointment without first availing myself of the counsel of our Conven- tion. This I will take in May next. If, in the opinion of that body, I.
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CONVENTION OF 1849.
ought to accept the office to which the Board of Visitors have called me, I should not feel at liberty to decline the responsible service.'
" I have recently received another communication from the Rector of the College, enclosing a copy of certain proceedings of the Board of Visitors, to be laid before this Convention, which I now present:
"' RESOLUTIONS AND ADDRESS of the Board of Visitors of William and Mary College, adopted at a meeting held on Wednesday, the 17th of April, 1849, in the city of Williamsburg, and ordered to be transmitted to the Convention of the "Episcopal Church of Virginia through the Right Reverend John Johns, D. D .:
"' Whereas, at a meeting of the Board of Visitors of William and Mary College, in the month of October, 1848, the Right Reverend John Johns was elected to the Presidency of the same ; and, whereas, it is under- stood that he has determined to refer the question of his acceptance to the Episcopal Convention about to assemble ; therefore,
"' Resolved, That this Board transmit, through the President elect to the Convention, the following expression of their views and wishes, in the hope that it may influence that body to consent, though it should only be for a limited period, to the surrender of such portions of the time of Bishop Johns as the present exigencies of the College de- mand, and the Episcopal Church may be able to spare, without injury to herself.
"'The Board of Visitors having regard to the charter and early his- tory of the College, and the religious opinions and ecclesiastical con- nections of a long line of Presidents and Professors, and desirous to enlist the ministers and members of the Episcopal Church of Virginia more actively in its behalf, have been induced to invite the Right Reverend Bishop Johns to a chief place in its government, confident that his zeal and abilities will render most effectual service in the efforts to place it on the best foundation of which it is capable.
"'While, however, the Visitors thus invoke the special cooperation of the Episcopal Church of Virginia, they must distinctly declare that they have no wish to make it a sectarian institution by exclu- ding from the Faculty or Visitorial Board suitable persons of other denominations, or by introducing in the instructions delivered to the young anything which can be justly offensive, either to themselves or their parents, in the way of denominational peculiarities. In this re- spect, they desire and propose to follow the example of many other colleges in our land, which, though under the predominant influence of some one denomination, have nevertheless found it to be in accordance with the dictates of sound wisdom and true Christian charity to avoid
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what is controversial and offensive, and to see that only the great, un- disputed doctrines and duties of our holy religion are sought to be- enforced on the pupils thereof.
"'With the expression of such views, the Visitors cannot but hope. that the Convention will see fit to comply with their earnest desire to obtain the services of Bishop Johns.'
"(Signed), on behalf of the Visitors,
"JOHN TYLER, "Rector of William and Mary College. "[A correct copy from the records.] " WM. M. MOODY, Secretary.
"The preceding statement is, I presume, quite sufficient to put you in possession of the important overture in reference to which I now re- spectfully ask the advice of the Convention. If this body decide that the interests of religion call for our adoption of the proposed arrange- ment, and that my Episcopal services can, without detriment to the Diocese, be so far dispensed with for the present, as to enable me to devote sufficient time to the responsible duties of the College, such de- cision will control my own opinions and inclinations, and determine me to accept the appointment and make the experiment. If, however, the voice of the Diocese is not decidedly in favor of the arrangement, I shall be relieved from all anxiety, and feel at liberty to confine myself to my present position and its more congenial duties."
The Convention, after long debate, gave its consent to the assistant Bishop's acceptance of the position. The vote stood: clergy, ayes 45; laity, ayes 28; negative, clergy 13, laity 15; majority for the measure 45.
Armory church, Richmond city, and Rivanna parish, Fluvanna, were admitted into union with the Convention.
St. James'-Northam parish, Goochland county, was di- vided. No metes and bounds stated.
The Executive Committee of the Diocesan Missionary So- ciety reported having assisted sixteen missionaries.
The Trustees of the Seminary reported twenty-five stu- dents in the Seminary, sixty-six pupils in the High School, and an invested fund of $47,479.24. They say amongst other things:
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CONVENTION OF 1849.
It is, however, a subject of deep regret and painful anxiety, that so few students are now connected with our Theological Seminary. Its present number is but twenty-five. A few years since and its average number was scarcely ever less than forty. This diminution of numbers is by no means peculiar to our Seminary. The number of those who are now looking forward to Holy Orders is but a small part of the number who, a few years since, were pressing into the ministry. To what other cause can we ascribe it than the want of faithful, ardent, persevering prayer; of earnest supplication that the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into the harvest? The ministry, acting through the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, is God's gracious instrumentality for the reformation of the world and the salvation of man. It is His ap- pointed means, and He will use no other. Yet for this He will be en- quired of by us to do it for us. Let prayer be made without ceasing of the Church unto God, and he will give the word, and great will be the company of the preachers.
A report of a body of canons was made and all were ap- proved except the XIXTH, which is as follows:
" CANON XIX-OFFENDERS TO BE ADMONISHED, OR REPELLED FROM THE LORD'S TABLE.
"Any member of the Church, being a communicant thereof, conduct- ing himself or herself in a manner unworthy of a Christian, ought to be admonished, or repelled from the Lord's table, by the minister of the parish or church, according to the Rubric; and gaming, attendance on horse-racing and theatrical amusements, witnessing immodest and licentious exhibitions or shows, attending public balls, habitual neglect of public worship, or a denial of the doctrines of the gospel, as gene- rally set forth in the authorized standards of the Church, are offences for which discipline should be exercised. This enumeration, however, shall not be construed to include all the subjects of discipline in the Church, and in cases where it may be deemed expedient by the minis- ter, or may be requested by the accused, the church wardens, or either of them, if communicants, shall be summoned to assist the minister in ascertaining the facts of the case: provided, that if such warden or wardens shall fail or refuse to act within ten days, the minister shall proceed to act under the Rubrics of this Church."
Upon this, after a long and animated debate, the vote was taken by orders, and resulted as follows :
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CONVENTION OF 1850.
OF THE CLERGY.
Ayes-Right Rev. Bishop Meade, Right Rev. Bishop Johns, Rev. Messrs. Andrews, Ambler, Bowers, Bryant, Castleman, Chisholm, Cole, Cooke, Carraway, Caldwell, Denison, Dana, Earnest, Friend, Gibson, Grammer, Hoff, Johnson, Keppler, Locke, Lockwood, Meade, J. D. McCabe, J. C. McCabe, McElroy, J. P. McGuire, F. H. McGuire, E. B. McGuire, W. McGuire, Pendleton, Perkins, Stringfellow, Slack, Smith, Sparrow, Towles, Temple, Ufford, Woodbridge, Wade-42.
Noes-Rev. Messrs. Berkeley, Cummins, Empie, Fisher, Kinsolving, Leavell, Mann, Meredith, Nelson, G. T. Wilmer, Withers, Wingfield-12.
OF THE LAITY. -
Ayes-Messrs. Merriwether, Thornley, Coles, F. Nelson, P. Nelson, Smith, Carter, Hurt, Williams, W. Nelson, Lee, Ellis, Urquhart, Lewis, Donaghe, Meade, Tayloe, Warwick, Chewning-19.
Noes-Messrs. Harris, H. Wilson, Terrill, T. Nelson, Broadnax, Kean, Fisher, Bryce, Breckenridge, King, Shelton, Lindsay, Tucker, Jones, Minor, Owen, Carrington, Taylor, Galt, Page, Leftwich, G. Wilson-22.
CLERGY-Ayes,
Noes,
Ayes, I2 - 19 30 42 LAITY-Noes, 22
Majority in favor,
Majority against, . 3
The two orders not concurring, the Canon was rejected.
A resolution to reconsider was adopted unanimously.
The further consideration of the same was postponed until the next Convention.
CONVENTION OF 1850.
Convention met in St. Paul's church, Alexandria, May 15th.
The assistant Bishop announced that he had accepted the Presidency of William and Mary College.
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CONVENTION OF 1850.
Montross parish, Westmoreland ; St. John's church, Har- per's Ferry; Trinity parish, Marshall county; Trinity church, Piedmont parish, Fauquier; St. Paul's parish, Putnam county, and St. John's church, Wheeling, were admitted into union with the Convention.
The XIXTH Canon, the consideration of which was post- poned by the last Convention to this, was taken up.
After debate it was adopted as reported at the last Con- vention.
The vote was taken by orders, and resulted as follows:
OF THE CLERGY.
Ayes .- Right Rev. William Meade, D. D., Right Rev. John Johns, D. D., Rev. Messrs. Adie, Andrews, Ambler, Bowers, Castleman, Cald- well, Cummins, Chisholm, Clark, Cole, Cooke, Carraway, Earnest, Friend, Fisher, Goodwin, Grammer, Gibson, Hyland, Hoff, Irish, John- son, Jackson, Jones, Kinckle, Kinsolving, Locke, Lockwood, Minni- gerode, John C. McCabe, E. C. McGuire, William McGuire, E. B. McGuire, Meade, Norton, Nash, Pendleton, Rumney, Stringfellow, Sparrow, Shield, George A. Smith, Temple, Towles, Ward, Webb, Walker, Whittle-50.
Noes .- Rev. Messrs. Berkeley, Brown, Disbrow, Leavell, Meredith, Nelson, Peterkin, Sale, Withers, Wharton, Wingfield, Rich'd H. Wilmer, Weed, George T. Wilmer-14.
OF THE LAITY.
Ayes .- Messrs. Ambler, Berkeley, Butler, Bradford, Brent, Chewning, Cosby, Chambliss, Derby, Fowle, Fisher, Fleming, Grice, Gray, Galt, Gantt, Hunter, Hooe, Harris, Harrison, Horner, Lee, Lewis, Martin, Montgomery, Thomas F. Nelson, Francis Nelson, William Nelson, Francis K. Nelson, Pryor, Powell, Page, Russell, Sheffey, Stevens, Shelton, Stewart, Stuart, Tayloe, Tarry, Taliaferro, Tyler, Weir, Wash- ington-44.
Noes .- Messrs. Anderson, Carrington, Durfey, Edmunds, Hoggard, Macfarland, Minor, Oliver, Pollock, Skipwith, Smith, Taylor, Wilson, Watkins-14.
Three clergymen, Revs. J. Packard, D. D., Mark L. Chevers and E. A. Dalrymple, and two lay delegates,
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CONVENTION OF 1850.
Messrs. C. J. Merriwether and Henry L. Davis, who were out of their seats when the vote was taken, were allowed to have it recorded that they would have voted in the affirma- tive. One lay delegate, Dr. R. H. Webb, not present, was allowed to make record that he would have voted in the negative.
A communication was received from the Bishop showing how a number of legacies and other property was lost to the Diocese from the insufficiency of the law to protect it.
The committee to whom was referred the proposition from the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Female Institute at Staunton, submitted a report, which, as amended, is as follows:
The committee appointed for that purpose have had under consider- ation a resolution adopted by the Trustees of the " Virginia Female Institute," on the 6th of May, 1850, in which they tender to this Con- vention the property of said Institute, on the conditions that the Con- vention will assume the debts thereof (the same being estimated at not more than $7,500), and the said Institute be continued as a school for the instruction of females.
The committee beg leave to report, that they are unanimously of opinion that the Virginia Female Institute, if continued as a female school under the auspices and influence of the Church, will prove a. nursery of piety and knowledge, and a blessing to the Diocese, and that the threatened danger of its sale and transfer to other hands. ought, if possible, to be averted. They are, however, unwilling to recommend to the Convention (at this time) the acceptance of the proposition of the Trustees ; but trust that by the adoption of the reso- lution they herewith submit, the means may be raised to avert the sale of the Institute, and to preserve to the Diocese a female school, which may hereafter be brought under the direct supervision and control of the Convention. They, therefore, respectfully recommend the adoption of the following resolution :
Resolved, That the Convention highly appreciate the importance of the Virginia Female Institute at Staunton, and recommend to the friends of the Church to aid in extricating it from its present pecuniary embarrassment.
14
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CONVENTION OF 1850.
The Convention approved Bishop Johns's connection with William and Mary College and recommended it to the patronage of the Church.
A committee was appointed to consider the expediency of reducing the present parochial assessment for the Contin- gent Fund.
A committee was appointed to inquire into the manner in which the funds of the Seminary, Diocesan Missionary So- ciety, Widows' and Orphans' and Episcopal Fund, were invested, and to give "their opinion as to the safety of the said funds, and the best plan for securing the same."
The Trustees of the Seminary reported a fund of about $55,000.
The Colonization Society was endorsed and commended to the aid of the Church in this Diocese.
Eleven clergy and five laymen who voted against Canon XIX were allowed to record "that their opposition was for reasons involving its constitutionality and expediency." The names are-
Richard H. Wilmer, George T. Wilmer, Richard T. Brown, William C. Meredith, D. M. Wharton, J. Ambler Weed, P. F. Berkeley, John H. Wingfield, Nelson Sale, William T. Leavell, Edmund Withers, W. L. Watkins, B. B. Minor, Richard Anderson, Tazewell Taylor, George M. Carrington.
The Executive Committee of the Diocesan Missionary Society reported their receipts at $1,970.80. They aided nineteen missionaries, distributed 350 Prayer Books, and 7,372 pages of tracts.
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CONVENTION OF 1851.
CONVENTION OF 1851.
Convention met in Trinity church, Staunton, May 21st.
The committee appointed to make report concerning the funds of the Seminary, &c., suggested that all such funds be invested in public stocks, and that they be held according to a form of certificate proposed by them. Approved.
Cassius F. Lee was elected Secretary and A. L. Seabury assistant Secretary of the Convention.
The Executive Committee of the Diocesan Missionary So- ciety reported having aided nineteen missionaries, at an expense of $2,254.17.
Wetzel parish, Wetzel county, was admitted into union with the Convention.
The Seminary Trustees reported thirty-two students ; about $60,000 invested; eighty-one pupils in the High School, and more than twenty declined for want of ac- commodation.
Upon the subject of purchasing the Virginia Female Institute at Staunton, a report was approved, which closed with the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Bishops are requested to appoint one or more agents to solicit from the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia sub- scriptions and contributions to the sum of $7,000, to enable the Conven- tion to purchase from the Trustees of the Virginia Female Institute at Staunton the real estate and school-buildings and other property they have offered to this Convention.
It was also-
Resolved, That the Right Rev. William Meade, Right Rev. John Johns, Rev. Thomas Castleman, Dr. F. Stribling, W. W. Donaghe, Pike Powers, N. C. Kenney, Colonel F. H. Smith, and F. J. Michie, be
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CONVENTION OF 1851.
appointed Trustees to govern said Institute, and that the Board of Trus- tees be elected annually by the Convention.
It was resolved to hold on the first Sunday after Trinity a service in the celebration of the third Jubilee of the English Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts.
This was done in response to a suggestion of the Arch- bishop of Canterbury. The offerings were to be devoted "to the erection of a building for the Female Seminary in Shanghai."
The address of Bishop Meade was quite lengthy, but is deemed worthy of reproduction :
THE TRUE CHURCHMAN.
" My Dear Brethren: In looking forward to this meeting, my thoughts have very naturally turned to some method whereby I might contribute to its usefulness. A word in season is good. To know what that word should be, passing events must be noticed, and a lesson sought from them. We live in an age of high religious excitement. Our own beloved Church partakes largely of it. What the meaning of God's Word is on important points of doctrine and order, and what the sense of our articles, offices and other stand- ards, are topics earnestly discussed. As might be expected, each party adduces Scripture for its justification in 'con- tending earnestly for the faith,' expressing a strong confi- dence that it holds the faith as 'once delivered to the saints.' Equally confident is its language as to the doctrine of the Church. Not only the correctness of the opposite party in its judgment of the Church's doctrine, but the sincerity of its attachment to the Church itself, is often called in question. To this evil habit there has ever been a strong propensity in human nature, wherever a difference of opinion exists on important questions, whether of Church or State, and the
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CONVENTION OF 1851.
law of love has been often greatly violated. Zeal, whether for our Church or country, often becomes an ungodly and uncharitable thing. One has called it 'the curst ungodli- ness of zeal.' We would not, however, be guilty of violating the law of love in another way, viz: by condemning as utterly void of piety and patriotism all who are even violent and denunciatory towards those whom they regard as in
great error. We would not be fierce, even for moderation, lest we fall into the same condemnation. There is what has been called 'an extreme middle,' which is also to be avoided. To condemn all as wrong who are arrayed against each other in a warm contest on some important point, is a very easy and convenient way of deciding controversy; one which requires little study, and oftentimes has little of charity in it. To judge righteous judgment is what God requires; and as zeal without knowledge is not likely to do this, so neither is indifference to the distinctions between truth and error; for religion is that thing, above all others, about which we are not allowed to be lukewarm.
"Without further preface, let me state to my brethren the subject of this address. It will be the consideration of a delicate question, sometimes not very kindly handled, viz: ' What constitutes true churchmanship, or who is that true churchman, that sincere and zealous friend and member of the Church, who must not be charged with unfaithfulness or false-heartedness?' In the discussion of it, I shall make no invidious comparisons, indulge in no denunciations, but address myself honestly to the task, by such lights and authorities as the Word of God, faithful history, and the standards of the Church may furnish.
"First. In endeavoring to show wherein true churchman- ship consists, and of course who the true churchman is, we should inquire into the origin and meaning of the terms. Though allowable when rightly used, yet are they not to be found in Scripture, and for the most part have been un-
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CONVENTION OF 1851.
happily and unkindly used. The word church, however, from which they are drawn, is often used by the sacred . writers, and there are also expressions in the Scriptures setting forth what these terms intend to declare, viz: great zeal for the Church of God, a true lover and faithful servant of the Church. The word church, from whence they are derived, has a general as well as limited meaning. In its general sense it denotes all God's people, and whatever per- tains to his kingdom. The true churchman, in regard to this sense of the term, is one who is zealous for all things appertaining to Christ's kingdom on earth, loves the whole church of God-the blessed company of God's faithful people-and shows his churchmanship by what he does for it and them. But there is a peculiar and restricted sense in which the word church is used, and from it in that restricted sense, the terms churchman and churchmanship, as com- monly used, are drawn. We read not only of the church of God-the church of Christ-but the church of Corinth, of Ephesus, &c. In all history we read in like manner of churches in the various countries of Christendom. After a time, when a great division took place, we read of the Eastern and Western church, and at a still later period, of the Roman Catholic Church, and of those who protested against its dominion and corruption. Among these we may reckon the Protestant Episcopal churches of England and America, the latter being derived from the former, and adopting her doctrine, worship and polity, making only such changes as the differences of civil government required. The title of churchman was at an early period of her history given to a member of the established church of England; and the distinctive appellations of high and low churchman were added to designate certain views entertained as to her Scriptural claims, or her authority as the established Church, or as to both.
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