USA > Virginia > A digest of the proceedings of the conventions and councils in the diocese of Virginia > Part 22
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the people generally. The separation of classes-the great distinction between the rich and the poor, the educated and the illiterate, laid the foundation for a great evil, over which we and our fathers have long mourned. In due time the fruits of this began to appear in the sepa- ration of churches. The Revolution, with all its blessings, prompted this unhappy severance. The rise and progress of dissent was at- tended with an increased prejudice against those who were more zealously attached to our communion. A contest for and against the establishment, for nearly half a century, in a great part of which poli- ticians took an active share, left our Church, not only without her old emoluments, but a by-word and a proverb among the other denomi- nations, and with those who, Gallio-like, 'cared for none of these things.' The clergy, with a few exceptions, deserted the fast sinking vessel, and infidels triumphed over the scene. The beginning of the present century saw the Episcopal Church of Virginia in such a de- plorable condition, so destitute of ministers and funds, her Annual Conventions abandoned, without any to represent her in the great con- federated assemblies, that at one of the latter she was given over as beyond the hope of resuscitation, and a public record made of it. We cannot well conceive a state of things more unfavorable to a revival; and God's goodness and grace, in what he has done for us, must be measured and estimated by the difficulties which opposed the first efforts at recovery. Nor were these difficulties only at the commence- ment, when a mere handful of faint-hearted, discouraged, worn-out ministers were left. Prejudices, of the most inveterate character, have followed us to the present moment on the part of many most worthy and pious persons, who have, doubtless, believed they were doing God and his cause good service, in warning all men, especially the poor of the land, against our ministry and Church. Politicians also have often found it to their advantage to encourage this unhappy feeling, and identify our communion with the ancient aristocracy of the State, under the colonial establishment. Under these circumstances, what but the blessing of God on faithful preaching and zealous labors could have given even the measure of success we have enjoyed, a measure so much less than might have been under more favorable circumstances. The success which has attended the labors of our ministers must be ascribed to the Divine blessing on the preaching of a plain gospel, in a very different way from that but too common among the former clergy of Virginia, and to a moral and religious deportment of a much higher standard than theirs. Nor have we increased the violence of prejudice and opposition by uncharitable denunciations of others, but rather diminished it not a little by a contrary spirit and conduct. Nor have
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we sought to multiply our communion by encouraging the unprepared to come to the solemn ordinances which are only designed for the faith- ful, that grace may be increased to them. Many more, for a time at least, might our ministers have presented for the rite of confirmation, had they regarded and recommended it as a converting ordinance, or one intermediate between baptism and the Lord's Supper, requiring a less degree of grace than the latter, and imposing no obligation to observe it. So far as I know and believe, there is not a minister in our Church at this time who does not hold that the same faith, penitence and holiness is required of those who come rightly to confirmation, as of those who worthily partake of the Lord's Supper, and that the coming to the one is in order to the immediate reception of the other. I desire never to lay my hands on any who intend to falsify the solemn vow, promise and profession, by turning their backs on the table of the Lord.
"In estimating the amount of success attending the labors of our ministers for the last forty-five years, not for the purpose of boasting before men, or comparing it with that of others, but in thankfulness to God for his unmerited grace, we must take into account that Virginia, beyond any other part of our land, has for a long time been the nur- sery of the west and southwest, supplying vast numbers to the churches and States thereof. It is not wonderful, therefore, that our domestic increase in regard to churchmen and citizens should have been se- riously affected by the continual emigration of both. If the character of these colonies shall have contributed anything to the improvement of the places of their settlement; if, in many instances, they shall have proved the seed of Episcopal congregations in the same, we must be thankful for the honor conferred on us by the Lord, and rejoice that others increase even if we decrease. Let it be our endeavor so to train them in the true principles of the gospel and of the Church of our Re- forming Fathers, that those who leave us may be blessings to whatever home they may select. Let us especially be thankful that God has so highly honored our Diocese as to rear up in our midst a school of the Prophets, which has long been, and is now more abundantly, a nursery of faithful Evangelists to other parts of the land besides our own, and even missionaries to far distant countries.
"By comparing our present condition with the past, we have, there- fore, abundant cause for thankfulness and encouragement, though none for pride or boasting. I think I shall not err from the truth in saying, that less than fifty years ago our number of laboring ministers was. not more than twelve, and these were almost all old men, faint and dis- couraged, soon to cease from the little they were then doing, and with
-
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them the universal expectation was, that the Church would come to an end, and the old temples and congregations fall into other hands. Some of these twelve probably did not number more than twelve as their average congregations, and the whole number of attendants throughout the Diocese could not have amounted to more than a thou- sand souls, perhaps much less. Compared with this small and most discouraging beginning, our present condition of an hundred native clergy, and nearly two hundred places of worship, with seven thousand communicants, calls for devout gratitude to our Great Head. Of how much greater increase our Zion is capable, until emigration shall roll back again, or, at least, cease to roll away from us, it is not ours to know. One thing is certain, that nothing but a continuance of the same evangelical and zealous, self-denying labors which God hath hitherto blessed, will avail for our future increase. May God give to us all the grace of faithful perseverance."
A committee was appointed to ascertain if any system could be devised by which experienced, settled presbyters could, from time to time, engage in missionary work in destitute portions of the State. They reported at consider- able length, and offered the following resolutions, which were adopted :
I. Resolved, That the clergy in the several convocational districts in the State, whether organized or not, be recommended to distribute their labors in concert, and according to their best judgment, over such unsupplied region as they can reasonably embrace.
2. Resolved, That the Bishops be requested to arrange with two or more rectors and parishes for a year's evangelist-duty by the former, and supply for the latter.
3. Resolved, And that they also engage, if they can, one or more fit ministers, to be solely occupied, under their advice, in itinerant labor ; provided, that on appeal by them, issued in such form as they prefer, the necessary funds are raised for the purpose by those on whom this part of the responsibility may rest.
A proposed amendment to the Constitution of the Church, fixing the representation of each Diocese in the General Convention at not more than four clergymen and four lay- men-and a proposed amendment leaving with each
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Diocese the mode of trying presbyters and deacons, until the General Convention should adopt an uniform mode of trial, were concurred in.
On motion, it was-
Resolved, That this Convention, as the representative of this Diocese, which of course, has the deepest and most vital interest in the pros- perity of our Diocesan Seminary, feels called upon to acknowledge with gratitude, the liberality of John Bohlen, Esq., of Philadelphia, and of the Rector and congregation of St. George's Church, New York, towards that institution, the former in erecting in part a library building, and the latter in making a large addition to the Seminary.
The following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the Church, concerning the division of the Dioceses, was not concurred in:
AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V.
"No such new Diocese shall be formed which shall contain less than fifteen self-supporting parishes, or less than fifteen presbyters who have been for at least one year canonically resident within the bounds of such new Diocese, regularly settled in a parish or congregation, and qualified to vote for a Bishop. Nor shall such new Diocese be formed if thereby any existing Diocese shall be so reduced as to contain less than thirty self-supporting parishes, or less than twenty presbyters who have been residing therein and settled and qualified as above men- tioned, provided that no city shall form more than one Diocese."
The committee to devise a scheme for the Relief of Dis- abled Clergymen made lengthy report, proposing that a fund be raised to yield at least $1,000 annually; that it be held and disbursed by a committee of five laymen, and that no appropriation be made, in any one year, to exceed $250. All which was approved.
In their report the Committee on the State of the Church said:
We commend the establishment of Sunday schools in our towns, by the masters and mistresses in our Church, for colored children, where the instruction would be exclusively oral and governed by the standards
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of our Church. In connection with these, and as perhaps more impor- tant and auxiliary, the catechetical instruction of young servants, by the masters and mistresses of our Church, in their families, is strongly recommended. And we further distinctly approve of the plan of making such domestic arrangements as will allow and encourage servants to attend upon the public services of the sanctuary, as well as at family prayers.
There were reported 452 confirmations, 6,527 communi- cants, and $60,949.07 contributions.
CONVENTION OF 1857.
Convention met in St. Paul's church, Petersburg, May 20th.
Rev. H. S. Kepler was elected Secretary.
There was reported to be still due by the Convention $171.81 on the debt for the Virginia Female Institute. Its payment was ordered and the debt was announced as paid.
A committee was appointed to revise the canon for the trial of a clergyman.
In his address Bishop Meade said:
"The following letter from our beloved brother, the Rev. Dr. Bedell, of New York, will further show with what favor God has been pleased to look upon our Seminary during the past year :
"' NEW YORK, May 16, 1857.
"'My Dear Bishop : Will you have the goodness to announce to the Trustees of the Theological School of Virginia, that my friends and parishioners, Mr. William H. Aspinwall and Mr. John L. Aspinwall, have each placed at my disposal the sum of ten thousand dollars, to be employed in buildings for the use of the Seminary, and for purposes connected therewith.
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"' May I beg the favor of the Trustees to appoint a committee to whom I may more particularly communicate the plans in view, and who may decide all question arising in the execution of this trust.
"'The Trustees will, of course, appreciate the importance of having a small committee near the Seminary for convenience of consultation; and of clothing them with full power in the premises.
"'It is with great gratitude to God for being allowed to become the channel of my friends' liberality, in behalf of this beloved Seminary, that I make this announcement.
"'Believe me, my dear Bishop,
"'Yours, with great respect and esteem, ""'G. T. BEDELL.'
"The above liberal donations have been made with a view to the entire renewal of the present Seminary buildings, with important improvements, for the benefit of the whole establishment. Prepara- tions will be made during the present year for this renewal at an early period of the next. For all these helps we desire to be most thankful to God and our earthly benefactors.
service, especially when the offices for the communion, or for baptism,
"I now proceed, according to promise, to take some notice of our last General Convention. * * * Among the subjects to which their attention was called was that of accommodating the ser- vice of the Church to the varying circumstances of our country, so as to make it more effective for the great object sought to be obtained by its adoption. The impression has for many years been generally strengthening throughout our Church, that its morning service, consist- ing of the three parts, morning prayer, litany and ante-communion confirmation, ordination, or the consecration of a church were added, was too long to be generally edifying. The ministers have often felt it to be too heavy a tax on their physical powers, and the young, the aged and infirm, have complained of weariness, while those who, unhappily, are devoid of a relish for the worship of God, have been rather injured than benefited by this length of service. This impres- sion has been confirmed in many minds by the well established fact that the services thus combined, so as to extend divine worship to an inexpedient length, were originally and for a long time distinct, and used at different times of the day, showing that our forefathers did not think it proper to have so prolonged a religious exercise on any one occasion of worship. This will further appear from an examination and comparison of the different and once separately used services, after the example of the cathedrals and Jewish temple, in which vari-
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ous hours of prayer were observed each day. It will be admitted by all, that as to the devotional parts of worship, the Scripture being our rule and guide, there are four things which should enter into a complete and acceptable service, viz: confession of sin, supplication for grace and mercy, intercession for others, and thanksgiving or praise.
"Now, if we examine the different services, which are sometimes com- bined into one, we shall find that all these constituents of acceptable worship are found in each of them. If we take the morning prayer proper, to the exclusion of the litany, ante-communion and communion services, we find most distinctly set forth, confession, supplication, intercession and thanksgiving, in those prayers which our fathers thought sufficient for one occasion of public morning worship. If we examine the litany, (with the thanksgiving prayer united to it,) which was sometimes used alone, and at others perhaps in combination, we again find all these parts of worship most emphatically presented, so that those who use them aright, have not failed in any one of the con- stituents of an acceptable devotion.
"Again, if we use only the ante-communion service, we have the three parts, confession, supplication and intercession, and sometimes a collect of thanksgiving. If to this we add the communion service, we have for the fourth time confession, prayer, praise and intercession, on the same occasion of public worship, while the Lord's Prayer is always used twice, and may be repeated from three to five times, if baptism, and confirmation and consecration of a church be added. It cannot for a moment be supposed, that if the framers of our services had been directed simply to prepare a morning service for the Sabbath, they would have made it consist of so many distinct parts, with so many repetitions, sometimes of the same words, and always of the same con- stituents of worship. The history of such repetition is to be found in the universally admitted fact, that the morning prayer was intended for the first and earlier occasion of worship, while the litany and communion services were reserved for subsequent occasions and times.
"The same remark may be made as to the use of the Scriptures in the different services. In the morning prayer proper, there are not less than ten portions of the Bible used, if we include the introductory sentences, the metre psalm, and benediction. If we add to this, that a number of the reading psalms are used at the same time, there will be from ten to fifteen portions of Scripture in this first service. If we enumerate the portions of Scripture in the communion service, including the ante-communion, there will be not less than eleven or twelve choice selections, and if the sermon be a Scriptural one, we may surely reckon, besides its text, that there will be many other of God's words faithfully
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applied. * It was in view of the historical fact, that our service consisted of three different parts, and that in practice they were once thus used, and of the widespread and increasing conviction, both in our own and Mother Church, that there were occasions when it was most inexpedient to combine them, that the Bishops have expressed the opinion, that they were not only originally distinct in their framing and use, but might now be separated, as circumstances and exigencies required or commanded, although they did not undertake to specify in what manner or to what extent it should be done, leaving that to the discretion of the minister, under the advice of his Bishop.
"The Bishops, as a body, did not, nor does he who addresses you, attempt to settle the question how far certain Rubrics of a disputed and doubtful character, might interfere with the exercise of the discretion which they believe to be allowable. They confine themselves to undis- puted facts. Some things there are which may be sanctioned by a rubric, or by custom, and yet be neither forbidden nor commanded. Certain it is that there are Rubrics connected with these separate ser- vices, which not only show that they must have been distinct in their origin and use, but the Church has forborne to use language which can only be understood as forbidding former usage, and requiring that it be abolished, and that henceforth they must be used in combination. The unanimous opinion of the seven Bishops, who carefully searched into the history of such rubrics and usage, testifies to this fact. It is believed that such also was the general opinion of the other Bishops. *
* *
* *
"It may now perhaps be inferred from what has been said, that I might, if asked for advice by any of the brethren, recommend some very serious diminution of those services to which we have hitherto been accustomed in this Diocese. Such is far from being the case. Ever since my entrance on the ministry, it has been the practice of far the larger part of our clergy, on ordinary occasions of Sabbath morning worship, to use two out of three of these services, which are evidently so distinct in their frame-work, viz : the morning prayer and litany, with the addition on communion days of the whole communion service. Although there must be some repetitions, even where two of the ser- vices only are used, yet they are not on ordinary occasions to be ob- jected to, especially since but few can assemble on the Lord's day, so as to have all of our prayers, though at different times. We, therefore, think that, except on particular occasions, the combination of two of these services is proper. One suggestion I would make on this point, viz: that there might be occasional, if not regular, alternations between the litany and ante-communion service, so that the latter might be used more frequently than if reserved altogether for communion Sundays.
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"In relation to those days, when the Lord's Supper is administered in the towns, where there are very large communions, and much time must necessarily be spent in the services, if, according to the original design and practice, and, indeed, the practice of some in modern times, the morning service could be used at an early hour, none surely could object, and even if that were not practicable, it would be a justifiable discretion to omit its public use altogether, and proceed at once to the litany or ante-communion. As a substitute for the public performance of the morning service, it might be used by individuals and families in private on communion days. If there be three services on the Sabbath, as is sometimes the case in towns, then the litany or ante-communion, or both, might be used on one of those occasions, and thus all the parts be performed on the same day. There are also occasions, as when public or private baptism, or confirmation is administered, or the health of the minister requires it, when it might be expedient to use only the morning prayer. The litany might then be an excellent private or social exercise for individuals or families.
"The foregoing is the advice which I have given to such of the brethren as have asked for it on the subject now treated of, but which they are at perfect liberty to accept, reject or modify, as their judgment or conscience may direct. I would further state, that before the final question was put, I rose in the 'House of Bishops and said, that as it was desirable we should fully understand each other concerning the advice to be given when asked for, I would declare before hand what mine should be, and requested the favor of my brethren, one and all, to correct me if I misinterpreted the report of the committee and the meaning of the resolutions about to be adopted by justifying a discre- tion which was not contemplated. After stating the advice which I should give, I again requested, in the most emphatic manner, that I might be corrected if in error, so that there might be no criminations or recriminations afterwards. But one of my brethren made objection, and that one only by saying, that if such was the understanding he could not vote for the resolutions. Others there were who voted against them, but none objected to the interpretation given should they be adopted."
A committee was appointed to make out a form of paro- chial report. They reported the form which, with slight amendment in 1869, was used until 1880.
A committee was appointed to consider the subjects re- ferred to the various Diocesan Conventions by the General Convention.
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The Disabled Clergy Fund reported investments to the amount of $2,234.86, and cash $293.86.
The Committee on the State of the Church urged the im- portance of encouraging lay cooperation in the work of the Gospel, especially in Sunday Schools and amongst the col- ored population.
A committee was appointed to ascertain the expenses of the trial of the Rev. T. T. Castleman, who had been tried in September, 1856. The amount was, for all pur- poses, $892.36, which was ordered to be paid out of the Contingent Fund. 1
CONVENTION OF 1858.
Convention met in Christ church, Winchester, May 19th. Mr. John Stewart was elected Treasurer.
The committee appointed to consider and report upon the subjects referred to the various Diocesan Conventions by the General Convention, viz: an amendment to Article III of the Constitution, making it necessary for the House of Bishops to concur by positive vote before any canon or act passed by the other House can become law; and an amend- ment to Article VI, looking to the establishment of a Court of Appeals, reported in favor of disapproving both amend- ments. . The subject was postponed to the next Convention.
In his address the Bishop said:
"The very generous donations which, during the few last years, have been made to our Seminary, by friends in Virginia and elsewhere, have produced an impression that all our wants are amply supplied. The following statement will present a just view of our condition : Our funded capital is, I believe, about ninety thousand dollars, whose interest is
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expended on the support of three professors, with families, in a place where living is very costly, and on the taxes, insurances, repairs and improvements which are annually called for in an establishment having so many buildings to be kept in order. It is evident that this amount of capital is not sufficient for all these purposes. The donations so liberally made within the last few years, have not been given for the purpose of increasing this fund, but for the special objects of en- larging and improving the chapel, providing a fire-proof library, and putting up new buildings for the accommodation of students. The donation of twenty thousand dollars by the Messrs. Aspin- walls, of New York, for the purpose of substituting a new and bet- ter house for the old and decaying one, being found insufficient for the erection of one answering our needs, has been applied to a central building to which two wings may be added, thus completing the whole, as soon as means are obtained. This central building is placed imme- diately in front of the old one, and presents one of the most imposing- spectacles of its kind. The old Seminary building still remains for use until the new one is completed. No more expense will be incurred for repairs; but its materials will furnish no little help towards the erection of wings to the main building. It is supposed that the sum of ten or fifteen thousand dollars will suffice for the erection of the wings. These being added, every convenience which could be desired will be found in our Seminary."
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