consecration, "which counts not life dear unto itself," He works marvellous results, which go on widening and extending long after the human agent has passed away and become forgotten. SEVEN BISHOPS ADDED. Seven additions have been made to our line of Bishops during the last three years: The Rt. Rev. Mark Anthony De Wolfe Howe, D.D., Central Pennsylvania, 1871. The Rt. Rev. William Hobart Hare, D.D., Niobrara, 1873. The Rt. Rev. John Gottlieb Auer, D.D., Africa, 1873. The Rt. Rev. Benjamin H. Paddock, D.D., Massasachusetts, 1873. The Rt. Rev. Theodore B. Lyman, D.D., Assistant, South Carolina, 1873. The Rt. Rev. John F. Spaulding, D.D., Colorado, 1874. The Rt. Rev. Edward R. Welles, D.D., Wisconsin, 1874. GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. The documents laid before us, coming from all portions of our widely-extended Church, present evidences generally of growth and advancement, and furnish great cause for devout gratitude to the Divine Head of the Church. It is a singular and noteworthy circumstance that, at a period when within the Church there are great diversities of sentiment, and, in the opinion of many, both additions to the faith as well as suppressions or overshadowings of essential principles; while without indifference and unbelief have appeared in almost Protean forms, and with all the power of cultivated intellect and earnest determination have laid the axe at the very foundations of our holy religion, yet there has been not only no fleeing before the enemy, no traitorous surrender of the citadel of Divine truth, no leaning upon the armor in mute wonder at the boldness and magnitude of the attack; but zeal was never more persevering, selfdenial never more ready to seize opportunity, and attention never more acutej in hearing the word of command. The details are most encouraging, and the work accomplished shows how well the Master has been served and the labors rewarded, for it is a reward when we see that the Divine "Word has free course and is glorified." But there are in these documents some facts that are not cheering or satisfactory. In 1871 there were 448 candidates for Holy Orders, and in 1874 but 301: decrease in three years, 147. In 1873 it is said there were no ordinations in 17 Dioceses, and of the whole number of candidates only 60 or 70 were able to maintain themselves. Thus we have not only the supply of the ministry diminished, but the fact revealed that parents of pecuniary ability, elevated social position, and great culture, seemingly withhold their sons from the Lord's higher service, We have also had our attention called to the fact that, in many instances, the young novitiate is admitted to the Diaconate and Priesthood with such imperfect qualification that we are forced to the conclusion that there is great imperfection in our legislation, or they whose office and duty call them to decide upon the qualifications of candidates are too lenient in their admission of the applicants. Your Committee, while conscious of much imperfection in our Canons, are inclined to adopt the latter alternative, and would therefore suggest to all chaplains increased vigilance and particularity in conducting the requisite examinations. MISSIONARY WORK. We find long records of missionary work and the great success attending it; and every earnest Christian has occasion to rejoice in the contemplation of our most gratifying expansion and growth. But al such mission labor involves the providing of the Church building of some form at the very outset. The missionary finds the field too destitute to furnish the means for its erection. Being absent from his post to solicit aid involves the loss of many weeks and months; much personal humiliation, to be followed not infrequently by failure; while the places of wealth and enterprise visited find such applications so numerous that it seems to have become a settled conviction in the Church that either the missionary ought to build no faster or better than the ability of his people justifies, or, if there is no such ability, we ought to have a general building fund, to be disbursed by wise and judicious mancgers to those who are in need. We hail, therefore, with great pleasure the measure which has just been inaugurated by the call of the Presiding Bishop for a preliminary meeting in this city, and trust that the whole Church will see how important are earnest effort and large liberality to make it effectual in accomplishing the end proposed. The very existence of a Church Building Society will suggest the opportunity to the affluent, and all the devoted members of the Church, for benefiting the ignorant and the destitute with the knowledge of the Gospel. Circumstances have also called our attention to two sections of our common country, which seem to be in some degree neglected in our mission work: the Northern New England States, and the destitute regions of the South. If it be said that the population of these old States is diminishing as they go to people the vast West, we reply, Which is best, to draw that element within the Church while at the homestead and growing up on their old native hills, or to wait till they become fired with a worldly ambition to be rich, or to gain place in a new country, and then go forth without religious training and with no spiritual anchorage to found towns, and cities, and States; when the labor of bringing them to a knowledge of the truth will be tenfold greater, and prove entirely ineffectual? Three years ago the wants of the South were pressed very earnestly in the Committee's report, and we see no reason for changing one word of that just representation. When we consider the small number of our Indian tribes, a few hundred thousand, and the more than four millions of the colored race, and that some $70,000 or $80,000 were contributed to the former when the Commission had difficulty in sustaining free schools and missions among the latter, we may well ask whether this is "rightly dividing the word of truth," and giving to every man as he has need. But the case is worse than this, for the several Southern Dioceses in their length and breadth are calling to-day for our sympathy, prayers, and aid, and will reward the Church for any abundance that may be granted in their great need. A people that never spared of their own wealth in days of prosperity should not be forgotten when claiming a blessing in their destitution. We are not to bestow all that we have upon that portion of the field which just now is most rapidly increasing, but, remembering the actual work of the past in the SoutLern section of our land, draw our favorable inferences for the future-if opportunity is given, aid afforded, and fostering care extended, which are necessary for developing the large resources and capabilities possessed by a once prosperous people. AN ENCOURAGING FUTURE. In view of the history of the past triennial period, and the events that are transpiring around us, we can unhesitatingly avow our fixed conviction that this Church has a most encouraging future before her; that labor has never been more earnest, faith more positive, self-sacrifice more devoted, and kindly feeling and charity among brethren mor general. All we seem to need is a higher standard of personal holiness among all our people, and a larger measure of liberality in sustaining the works the Church has in hand to secure in the future a growth and expansion that shall exceed even the great advancement of the past. The field is widening-the enemy is alive and powerful; and it behooves us to fight manfully, contend earnestly, for the faith once delivered to the saints, and "work while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work." The reports of the several Dioceses are herewith presented, and form a part of this report. The Committee recommend the adoption of the following resolution : "Resolved, That the view of the state of the Church here presented be transmitted to the House of Bishops, asking their prayers and blessings, and requesting them to prepare and cause to be published a Pastoral Letter to the members of the Church." All which is respectfully submitted. É. M. VAN DEUSEN, FORM OF PAROCHIAL REPORT To be recommended for use in this Church. OTHER PAROCHIAL INSTITUTIONS. Missions. Rector's Salary. Parish Expenses Miscellaneous. Total. DIOCESAN. Bishop's Salary. Miscellaneous. WITHOUT THE DIOCESE. DOMESTIC MISSIONS. Indian. Miscellaneous. Total. Aggregate. CHURCHES-Number. Sittings in Churches. RECTORY. - City or County, THEOLOGICAL. Name. Locatior. Officers. Students. Alumni to date. Volumes in Library. Value of Land and Buildings. OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. Name. Location. Officers. Students. Endowment. Annual income. Total income. Mr. LIVINGSTON, of New York. I move the adoption of that report, and that 500 copies of it be printed for the use of the Deputies. It is desired that this document should be spread throughout the Church. It contains valuable facts, and it is thought that a large number of copies will be desired. If the Convention should order 500 copies to be printed, additional copies can be obtained by purchase from the printer. I make the motion. The PRESIDENT. The Chair will put a separate question first on the adoption of the resolution reported by the Committee. The resolution was agreed to. The PRESIDENT. The question now is on the motion to print 500 copies. Rev. Mr. GILLESPIE, of Michigan. I hope the number may be so enlarged that each parochial clergyman may have a copy. I would print as many of those reports as copies of the Pastoral Letter are printed. This is one of the most important documents brought before the House during its whole Session. This is the result of the deliberations of a Committee composed of a representative from each Diocese of the Church. It contains most important suggestions, and I can conceive of no way in which we can do a better service to the Church than by printing a sufficient number to place one copy in the hands of each Parochial Clergyman. I hope a large edition will be ordered. The PRESIDENT. Does the Deputy from Michigan make any motion? Rev. Mr. GILLESPIE, of Michigan. I would ask the Secretary the number of our parochial clergy? The SECRETARY. About three thousand. Rev. Mr. GILLESPIE, of Michigan. I would say three thousand copies. Mr. SHATTUCK, of Massachusetts. As a member of the Committee on Expenses I object. We want to economize all we can. Rev. Dr. GEER, of New York. I hope the matter will be left open, so that every member can order as many copies as he may desire from the Secretary, or from the person printing. Already one clergyman, a member of this House, has ordered one thousand copies for his own use in his parish, and I doubt not that many will order large numbers. It seems to me that if the original resolution offered by Mr. Livingston is proposed, then the report being in type copies may be ordered as they are needed or desired by the clergyman. I understand that the proprietors of THE CHURCHMAN who are to print this report will receive orders, so that, if the resolution is passed in its original form as presented by Mr. Livingston, it will be satisfactory. Rev. Mr. GILLESPIE, of Michigan. With that explanation, I withdraw my amendment. The PRESIDENT. The amendment is withdrawn, and the question is on the motion of Mr. POSTURES IN COMMUNION SERVICE. Mr. BURGWIN, of Pittsburgh, presented the following report, which was read: "The Committee on Canons, to whom was referred a resolution proposing a request to the House of Bishops of the expression of their opinion as to postures in the Communion Service, respectfully report: "That they have considered the same and are of opinion, in view of the recommendation already made by the Committee of a commission to revise the Rubrics, that it is not expedient to adopt the resolution. They therefore recommend the adoption of the following resolution: "Resolved, That the Committee on Canons be discharged from the consideration of the proposed resolution in regard to postures in the communion service." Rev. Dr. SCHENCK, of Long Island. That resolution was referred to the Committee on Canons through mistake. It was a clerical error in the record. On page 49 of THE CHURCHMAN, the stenographic report, it will be seen that the President said, immediately after the offering of the resolution, "The resolution will go on the Calendar." Instead of that, by mistake, it was sent to the Committee on Canons. It is purely an error. I hope, therefore, that it may be permitted to take its place on the Calendar, where it was ordered originally. The PRESIDENT. It will go there now, of course. CANON ON DIVORCE. Mr. OTIS, of Illinois, submitted the following report, which was placed on the Calendar: "The Committee on Canons have had under consideration Message No. 21, of the House of Bishops, containing an amended Canon on the subject of Divorce, and recommend the adoption of the following resolution : "Resolved (that the House of Deputies concur with the House of Bishops in the proposed Canon on the subject of Divorce, with the following amendments): "1. Strike out Section I. "2. Strike out Sections III., IV., and V. "Of Marriage and Divorce. "No minister of this Church shall solemnize matrimony in any case where there is a divorced wife or husband of either party still living, and where the divorce was obtained for some cause arising after marriage; but this Canon shall not be held to apply to the innocent party in a divorce for the cause of adultery, or to parties once divorced seeking to be united again." NEW DIOCESE IN WISCONSIN. Rev. Mr. HANCKEL, of Virginia, submitted the following report, which was read: "The Committee on the Admission of new Dioceses, to whom was referred the memorial from the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Wisconsin, asking the consent of the General Convention to the creation of a new Diocese within the limits of the present Diocese of Wisconsin, respectfully report: That having examined the documents commit ted to them, and found them to be correct, they recommend the adoption of the following preamble and resolution : "Whereas, a request has been presented to the House of Deputies from the Diocese of Wisconsin that a new Diocese must be erected in the present Diocese of Wisconsin, to consist of the nineteen counties of Marathon, Oconto, Shawano, Door, Kewaunee, Brown, Outagamie, Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Adams, Waushara, Winnebago, Calumet, Manitowoc, Sheboygun, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, and also such portion of Dodge County as may be necessary to include in the limits of the new Diocese the village of Waupun; and whereas it appears by official documents laid before this House that the Bishop of Wisconsin has consented to the erection of said Diocese, and that all the requirements of the Fifth Article of the Constitution are fulfilled. Therefore be it "Resolved, That this House (the House of Bishops concurring) do consent to and ratify the formation of the said new Diocese within the limits of the pressent Diocese of Wisconsin." Rev. Mr. HANCKEL, of Virginia. I hope this resolution will be put on its passage now. The resolution was agreed to. CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Rev. Mr. GETZ, of Pittsburgh. I ask the consent of the House to suspend the rules for the purpose of getting permission, if I can, to have put upon the Calendar the resolution referring to the Centennial Celebration, which I had the honor of offering yesterday. The PRESIDENT. The question is on suspending the rule which requires all new business to be introduced on or before the 16th day of the session, for the purpose of receiving the resolutions indicated. Rev. Dr. ADAMS, of Wisconsin. I ask that these resolutions be read, that the House may be able to vote deliberately upon them. The PRESIDENT. They have not been presented yet. The question is on suspending the rule to let them be presented. Rev. Dr. ADAMS, of Wisconsin. May I speak upon the question? The PRESIDENT. I am rather inclined to think you can. Rev. Dr. ADAMS, of Wisconsin. I can speak upon the suspension of the rules. The PRESIDENT. I think so, as at present advised. Rev. Dr. PERKINS, of Kentucky. Is it in order to demand that the new business shall be read to the House until consent is given? Mr. KING, of Long Island. I think the gentleman from Kentucky perfectly right. We must suspend the rules before we can take up the question at all. The PRESIDENT. I think so. Mr. KING, of Long Island. The question is, whether we shall suspend the rules to allow new matter to be received. Mr. BATTLE, of North Carolina. I move to lay the motion to suspend the rules on the table. Mr. GETZ, of Pittsburgh. Cannot I say two or three words? ["Order," "Order."] The PRESIDENT. The motion to lay on the table is not debatable. The motion was agreed to. ELECTION OF VICE-PRESIDENT. The PRESIDENT. The business appointed for eleven o'clock is the election of a Vice-President by ballot. Mr. BURGWIN, of Pittsburgh. I move that the House proceed to the election of a Vice President under the standing order adopted yesterday. The motion was agreed to. Mr. BURGWIN, of Pittsburgh. In behalf of the Lay Delegation of Pittsburgh, I nominate for the office of Vice-President the Hon. Lucius B. Otis, a Lay Deputy from the Diocese of Illinois. Rev. Dr. LEWIN, of Maryland. I nominate the Rev. Dr. Beardsley, of the Diocese of Connecticut. Rev. Dr. DALZELL, of Louisiana. On behalf of the deputation of Louisiana, I beg to nominate the Hon. Judge Comstock, of the Diocese of Central New York. Rev. Dr. PARET, of Central Pennsylvania. I beg to nominate the Hon. Mr. Montgomery, of Western New York. Rev. Mr. BROWN, of Michigan. I nominate Rev. Dr. Van Deusen, of Central New York. Mr. ANDREWS, of Ohio. On behalf of the Delegation from Ohio, I nominate Judge Sheffey, of Virginia. Rev. Dr. BEERS, of Albany. I ask to nominate Hon. Mr. Baldwin, of Michigan. Mr. LAMBERTON, of Central Pennsylvania. Mr. President, I nominate the Hon. George W. Race, of Louisiana. Mr. RACE, of Louisiana. I ask leave respectfully to decline. Mr. BALDWIN, of Michigan. I respectfully decline the nomination, and would nominate Hon. Judge Otis. Rev. Dr. SCHENCK, of Long Island. I would put in nomination the name of the Hon. John W. Stevenson, of Kentucky. Rev. Dr. ADAMS, of Wisconsin. This is a new office instituted two days ago. I want to know what his business is to be, in order that I may vote intelligently on the matter. The PRESIDENT. You will have to go back to the report of the Committee on Canons, who reported the order creating the office. Mr. STEVENSON, of Kentucky. I am exceedingly obliged to the Reverend Deputy from Long Island (Rev. Dr. Schenck) who nominated me, but I respectfully ask that my name be withdrawn. Rev. Dr. CLARK, of Connecticut. Mr. President, we are now in the fourth week of this session. We must spend at least half this day in the ballot, and I move to lay the whole matter on the table. The PRESIDENT. It is moved that the order for eleven o'clock this day-the election of VicePresident-be laid on the table. Mr. MONTGOMERY, of Western New York. I rise to make an enquiry. If we pass this matter by, is there a Canon which makes it the duty of the next Convention to elect a Vice-President? The PRESIDENT. The Canon has been passed, and all that this motion does is to lay the order of the day on the table. Mr. MONTGOMERY, of Western New York. I will repeat my question. I understand a Canon has been passed which makes it the duty of the General Convention, or of this House, to elect a Vice-President. I make the enquiry, in case we pass over this order of business this Convention, would it not be the duty of the next Convention at its organization to elect a Vice-President? The PRESIDENT. I understand so; most certainly. Mr. MONTGOMERY, of Western New York. So I supposed, and that being the case I suppose we might let it pass over now. Mr. BURGWIN, of Pittsburgh. That is certainly the case. The PRESIDENT. The motion is to lay on the table the order of the day for eleven o'clock this day in regard to the election of Vice-President. Mr. RACE, of Louisiana. If I understood the chair The PRESIDENT. The motion is not debatable. Mr. RACE, of Louisiana. I do not mean to de- | bate it. If I understand the President, there was an order of the day fixed yesterday for the election of a Vice-President to-day at eleven o'clock. The PRESIDENT. Yes, sir. Mr. RACE, of Louisiana. Now I understand that the motion about to be put is to lay that on the table. I say that it is unparliamentary. You cannot lay it on the table; it is already a fixed order. You can move to discharge the order; but the motion to lay on the table an order already fixed is a new mode of parliamentary proceeding, I apprehend. You can postpone the order; you can discharge the order; but to lay on the table that which has already passed is a new mode of proceeding. I trust, if it is desirable to do what is proposed, a change will be made in the motion, so as to postpone the order, either indefinitely or to a fixed time. The PRESIDENT. do not know which mode is best; but the order had been taken up, and was in process of execution; and then I supposed that, as well as any other matter before the House, could be laid on the table. Mr. RACE, of Louisiana. No, sir, the motion should be to discharge the order indefinitely. Mr. BURGWIN, of Pittsburgh. I agree with the President in saying that any matter before the House for consideration can be laid on the table. Otherwise you might have a Canon made the order of the day, which you could not lay on the table. It is always under the control of the House to lay anything on the table. Mr. RACE, of Louisiana. I move in lieu of the motion to lay on the table, that the order be discharged indefinitely, The PRESIDENT. proper motion. I do not know which is the Mr. PARKER, of Virginia. I submit that it must be manifest that if the House is not prepared at this moment when an order comes up to act upon it, it has a right to lay it on the table and keep it under its control; and that is all that we are doing. My own hope is that this matter will not be carried any further, but left the law for future Conventions, that in organizing the House in the early part of the session this office will be filled. The PRESIDENT. The Chair will put the question on the motion to lay on the table. The motion was agreed to. THE CANON ON RITUAL. Rev. Mr. BOLTON, of Pennsylvania. Will an amendment to the Canon on the subject of Ritual be now in order: The PRESIDENT. That matter is not before us, but it may be brought before us now by motion. Mr. BURGWIN, of Pittsburgh. I move that we proceed to the consideration of the order of the day of yesterday, being the Canon on Ritual. Rev. Dr. CADY, of New York. I move to amend that it be the order of the day for twelve o'clock, and that we proceed in the meantime with the Calendar. The PRESIDENT. It is now the order of the day for twelve o'clock. Rev. Dr. CADY, of New York. I move that we go on with the Calendar until twelve o'clock. Rev. Dr. BEARDSLEY, of Connecticut. I move to take up on the Calendar the report in regard to the Nicene Creed. Mr. BURGWIN, of Pittsburgh. It would require a suspension of the rules to take up the Calendar before the time appointed by the rule, and I think it possible, if we go into the discussion of the Canon on Ritual, that we may conclude it before two o'clock, at which time another order of the day will come up. The PRESIDENT. The question is on the motion of Mr. Burgwin to take up at this time for consideration the Canon on Ritual. The motion was agreed to, and the House resumed the consideration of the Canon on Ritual reported by the Committee on Canons. Mr. SHATTUCK, of Massachusetts. Mr. President, it seems to me one thing we must admit in the teaching of to-day: that Ritualism is a mode of teaching adopted everywhere. In my own profession, a gentleman who had studied his profession fifty years ago told me that when he began to study medicine there was put into his hands a book in twenty volumes which he was to read, and when he had finished that there was put into his hand a book in thirty-five volumes of commentary on that book, and that he had to read through. Now when we get a medical student we do not give him a book. The first thing we do, we put him into a physiological laboratory, then into a chemical laboratory, and so on. We make him work. We appreciate what one of my friends from Massachusetts told us here of the great importance of teaching by Ritualism. As I said, we appreciated in Massachusetts, at one time, something of the want of Ritualism. I am in hopes that the gentlemen of this House will have an opportunity of going to Boston, and that we shall show them a little Ritualism there. I should like to take them around Massachusetts, and show them some of the old meeting-houses and some of the old Communion tables there. Our people did not believe in Ritualism. They built little houses for the town meetings in_week time, and church meetings on Sunday; and I can show you meetinghouses where the moderators of the public meetings used to sit and score the tallies of the votes on the Communion table with a knife, because the jackknife was a more familiar instrument with them than the pen, and that was the easiest way of recording votes. I know that my ancestors originally, when they left the church, believed in a Divine Presence in the sacrament of the communion; that they believed in regeneration by baptism; that they believed in a grace being given in baptism; but they threw away fonts and altars and consequently they have lost that great truth. You will find that there are very few baptisms now comparatively in the Congregational body. Every child of the congregation, two hundred years ago, was brought to be baptized. They took away the font, and you find that baptisms are so rare, they do not baptize the children of any except church members now, and in that respect the Baptists have a great advantage over them. And so you find in regard to this other sacrament. As administered by them, they invite everybody to it. In the place of worship where I was brought up they had very strong notions two hundred years ago of the Divine Presence in that sacrament, and the grace to be had by it, but now, everybody, men, women and children, are invited to come and partake of the elements, and coming from Massachusetts, I cannot but appreciate the importance of a Ritualistic mode of teaching. Then with regard to the mode of presenting it. I have heard of a certain Celt who came to this country, and having been here a few weeks, some one said to him, "Pat, you are in a land of liberty; are you not happy? Can you not do what you like?" Said he, "I can do what I like, but I am not happy; I want to make everybody else do and think just as I please." [Laughter.] I understand that is the position of the late Assistant Bishop of Kentucky. He wanted freedom to teach all his doctrines. There was no Canon to hinder him. There was no restraint at all. We gave him the highest post in the Church. We made him Assistant Bishop. We sent him forth to preach all his doctrines; but suddenly he left us. Why? Could he not preach |