BISHOP’S ADDRESS.
Given May 4, 1881 in Christ Episcopal Church, Savannah, Georgia
The Rt. Rev. John Watrous Beckwith
2nd Bishop of Georgia

Brethren of the Clergy and Laity:

May 29th, 1880. I baptized in private one infant in Atlanta.

June 2. I performed the marriage ceremony in private near Atlanta.

June 6. I baptized in private at the United States Barracks in Atlanta, one infant.

June 13. I held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Dr. Williams, and preached in St. Luke’s Church. Atlanta. On the 15th, I held a private confirmation at the hospital in Atlanta, and confirmed one person, presented by the Rev. Dr. Williams.

June 20. I held Morning service, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Ingle, preached and confirmed seven in the College building, Gainesville. After service, I confirmed in private one person. In the afternoon, I held service in the College building, assisted by Mr. Ingle, and preached.

June 27. I held Morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. C. Dowe, preached, confirmed six and made an address in St. George’s Church, Griffin.

July 4th. I held service, preached and administered the Holy Communion in St. Luke’s Atlanta.

July 10. Received and accepted Letter Dimissory of Rev. George W. Wilson, from the Diocese of Michigan.

July 11, 18, 25. I held Morning services and preached at the Bedford Alum Springs, Va.

August, 1. I preached the Commencement Sermon at the University of the South, Tennessee.

August, 22. I held service and preached at the Bedford Alum Springs, Virginia.

August 29. I said in private, the Burial Service the Church over the remains of Mr. G.W. J. DeRenne, in Savannah ; the service was concluded at the grave in Bonaventure.

September 5, 12, 19, I held service and preached at the Bedford Alum Springs, Va.

October 6th. The General Convention met in the city of New York. The opening services were held in St. George’s Church: the daily meetings in the Church of the Holy Trinity.

November 7. I held morning service, assisted by the Rev. Dr. Williams, and preached in St. Luke’s Atlanta.

November 11. I preached, by request, on the subject of Temperance, in the Hall of the House of Representatives in Atlanta.

November 14. 1 held Morning Service, assisted by Rev. George Macauley. Missionary in charge, preached and confirmed two in St. Mark’s Dalton.

November 20. I gave a Letter Dimissory to Rev. K. H. Ingle to the Diocese of Maryland.

November 18. I met the Atlanta Convocation in St. Philip’s, Atlanta.

November 21. I held Morning Service, assisted by the Rev. II. K. Rees, Missionary in charge, and preached in the Church of the Ascension, Cartersville. That evening I held service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Macauley, Missionary in charge, and preached in the Methodist Church in Calhoun. On the 22d I baptized in private one infant near Cartersville.

November 21. It being Thanksgiving Day, I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. R. C. Foute, in St. Philip’s. Atlanta.

November 28. I held Morning and Evening services, assisted by the Rev. H. K. Rees. Missionary in charge, preached twice and continued one person in Cedartown.

December 5. I held Morning and Evening service, assisted by the Rector, the Rev. George W. Wilson, preached twice and confirmed nine white persons and one colored person in St. Peter’s Rome. I was greatly gratified to find, after all the troubles through which this parish has passed, such marked evidences of united work and prosperity as greeted me during this visit. The zeal and devotion of the Rector seems to have been met by cordial willingness to work and to give on the part of his people. I heartily trust that the future may fulfil all the bright promises of the present.

December 2. I held Morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. S. J. Pinkerton, preached and continued three in St. James’, Marietta. That evening I was to have preached in Adairsville, but being taken suddenly sick, I was obliged to defer my visit.

December 16. I performed the marriage service in St. Philip’s Atlanta.

December 19. I held Morning and Evening service, baptized one infant and one adult, confirmed one person and preached twice in St. Luke’s Hawkinsville.

December 25. I held service, assisted by Rev. Dr. Williams, and preached in St. Luke’s. Atlanta.

December 26. Held Morning service, assisted by Rev. R. C. Foute, and preached in St. Philip’s. Atlanta.

January 2, 1881. I held Morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Charles Wingate, and Hon. and Rev. James W. Leigh, Vicar of Leamington, England, and preached in St. Andrew’s, Darien. In the afternoon, I held service, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Wingate and Leigh, preached and confirmed one colored person in St. Cyprian’s, Darien.

January 9. I held Morning service, assisted by the Rev. Henry E. Lucas, Rector, preached and confirmed six, and made an address in St. Mark’s, Brunswick. In the evening I held service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Lucas, and preached in the Christ Church Mission, on St. Simon’s Island. At St. Simon’s Mills, where this service was held, the gentlemen owning the Mills, aided by Mr. Wm. E. Dodge, of New York City, have built a very handsome little Church, which is used as a free Church for all denominations of Christians. I had appointed January 16th for services on the Satilla river, but the steam-boat having been delayed by the stormy weather, and the country between Waynesville and the Satilla being, as I was told, under water, and having learned from the Missionary in charge that there were no candidates for confirmation, the visit was deferred, and I held service on that Sunday in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

January 23. I held Morning and Evening service, assisted by the Rector. Rev. Theodore Reed, and preached twice in St. Thomas’, Thomasville.

January 27. I held Morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. P. T. Babbit, D. D., preached and confirmed two, and made an address in the Presbyterian Church in St. John’s Parish, Bainbridge.

Little did I imagine that, when on that day, I bade the Rector good-bye, I was looking upon the face of that venerable man for the last time in this world. After a brief and sudden illness, he left us and entered into rest on the 1st day of April. Though an invalid, he had labored faithfully as a Priest in the Church in Bainbridge for over seven years. During part of this time he also gave services to the Parish of St. Thomas in Thomasville. An accomplished Christian gentleman, a scholarly Churchman, and a devoted Priest, he did humbly what his hand found to do. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord! even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours.”

January 30th. I held Morning and Evening service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. T. G. Pond, confirmed seven persons, baptized one infant, preached and delivered an address in St. Paul’s, Albany. That night I preached, by request, on Temperance in the Baptist Church in Albany.

February 5. I confirmed in private one person, in Columbus.

February 6. I held Morning and Evening service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. W. C. Hunter; confirmed three, preached twice and delivered an address in Trinity Church, Columbus.

February 18. I had appointed service for this day, in West Point, but some two hours before the train started, I received a telegram stating that the town was under water and it would be impossible to hold service.

February 17. I held a special service and confirmed one person, presented by Rev. Dr. Williams, in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

February 20. I held Morning service, assisted by Rev. R. H. Barnwell, Deacon in charge, and preached in the Church of the Advent, Madison. In the evening I preached by request, on the subject of Temperance in the Baptist Church in Madison. In this place, and in Albany, the Baptist Churches were offered me on account of the size of the buildings.

February 21. I held Evening service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Joshua Knowles, preached and confirmed two in the Church of the Redeemer, Greensboro’.

February 23. In the morning I administered the Holy Communion, and in the evening held service, assisted by Mr. Barnwell, Deacon in charge, and preached in the Church of the Mediator, Washington.

February 25. I held Evening service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Stoney and Rev. Mr. Barnwell, in the Presbyterian Church in Sparta. I am glad to state that in Madison, Washington and Sparta, the Rev. Mr. Barnwell is doing earnest and most acceptable work and with every prospect of reaping a good harvest in the near future.

February 27. I held Morning service assisted by the Rector, Rev. Jas. M. Stoney, preached, confirmed five, and administered Holy Communion in St. Stephen’s, Milledgeville. In the afternoon held service, assisted by Mr. Stoney, preached and confirmed fourteen in Scottsboro’. In the evening held service, assisted by Mr. Stoney, and preached in St. Stephen’s, Milledgeville. In Scottsboro’ a noble work for the Master is being done; in its effect upon that entire community may be seen the power of the Church when the labors of a faithful Pastor are supplemented by the self-sacrificing devotion of earnest lay-helpers.

March 2. I held Morning service, assisted by Dr. Williams, in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

March 6. I held Morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. C. C. Williams and Rev. Mr. Walker—preached and confirmed seven persons, one of whom was from the Church of the Atonement, in St. Paul’s. Augusta. In the evening I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. W. B. Walker and Rev. C. C. Williams; preached and confirmed ten, in the Church of the Atonement, Augusta.

March 7. I held Morning service, assisted by Rev. E. G. Weed, preached and confirmed five, and made an address in the Mission Chapel at Belair. In the evening I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. E. G. Weed, and Rev. Mr. Walker; preached, confirmed twelve, and made an address in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Augusta.

March 12. I held Evening service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. O. A. Glazebrook and Rev. Mr. Jackson; preached and confirmed fifteen in St. John’s Mission, East Macon.

March 13.—I held Morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. O. A. Glazebrook; preached, confirmed thirty, and made an address in Christ Church, Macon. In the afternoon I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. R. F. Jackson; preached and confirmed seven in St. Paul’s. Macon. In the evening I held service, assisted by the Rev. Messrs. Glazebrook and Jackson; confirmed sixteen, and made an address in St. Barnabas Chapel, Macon.

March 14. I held Evening service, and preached in Calvary Church, Americas.

March 15. I baptized one infant in private in Americus.

March 20. I held Morning service, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Eppes; preached and confirmed one in Emmanuel Church, Athens. In the evening; I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. W. E. Eppes; preached, and confirmed twelve in St. Mary’s, Athens.

March 24 and 25. I delivered short lectures in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

March 27. I held Morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. C.Dowe, preached and continued three in St. George’s, Griffin.

March 29 and 30. I lectured in St.Luke’s, Atlanta; on the 30th, I confirmed, in private, in Atlanta, one colored person, presented by Rev. Dr. Williams.

April 1. I concluded the course of lectures in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

April 3. Held Morning service in the Presbyterian Church; preached and confirmed five, presented by Rev. Mr. Denniston, in West Point. In the afternoon I again held service, assisted by Mr. Denniston, and preached in the same church.

April 4. Held Evening service, assisted by Mr. Denniston, and preached in the Methodist Church, Newnan.

April 6, 7, 8, 9. Held service, assisted by Rev. Dr. Williams, and lectured in St. Luke’s, Atlanta. On the 10th I held Morning service in the same church, assisted by Dr. Williams; preached and confirmed thirteen. In the evening I held service, assisted by Dr. Williams; preached, confirmed eight, and made an address in the Mission of the Redeemer, Atlanta.

April 11. I received and accepted the Letter Dimissory of Rev. J. C. Davis from the Diocese of Alabama.

April 11 and 12. I lectured in St. Luke’s, Atlanta. On the 12th, I gave Rev. R. F. Jackson a Letter Dimissory to the Diocese of Virginia.

April 13. Held Morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. S. J. Pinkerton. confirmed seven and made an address in St. James’, Marietta.

April 14, 15, 16. I concluded my lectures in St. Luke’s, Atlanta; and on the 16th I confirmed five, presented by Rev. Dr. Williams.

April 17. Easter Day, I held Morning service, assisted by the Rector

Rev. R. C. Foute; preached, confirmed twenty-seven, made an address and administered the Holy Communion in St. Philip’s, Atlanta.

April 18. I held a confirmation service in St. Philip’s, Atlanta, and confirmed one.

April 22. Held Morning service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Dunlop, and preached in the Methodist Church in Sylvania. During the same day 1 baptized in private, in the same town, one infant.

April 24. Held early Morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Charles H. Strong, and Rev. Messrs. Boone and Kennard; confirmed twenty-six, made an address and administered the Holy Communion in St. John’s, Savannah. At 11 o’clock of the same morning, I held service, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Strong and Kennard, and preached in the same Church. In the evening I held service, assisted by Messrs. Strong and Kennard, continued five, and preached in St. Mathew’s, Savannah.

April 26. Held Evening service, assisted by Rev. Mr.Dunlop; preached and confirmed three in a public hall in Valdosta.

April 21. Held Morning service, assisted by Mr. Dunlop; preached and confirmed three colored persons on the Ogeechee.

May 1. Held Morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Thomas Boone; preached, confirmed sixteen and addressed the candidates and administered the Holy Communion in Christ Church, Savannah. In the afternoon, held service, assisted by the Hector, Rev. Mr. Landsberger, preached and confirmed seven colored persons in St. Stephen’s Church, Savannah.

The past winter has been a very trying one to the Church in this Diocese. Many of the small Parishes and Missionary Stations are in villages and small towns; the frightful condition of the roads and even the streets, the extreme cold and frequent storms, have sadly interfered with the attendance of the congregations upon the services, and just so far have hindered the work of the Clergy and detracted from the results of their labors as usually exhibited in the numbers presenting themselves for confirmation nor has this drawback been confined to the small Parishes and Missions. Even in some of the large City Parishes I have heard the Clergy lamenting the fact that during much of the winter they have been unable to reach their people through the pulpit, and that, therefore, apparently much of their time and labor have been wasted. While, however, this state of things, naturally, has caused temporary discouragement, yet the signs of the times are such, I think, as should inspire us all with new hope and cause us to gird our loins for effort such as we have never made before. In almost every city, town and village which I have visited during the past year, I have found an interest manifested in the Church and a desire to know her claims, her history, and her doctrine which I never witnessed before. For years we seem to have been looked upon as a quiet, respectable little Christian sect, distinguished by forms and ceremonies, and existing by the courteous indifference of the larger bodies which, from time immemorial, have dominated the religious thought of the State. When we began to put in higher claims and demand a hearing as an ancient and pure Branch of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, we were met with that kind of good natured contempt with which the very strong listen to the supposed Boastings of the very weak. A little leaven, however, was gradually planted in that broad, deep love of fair play and justice which characterizes our people; its working was as sure as the laws of nature, and it was and is only a question of time when the thoughtful attention of serious minds will be given to the Church, and she be permitted before an unprejudiced tribunal, to state her case and urge her claims. For this day I have longed and waited, and I believe that the first strong beams of its morning are now streaming full upon us. The people are beginning to ask for information, and the Clergy must be ready to give it. Owing to the fact that, prior to and during the revolutionary war, our Church was part of the Established Church of England, she inherited much of the dislike and prejudice which naturally swayed the hearts and minds of the colonists and their immediate successors. The Bishops were looked upon as mere spiritual Lords exercising their civil and ecclesiastical powers to fasten the chains of colonial serfdom upon a liberty-loving people, and the Bishops, in this matter, simply represented the Church. From such premises it was not difficult to reach the conclusion that our Church was utterly unsuited to the genius of the new republic. This prejudice became hereditary in the popular mind of America, and it has taken generations ere the disease could run its course and the mental taint exhaust itself. It is unnecessary to search for the circumstances which, in the history of this country, have had and still have a tendency to bring about a better state of things. It is sufficient to know that, at last, the change is becoming apparent and opportunities are opening up to the Church in the State and Country such as she never had before, and, if neglected, may never have again. My object in bringing the matter before you is to urge upon you, both Clergy and Laity, the necessity of refreshing your minds by renewed study of the Church, so that you may be ready not merely “to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you,” but also an answer to him that asketh a reason for your belief in the Church of which it is your blessed privilege to be a member. Her history is an eventful and a noble one from the time when, far back in the centuries, her Bishops came out from the fastnesses of Wales to hear and refuse the demands of Augustine, the Roman Missionary sent by Pope Gregory the Great; on through the ages of her struggles and protests against the civil and doctrinal encroachments of Rome, down to the time when, the Papal power being broken, she gradually renounced the errors which had been imposed upon her primitive faith and by the fires of Smithfield—as brave Bishop Latimer prophesied—lit a candle in England which, by God’s grace, shall never be put out!

The amounts appropriated by you, one year ago, for missionary purpose, seem to have been adequate to our immediate necessities. This being so, it may be asked, why then the complaint among some of the Missionaries that they have been subjected to self-denials which have amounted to positive sufferings? The answer is, that the assessments for support of the Missionaries are not promptly paid. It is but poor comfort to a man to know that a competency is promised him, if the promise is not fulfilled until the year is ended.

I do not know that it is possible to remedy this evil, still I commend it to your earnest consideration. Possibly it may somewhat simplify matters if you will bear in mind that during the Summer and early Fall months very many of the members of our large city congregations are absent from home. During this time the missionary collections are necessarily small. Taking it for granted that our people are willing to give, that the city Clergy are anxious to receive their gifts, and that both Clergy and people have a genuine sympathy for the missionaries, we are met by the fact that during certain months the people are away and therefore cannot give, and that consequently the Clergy are unable to collect. During this time, as matters now stand, the missionaries must suffer. I think that if in your wisdom, you can suggest a plan by which this difficulty can be met, and thus, to the Missionary, many months be bridged over, you will have done much to solve our chronic missionary trouble.

The Appleton Church Home is doing faithfully its work of training orphan girls in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; laboring patiently, yet hopefully; looking forward to the time when the Church in Georgia will appreciate the importance of training the young; when the Diocese will understand that to the young belongs the future, and that if that future is to be ours we must train those who are to take our places and carry forward God’s work when we are gone. When that time comes—and may God hasten the day—the Church will, of her abundance, give with such liberality that the Home will no longer be compelled to turn away the children who now often vainly ask for its care, but will be enabled to enlarge its borders, add to its buildings, and expand its work, until by the side of the Orphans’ Home shall stand a Church school, in the hands of competent teaching Sisters, training the daughters of the State for God and His Church. I respectfully submit that this is a plan far more practicable than any which involves the purchase of new grounds and buildings and the paying large sums to teachers. We have land in abundance, and whenever the Diocese is ready to do it, the school can be built and the Sisters obtained. The only expense to the Diocese will be the buildings. One year ago you kindly provided by Canon that a collection should be made for the support of the Home every Whitsunday. I do most earnestly request you, my brethren of the Clergy, not merely to bring the matter before your congregations by due notice from your chancels, but that you do the kind work of making to them an appeal for liberal gifts in money, food or clothing. The Home now has an income of $120 per month. Between twenty and thirty children and three Sisters look to this small amount for support. To you, and you alone, under God, we look for relief in these straitened circumstances.

You are doubtless aware that during the past few months a Church paper has been started in Atlanta by the Rev. Messrs. Ticknor. The Church Times seems to be making friends wherever it is read. A Church paper which will keep the Parishes informed as to the work going on in all parts of the Diocese would be, I think, a great blessing. Our Parish and Missions are scattered over a vast territory—so vast that intercourse between them is well nigh an impossibility. We must naturally become indifferent as to those of whom we know little and whom we never meet. Our interest, therefore, thrown back upon ourselves, concentrates within ourselves, and thus we become, practically, congregationalists. We soon become so absorbed in the affairs of our individual Parishes, whose necessities are always before us and present with us, that we lose sight of the great works going on in the large cures, and the great struggles being made in the small fields, and thus the weak are deprived of the inspiring example of the strong, and the sympathies of the strong are untouched by the devotion and self-denial of the weak. I know of no means by which we can be so surely brought near to each other, and speak words of encouragement to each other, and learn lessons of self-sacrifice from the examples of those who are doing bravely the Master’s work in the outposts and byways of the Church, as by a Church paper coining to us every week with its columns laden with reports from all parts of the Diocese. I do therefore gladly commend the Church Times to your liberal support.

About one year ago the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of St. Luke’s Parish, in Atlanta, requested me to take charge of that church as my Cathedral. This, as you know, is one of the small Parishes of the Diocese. It was heavily burdened with debt, and the congregation so poor that more than once the church building has been threatened with a sheriff’s sale. The Rector, the Rev. W. C. Williams, D. D., had taken charge of it as a work of love, and determined, with God’s blessing, to free it from debt and start it once more upon the highway of usefulness. He receives no salary, and out of his own private means has contributed largely to the removal of its debt. It was almost impossible to withstand an appeal for help from such a man. I therefore determined to do what I could to assist him in paying off the indebtedness of the Church and increasing its congregation, and when these difficulties had been overcome, if it was still desired, to take charge of the Church and give to it such time as might not be due to Diocesan work. Whether it will ever grow to such dimensions as to really merit the name of a Cathedral, I cannot tell, but if the little time that I am at home can be so used as to strengthen the hands of a clergyman making so many sacrifices for the Master, and to aid such an effort to build up the church in a large and growing population, I am convinced that I would be doing wrong were I to decline such a request. The Parish, though not entirely free, is safe from debt, and the congregation has increased and is still steadily growing. Therefore, on the 10th of April, being the Sunday before Easter, I took formal charge of the Church, and agreed that such service as I could render it, without its in any way interfering with my duty to other Parishes and the Diocese at large, I would give it. Of course the Rev. Mr. Williams, at whose request I have taken this step, will continue in charge of the Parish and perform its parochial requirements.

The General Convention, as you know, met in New York city in October last. The Church is at peace, and the harmony of its councils was undisturbed. The question of dividing the Church into Provinces, which I mentioned in my last report to your body, was brought before the General Convention, and that body declined to take any action. In this, I think, the Convention showed its wisdom. The more I consider this question, the more convinced I am that the time for forming the Dioceses into Provinces has not yet come. I will be glad to see them when they are needed; but to create them because the early Church had them, but before the work of the Church demands them, would be to imitate the action of the primitive Church, to the neglect of its wisdom. When the Church was spreading rapidly over the Roman Empire, she found it useful, in many respects, to adapt herself to her surroundings, and assume forms in her government similar to those existing in the Empire. If the American Church is to learn anything from this example, it is not that Provinces are necessary, but that they may become necessary, and when they are needed they should be formed. The General Convention, on account of the multiplication of Dioceses and Missionary Jurisdictions, has grown to be an unwieldly body, difficult of management, and, as some think, more difficult of entertainment; and it is thought that Provinces will remove the trouble, by having Conventions of their own in which the Dioceses may be represented, while the General Convention will be composed only of representatives of the Provinces. Here is a vast amount of unnecessary legislation proposed to accomplish an end which ought to be reached without difficulty. The second Article of the Constitution says that the representation in the General Convention “Shall consist of not more than four clergymen and four laymen.” Eight representatives from each Diocese are permitted, not required, and if that number be too great, it can be diminished by sending two, or if need be, only one of each order from each Diocese. Fifty Dioceses now can send four hundred delegates, adopt the above suggestion and the number can be reduced to one hundred. Surely it cannot be necessary to divide the American Church into Provinces to accomplish an end already provided for in the Constitution. Again, it is thought by some that the Church is greatly in need of Courts of Appeal and that this need can be best supplied by organizing Provinces and establishing Appellate Courts in each Province. No more difficult or dangerous question is likely, I think, to come before the Church in America formally years than that of courts of final appeal. The subject is entirely too large to be discussed in a report of this kind; still I do not hesitate to express my opinion that the necessity for such courts has not yet arisen; but should it arise it will be well worth our while to consider whether or no it would be met by simply adapting ourselves to our surroundings and having a Diocesan Supreme Court to decide questions strictly Diocesan, and a Supreme Court of the Church in America to decide questions affecting the interests of the Church at large.

Finally, it is thought by some that Provinces are desirable in order that Dioceses may be stripped of all power save that of looking after parochial and missionary matters within their respective bounds, while matters of discipline, etc., shall be delegated to the Provincial Legislature, and the General Convention shall confine its powers to the guarding of the Prayer Book, looking after our relations with Foreign Churches, etc.

This would be, I think, the first in a series of steps leading to the practical destruction of Dioceses, and would be equivalent to a revolution. Believing as I do, that a Diocese, that is to say, an Episcopal Jurisdiction, composed of a Bishop with his Clergy and congregations, is of Divine origin, having powers bestowed upon it, and duties required of it, by the Blessed Master; and that the General Convention, as a distinct organization, is the creature of the Diocese, I do not believe that the General Convention has the power—without usurpation—to make such changes; and I think that there are certain powers which God has given the Diocese, without which it cannot perform the duties which God has imposed upon it, and therefore, there are powers which the Diocese may not surrender without being false to its Divine trust.

This very brief and general statement of my views I have thought best to lay before you, in the hope that you may be induced to inform yourselves upon this subject before the time shall come when you will be called upon to act. Should such a time arrive during my life, I hope to be able to give you fully my opinions, with facts and reasons, as my contribution to this very important matter.

And now. my dear Brethren. I bid you God speed in the good work which lies before yon. Have faith in God’s promises. Let us gird up our loins, and, in our Blessed Master’s name, do with our might whatsoever our hands find to do.            Your Friend and Bishop,

JNO. W. BECKWITH.