BISHOP’S ADDRESS.
The Rt. Rev. John Watrous Beckwith
2nd Bishop of Georgia

Brethren of the Clergy and Laity:

May 12th, 1881. I performed the marriage service in private, in Atlanta.

May 15th, A. M. I held service, assisted by Rev. W. C. Williams, D. D. Administered the Holy Communion, confirmed one, and delivered an address in St. Luke’s, Atlanta. In the afternoon, I held service, assisted by Rev. W. H. Hunt, and preached at the Barracks.

May 16th. I received the Letter Dimissory of the Rev. Frank B. Ticknor, (Deacon) from the Diocese of Alabama.

May 22d. I held service morning and evening, assisted by Rev. W. C. Hunter and Rev. E. G. Weed, and preached on both occasions, in Apalachicola, Florida.

June 5th, A. M. Held service, assisted by Rev. Dr. Williams, preached, made an address concerning the Appleton Church Home, and administered the Holy Communion in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

June 12th, A. M. Held service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Foute, preached and made an address in St. Philips, Atlanta.

June 19th, P. M. Held service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Denniston, and preached, by request, on Temperance, in the Baptist church, Newnan.

July 3d, A. M. Held service, assisted by Rev. Dr. Williams, in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

July 10, 17, 24. I held services, assisted by Rev. Dr. Williams, and lectured upon Church History, in St. Luke’s, Atlanta. On the 13th of the same month I performed the marriage service in private in Atlanta; and on the 24th, I held morning service and ordained Charles Minnigerode Beckwith to the Diaconate, and Rev. R. Habersham Barnwell to the Priesthood, in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

The candidate for the Diaconate was presented by Rev. W. C. Williams, D. D. The candidate for the Priesthood was also presented by Rev. Dr. Williams, who, with Rev. Geo. Macauley, and Rev. W. B. Walker, of Augusta, assisted in the Laying on of hands. I was assisted in the morning service by Rev. Dr. Williams and the Rev. Messrs. Macauley, Walker, W. H Hunt, and Ticknor.

August 9. I preached upon three occasions in Ocean City, Maryland. September 18th, A. M. Held service, assisted by Rev. Dr. Wildes, in Christ church, Riverdale, New York.

September 25th. I assisted at a service held in Christ church, Riverdale, and made a short address upon the occasion of the murder of the President of the United States.

October 2d. I held service and preached in Calvary church, New York city. On the 9th, I held service, assisted by Rev. Dr. Wildes, and preached in Christ church, Riverdale, N. Y.

October 19th. I took part with Rev. Mr. Foute, in the Burial Service, in St. Philips, Atlanta.

October 20th. I performed the marriage service in private, in Marietta.

October 23d, A. M. Held service, assisted by the Rector, the Rev. Geo. W. Wilson, confirmed eleven, made an address, and administered the Holy Communion, in St. Peter’s, Rome. After the service I confirmed in private, two persons. In the evening I again held service and preached in the same church. On the 24th, I held service, assisted by the Rector, and confirmed one in the same church.

October 30th, A. M. Held service, assisted by Rev. H. K. Rees, Missionary in charge, confirmed six, and made an address in the church of The Good Shepherd, Cave Spring. In the evening, held service, and preached in the same church.

November 4th. I gave a Letter Dimissory to the Rev. Theodore Reed, to the Diocese of Alabama.

November 6th, A.M. I held service, assisted by Rev. Geo. Macauley, Missionary in charge, preached, and confirmed one, St. Mark’s, Dalton. In the evening, I went with Mr. Macauley to Calhoun, for the purpose of holding service, but was prevented by a severe storm.

November 10th. I gave a Letter Dimissory to Rev. R. Habersham Barnwell to the Diocese of Kentucky.

November 13th, A. M. I held service, assisted by Rev. Mr. McConnell, Deacon in charge, and preached in Christ church, Macon.

November 15th, A. M. I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. S. J. Pinkerton and Rev. Messrs. W. H. Hunt and Beckwith, preached and ordained to the Diaconate T. M. Nelson George. The candidate as presented by his venerable father, the Rev. J. H. George.

November 18th, P. M. 1 held service, assisted by Rev. R. H. Barnwell, Missionary, and preached in the Church of the Advent, Madison.

November 20th, A. M. Held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. J. Knowles, and preached in the Church of the Redeemer, Greensboro.

November 23d, p. M. Held service, assisted by Rev. R. H. Barnwell, Missionary, and preached in the Church of the Mediator, Washington.

November 25th, P. M. I held service, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Stoney and Barnwell, and preached in Sparta. On the same day I baptized in private, one infant.

November 27th, A. M. Held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Stoney, preached and confirmed nine, in St. Stephen’s Church, Milledgeville. After service, I confirmed in private one person. In the evening, I again held service and preached in the same church.

December 4th, A. M. I held service, baptized one adult, confirmed one, and preached in St. Thomas Church, Thomasville. In the evening I held service and preached in the same church.

December 7th, A. M. I held service, baptized three infants, and preached in St. John’s, Bainbridge.

December 11th. I held morning and evening service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. T. G. Pond, preached upon each occasion, and in the morning confirmed one person, in St. Paul’s, Albany.

December 18th, A. M. I held service, preached and administered the Holy Communion in Calvary Church, Americus. In the evening, I again held service, preached, baptized one adult and confirmed one in the same church.

December 20th. I gave my canonical consent to the consecration of the Rev. Cortland Whitehead, D. D., as Bishop of Pittsburg.

December 25th, Christmas day. I held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. W. C. Williams, D. D., and the Rev. C. M. Beckwith, assistant, preached, confirmed eleven, and made an address in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

December 20th, A. M. Held service, confirmed one and administered the Holy Communion in the same church.

December 28th. I performed the marriage service in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

January 1st, 1882, A. M. I held service and preached in the Church of the Ascension, Cartersville.

January 10th. I held morning and evening service, assisted, in the absence of the Rector, Rev. Dr. Scott, who was kept away by sickness, by Rev. E. G. Weed, and preached on both occasions, in Christ Church, Pensacola, Fla.

January 17th. I received and accepted the Letter Dimissory of the Rev. J. R. Winchester, from the Diocese of Virginia.

January 22d. I held morning and evening service, assisted by Rev, Mr. Denniston, Missionary in charge, preached twice, and confirmed one, in the Presbyterian Church, West Point.

January 29th, A. M. Held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Thos. Boone, preached, confirmed thirteen and made an address, in Christ Church, Savannah. In the evening I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Landsberger, preached and confirmed seventeen colored persons in St. Stephen’s, Savannah.

January 31st. I took part in the Burial service in Christ Church, Savannah.

February 5th, A. M. Held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Chas. H. Strong and Rev. J. B. Kennard, preached, confirmed twenty and made an address, in St. John’s, Savannah. In the evening I held service, assisted by the same brethren, preached and confirmed seven, in St. Matthew’s, Savannah.

February 11th, A. M. Held service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Weed, preached, confirmed one and made an address, in the Mission Chapel at Bel Air.

February 12th, A. M. Held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. W. B. Walker and Rev. Mr. Weed, preached, confirmed ten and made an address, in the Church of the Atonement, Augusta. In the evening I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. C. C. Williams and Rev. Mr. Walker, preached, confirmed twenty-one and made an address, in St. Paul’s, Augusta.

February 13th, A. M. Held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Weed and Rev. Mr. Walker, preached, confirmed eight and made an address, in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Augusta.

February 16th. I performed the marriage service near Nashville, Tennessee.

February 19th. I held morning and evening service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. W. C. Hunter, preached twice, and at the morning service, confirmed fourteen, in Trinity Church, Columbus.

February 20th, P. M. Held service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Denniston, Missionary in charge, and preached in Zion Church, Talbotton.

February 24th. Gave Letter Dimissory to Rev. P. B. Ticknor, Deacon, to the Missionary Jurisdiction of Western Texas.

February 23d, 24th. Held evening service and lectured twice in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

February 26th, A. M. Held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. C. Dowe, preached, confirmed four and made an address in St. George’s, Griffin. On the 25th, I confirmed in private two persons at Sunny Side, belonging to St. George’s Parish, Griffin.

March 1st, 2d, 3d. Held service and lectured three times at St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

March 5th, A. M. Held service, preached, confirmed three and administered the Holy Communion in St. Luke’s, Hawkinsville.

March 6th, p. M. Held service, preached and confirmed one in the same Church.

March 9th, 10th. Held service and delivered two lectures in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

March 12th, A. M. Held service, assisted by Rev. H. K. Rees, Missionary in charge, preached and confirmed five in the little Mission Chapel in Cedartown. In the evening I held service and preached in the Presbyterian Church in the same place. In this new and rapidly growing town in upper Georgia we have a very promising Mission. A little band of church people, aided and inspired by the noble generosity of Mr. West, of that place, who has given us a beautiful lot and subscribed one thousand dollars towards building a Church, has raised nearly one thousand dollars more and will, God willing, soon have a handsome stone Church. When we remember that this has been done by a mere handful of people, it exhibits a zeal and devotion worthy of the highest commendation, and it proves that God will help those who earnestly determine to work for His glory and the salvation of souls.

March 14th, 15th, 16th. I held service and delivered three lectures in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

March 19th, A. M. Held services assisted by the Hon. and Rev. Jas. W. Leigh, Vicar of Leamington, England, preached and confirmed three in St. Andrew’s, Darien. In the afternoon I held service for the colored people, assisted by Rev. Mr. Leigh, preached and confirmed one colored person in St. Cyprian’s Church, Darien. St. Andrew’s has been for some time vacant, the Rev. Mr. Wingate having accepted a call to St. Paul’s, Macon. The Church would have been closed but for the kind services of the Rev. Mr. Leigh, to whom the Parish and myself are deeply indebted for his timely assistance.

March 20th. I baptised one adult colored person and confirmed one in St. Cyprian’s Church.

March 20th. Held morning and evening service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Henry Lucas, preached twice and in the morning confirmed twelve in St Mark’s, Brunswick.

March 27th, P. M.  Held service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Lucas, preached and confirmed two in Christ’s Church Mission, St. Simon’s Island.

March 28th, P.M. I confirmed two persons and made an address in St. Mark’s, Brunswick.

March 29th. I baptized one infant in Waynesville.

April 2d, A. M. I held service, assisted by Rev. Henry Dunlop. Missionary in charge, preached, confirmed one, made an address and administered the Holy Communion in the Chapel of the Messiah, Satilla river.

April 5th. Held service and delivered an address in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

April 6th, A. M. Held service, confirmed one and made an address in St. Luke’s, Atlanta. In the evening I held service, assisted by Rev. Dr. Williams, Missionary in charge, and Rev. Mr. Beckwith, preached, confirmed three and administered the Holy Communion in the Mission of the Redeemer, belonging to St. Philip’s Church, Atlanta.

April 7th, 8th. Held service and delivered two addresses in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

April 9th, A. M. Easter Day. Held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. R C. Foute. confirmed twenty-nine and made an address in St. Philip’s, Atlanta. In the evening I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. W. C. Williams and the Assistant, Rev. Mr. Beckwith, confirmed twelve and made an address in St. Luke’s, Atlanta. On the same day, in St. Thomas’ Church, Thomasville, the Right Rev Dr. Whipple. Bishop of Minnesota, did me the kindness to hold service, confirmed two and administered the Holy Communion.

April llth. Held service, baptized one infant and administered the Holy Communion in St. Luke’s, Atlanta.

April 16th. Held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Samuel Pinkerton, preached, confirmed one and delivered an address in St. James’, Marietta.

April 17th. Baptized in private one adult and one child in Atlanta.

April 27th. I performed the marriage service in St. Philip’s Church, Atlanta.

April 30lh, A. M. Held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. J. R. Winchester, preached and confirmed twenty-two in Christ Church, Macon. In the afternoon I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Chas. Wingate, preached and confirmed sixteen in St. Paul’s Macon.

May 7th, A. M. I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. J. C. Davis, preached, confirmed seven, made an address and administered the Holy Communion in Emmanuel Church, Athens. In the afternoon I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. W. E. Eppes and Rev. Mr. Davis, preached and confirmed seven in St Mary’s Church, Athens.

May 9th. Confirmed in private one person, presented by Rev. Mr. Eppes, in Athens. In the evening of the same day I preached, by request, in the Opera House upon the subject of Temperance.

During the past year the Rev. Otis A. Glazebrook was the victim of a terrible railroad accident, the effects of which have been so serious as to cause him to resign the Rectorship of Christ Church, Macon, and to make his friends fear, that for years to come, the Church may be deprived of his services. His sufferings, the afflictions of his family and the loss to his Parish and Diocese, combine to make this a calamity which touches every heart and has cast a gloom over the entire Diocese. Mr. Glazebrook was a bright, spirited, genial, true hearted man, abounding in energy and good works. During the few years of his Rectorship in Macon, he impressed that whole community with his manly, single hearted devotion to his blessed Master. Men loved and trusted him and, consequently, were ever willing to join him in the execution of his many plans to further the work of Missions and to lead the young to recognize their duty to the Master and to His work. I believe, by dear brethren, that I simply echo your sentiments when I say that our love goes out warmly to our afflicted brother, and that our prayers will be offered to God that comfort be given to his stricken family.

The subject of Diocesan Missions will naturally occupy much of your attention during your present session. The interest caused by the long and able debate, one year since, has I trust induced you to so examine the matter as to be prepared to remove all difficulties and adopt measures which will ensure harmonious action and bring about, under God, that energetic co-operation which is so essential to success. It seems to me that there is one sentence in the 8th section of the existing Canon, on Diocesan Missions which, properly understood and acted upon, should, practically at least, enable us to avoid all the troubles which, at your last session, threatened to disturb our peace. It is in these words: “The Convention shall then make an appropriation to carry on the Missionary work within the Diocese during the ensuing year, and apportion between the Parishes the amount so appropriated, after consultation with the representatives present.” Two things are here required to be done. 1st. Appropriate the amount necessary for the work for one year. This simply demands of us that we determine the total amount needed. 2d. That the amount thus appropriated be divided among the Parishes “after consultation with the representatives present.” This consultation, if I understand it, is intended as a means by which the Convention, before making the apportionment among the Parishes, may learn what amount each Parish is able to pay, so that we may know with certainty what pledges can be made to the Missionaries. I suppose that the strongest advocate of the right of the Convention to assess Parishes would not favor making an assessment larger than its representatives declare it able to bear, while the most devoted upholder of the theory of voluntary contributions would not, practically, object to an assessment which the representatives of the Parish acknowledge it able to pay. As a practical question, therefore, I think there need be no difficulty. Taking it for granted that we appreciate the necessity, to the growth and life of the Church, of active Missionary work; and assuming that what we are able, we are willing to do to spread the Master’s Kingdom among men; it would, I think, follow, that when we have found the amount needed for the year’s work and the proportion of that amount which each Parish can contribute, all practical difficulties will be at an end.

The more thoroughly we understand the position of the Church in the world and our individual positions as members of the Church, the more willing will we be to make sacrifices, if need be, for the Masters sake, and to avoid placing any obstacle in the way of the growth of that leaven which is so necessary to the salvation of men. The Church of God is a Kingdom, whose Ruler is Christ. Distinctly, before Pilate, did our Lord declare himself a King. His Kingdom, though not of the world, is in the world. Jesus Christ is King, His Church is His Kingdom, and, as members of that Church, we are His subjects. Through his blessed Apostles He gave to His Kingdom a Law when He said; “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” By this Law, the Church is made responsible for the spread of the Gospel in the world. Whatever may be necessary for us to do in order that that Gospel be preached, that is our solemn duty to do. If the men are needed, we must find the men; if they stand ready to go, we must send them, and if the sending involves an outlay of world by means, that outlay must be made. This is a far higher duty than any that can be laid upon us by the State, for the reason that it is God who commands it. True, He expects that our obedience shall be a voluntary service, but the duty is none the less binding because God requires that it be done with a willing mind. A voluntary service, does not imply that if there is no willingness there is no obligation. A voluntary contribution to God’s work, does not mean that if we have no desire lo contribute, we are under no obligation to contribute; on the contrary its true meaning is twofold: 1st. It is our duty to contribute. 2d. It is our duty to contribute willingly. Voluntary service to God does not and cannot mean that we may give or refuse to give as we may choose, but that we must give and the gift must be made willingly. Responsibility does not rest upon willingness. Willingness is a duty as much as service, and both combined are necessary to make the duty performed, an acceptable service. There is another fact, bearing upon this, which we should carefully consider. When our Lord established His Kingdom among men, He created, through the Holy Spirit, two organizations for the government of His Church. One, the General Council, which first met in Jerusalem, and was pre sided over by St. James, and which was authorized in making its decrees, to say: “It seemeth good to the Holy Ghost and to us.” The other, the Episcopal Jurisdiction, or Diocese. When St. Paul addressed the Elders of Ephesus, he said: “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God.” Here was the Church with its divinely appointed overseers; and over these, the same Apostle, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, placed Timothy to govern the Church, as his successor. So again with Titus and the Church in Crete. General Councils are intended for the general government of the Church Catholic in matters affecting the entire Church, but to the Elders, as overseers feeding the flock, and to the Bishop, ordaining and administering the Church Law, was given the government of those divisions of the Church presided over by a Bishop. These Episcopal Jurisdictions have existed from the beginning, and are instrumentalities by which the Master carries forward and perpetuates the work of His Kingdom among men. Upon them, as under the Divine Law, is placed the duty, according to their ability and within their sphere, of preaching the Gospel to every creature. We should, therefore, always bear in mind that this Diocese is a Divine instrumentality. This Convention is simply the lawfully appointed council of this Divine Organization, met here to devise means by which the Law of our King and Savior, that the Gospel be preached to every creature, may be obeyed. Humanly speaking, this Law can only be obeyed by our supplying the means; and the amount to be raised can only be determined by our consulting with each other, 1st, as to the needs of the Diocese, and 2d, as to the amount each Parish is able to give. When a council of God’s Church, sincerely desiring to obey His Law, has decided what amount of money must be contributed, and after consultation with the representatives, what amount each Parish can give, it seems to me that its canonical action, by which it apportions to each Parish the amount which it is understood that Parish is able to pay, is as binding as Church Law well can be; and a serious responsibility before God rests upon those who shall disregard the voice of God’s Church thus speaking through her lawfully appointed representatives.

The Whitsunday offering for the Appleton Church Home amounted to $241.02. While I had hoped for more, I am very grateful for this. Several children have been placed in comfortable homes, and this contribution enabled us at once to supply their places. During my visitation to St. Paul’s Parish, Macon, I confirmed six of the orphan girls. Here now are two facts which I think should cause the Diocese to look with ever increasing confidence and affection upon this institution, and to give liberally for its support; First, several of the girls, thoroughly trained, have been placed in good homes, where they are being kindly cared for, and are supporting themselves: and six others have lately ratified their baptismal vows in confirmation. If God had not put it in the heart of the noble Christian gentleman who gave us this church Home, to thus devote his means to the work of saving the souls of these friendless little ones, what, in all human probability, must have been their fate? Now they are young Christian women. Without this Home and the self-sacrificing devotion of the truehearted sisters who have them in charge, they must have grown up in ignorance, with a future before them which it makes the heart sick to contemplate. I do, therefore, in God’s name, ask you to judge this tree by its fruits, and as you see that it is sheltering the homeless and giving spiritual food to the fatherless, I beg you to remember it in your prayers, and on Whitsunday when you rejoice in the descent of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, may the Holy Spirit cause you to bring good gifts to God’s altar, and ask Him to bless them to the salvation of these His “little ones.”

The General Convention of 1877, as you are aware, passed a canon entitled “Of Marriage and Divorce.” In my address to this Diocesan Convention, in 1878, I called the attention of the clergy to this law, and urged them to make its enactments known to their congregations. Circumstances seem to require that I should again ask you, my brethren, for the sake of your people and yourselves, to see to it that the people of this Diocese be no longer kept in ignorance of a canon of such vital importance to them. I cannot do better than to repeat the words then used and beg you to read them to your congregations upon some Sunday when the largest number possible may hear them.

“The canon begins with a declaration in the words of ‘The Form of the Solemnization of Matrimony,’ in the Prayer Book: ‘If any persons be joined together otherwise than as God’s word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful.’ In this statement the Church speaks as the witness to God’s truth. Marriage is a divine institution. God established it and gave it laws. State Legislatures determine for themselves what shall constitute marriage in the eye of the civil law. The Church simply declares that a union not in accordance with God’s word is not, in his eye, lawful. If the civil law disregard God’s word, the marriage is still unlawful. God has a right to make laws for man; man has no right to substitute his enactments for God’s will. Whatever laws may be passed by the State Legislatures, and whatever decisions may be pronounced by courts of civil justice, the fact yet remains that, before God, that marriage is unlawful in which persons are joined together otherwise than as God’s word doth allow.

“The second section of the canon declares that ‘No minister, knowingly, after enquiry, shall solemnize the marriage of any person who has a divorced husband or wife still living, if such husband or wife has been put away for any 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.’ This is the Church’s interpretation of the word of God. Persons divorced for any cause arising after marriage cannot again be married, unless, 1st, the party applying for the service of the minister be the innocent party in a divorce for adultery: and, 2d, unless the parties once divorced seek to be united again.

“The third section prohibits a minister from admitting a person to Holy Baptism or to the Holy Communion, and from presenting a person for Confirmation, if he have reasonable cause to doubt whether said person has been married otherwise than as the word of God and the discipline of this Church allow, ‘until the minister shall have referred the case to the godly judgment of the Bishop.’ Persons in imminent danger of death are excepted.

The last section of the canon declares that the penalties of this canon do not apply to cases occurring before the canon takes effect; that is, on the 1st of January, 1878.

“My object in bringing this canon before you is not to discuss it, but to urge my brethren of the clergy to avoid future trouble for themselves and their congregations by taking care to make the requirements of the law fully known. When laws have been passed whose action may affect the interests or happiness of others, it is the part of wisdom and of mercy to see to it that the law be widely known, that the people being forewarned may save themselves from pain, their Rectors from unnecessary conflict, and the Church from harmful agitation. I, therefore, respectfully urge upon the clergy of this Diocese that, as the Church has made this law and they are compelled to enforce it, they take advantage of favorable opportunity to acquaint their congregations with its enactments.”

All things considered, the condition of the Church in this Diocese is such as to give cause for thankfulness. Several Parishes have been, for a time, vacant, while a few of the smaller Parishes are still unable to support Rectors and the Missionary fund is not large enough to enable us to give them such aid as would justify them in making a call. These are serious troubles, not felt by the larger and wealthier Parishes, but which sadly check the growth of the Church in places where the harvest is white. The laborers stand ready to go in and work: the people long for their services; but the means of support are wanting, and God’s work is languishing. Let us pray the good Lord that He will put it into the hearts of those of His children whom He has blessed with this world’s goods, to learn the noble art of self-sacrifice for the Master’s sake, and to remember that, while they and their families are in the full enjoyment of all the blessed privileges of services, sermons and sacraments there are numbers of their less favored brethren, in the smaller Parishes of the Diocese, who cannot have even the mournful privilege of a clergyman of the church to bury their dead. While these things are true, there are brighter facts elsewhere. Two things especially attract my attention in my visitations of the Diocese. One that the intellectual, thoughtful people of the State are, more and more every year, becoming interested in the church, examining her history and studying her liturgy and comparing her doctrines as embodied in her Prayer Book with the teachings of the Scriptures. The other that in our cities and towns, the poor are having the Gospel preached to them. I can well remember when, all over the land, our Church was reproached with the accusation of being the Church of the rich, the fashionable and the worldly minded. Thanks under God, to the self-sacrificing devotion of our clergy, the most bitter opponent of the Church can no longer make that charge. I venture the assertion, that considering our numbers and our wealth, there is no Christian body in this State which can show a brighter record of faithful work done among the poor than we can exhibit. I can well remember, also, when the fact that we use a Liturgy: that we “prayed out of a book,” as it was said, furnished an exhaustless theme for eloquent abuse and impassioned ridicule. That day is now fast passing away. In l866 the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, authorized the publication and use of a Book of Services, which, with a few alterations, is almost a reprint of our Prayer Book; while our Presbyterian brethren, so distinguished for conservatism and learning, have published, but, as I understand, their Church has not yet authorized “The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments,” etc.

What influence, if any, our Church may have had, directly or indirectly, in this, I do not venture to say; the facts remain, and I cannot but hope and trust that they may be signs that God is beginning to prepare the way for the removal of non-essentials as causes of difference, and the drawing nearer together of those who, instead of fighting each other, should be lending their united efforts to meet and over, throw the cultivated infidelity which is threatening with spiritual ruin so many of the noblest of our men, and which, if unchecked, promises, by destroying belief in responsibility to the Great God to work the destruction of civil governments and the sanctity of domestic life. And permit me to say, just here, to you my brethren of the clergy, that this growing infidelity, demands your most earnest attention and study, as it challenges your best efforts for its removal. It is, I believe, a fact, that you can hardly go into a city or town and preach to a congregation of men of the world, in which you will not find intelligent, honest persons who deny the Lord’s Divinity, the Inspiration of the Bible, and consequently the importance of Churches, the value of Sacraments and the authority of Religion. Fortunately, in this Diocese, our peace is not disturbed by questions of Ritual and the doctrines which a peculiar Ritual is intended to teach; let us pray God that this peace may continue, and let us go to work and prepare ourselves for this great conflict upon the result of which belief even in our Blessed Master seems to depend; and in comparison with which, all questions of the peculiar definition of Sacraments and the dress and position of the ministering clergymen, etc., sink into unutterable insignificance. Men, fascinated, not by science, which is knowledge, and therefore truth, but by the deductions from scientific truth made by scientific men, are drifting away from our Blessed Lord, their Redeemer. Already in England, our Church, ever in the forefront where error is to be fought and truth vindicated, stands in the breach, and with her great learning and splendid abilities is doing battle gloriously for the Lord and His Church! Let us not be behind hand. It is a noble field for study, and thousands stand ready gladly to hear us and willing to follow us if we will show them the way out of the intellectual difficulties and spiritual dangers by which they feel themselves beset. Never in our generation has the church been so earnestly called upon to do her full duty; and never did the Pulpit have so glorious an opportunity to set forth and vindicate the power of that Christ who has wrought such wonders upon the history of eighteen centuries. As our day, so may our strength be!

And now, my Dear Brethren, standing with you amid all these dangers and encouragements; looking back over the centuries, and by the light of history seeing what God hath done; believing that His arm is not shortened, but that He is still powerful to save, I bid you in His name, gird up your loins for the strife, and with prayer in your hearts and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, in your hands, go forth and manfully, patiently, meekly, bravely do your whole duty, and doubt not for one moment that the battle is the Lord’s, and either by us, or if we be unfaithful, by others raised up in our stead, in that battle the Lord shall win! Your Friend and Bishop,

John W. Beckwith.