BISHOP’S ADDRESS.
The Rt. Rev. John Watrous Beckwith
Given at St. Paul’s Church, Albany, Georgia
May 5, 1870
Brethren of the Clergy and Laity:
I respectfully present to you the following report of my labors daring the past twelve months.
May 6th, 1869. In the afternoon I laid the cornerstone of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Summerville, near Augusta, assisted by a large number of the clergy and laity; after the services I delivered a. short address,
May 8th. Acknowledged letter dimissory of Rev. W. E. Eppes, Presbyter from the Diocese of Florida.
May 9th. Held service in the morning, preached, confirmed fourteen, administered the Holy Communion in St. Paul’s Church, Augusta, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Hunter, Neely, Williams, Elliott and the Rector, Rev. W. H. Clarke.
In the evening held service, assisted by the same brethren and confirmed ten-later in, the evening I confirmed, in private, one.
May 10th. Received notice from the Bishop of New Jersey of the deposition from the sacred ministry of Rev. Marshall B. Smith, Presbyter.
May 10th. Held morning service in Christ Church, Macon, assisted by the Rector, Rev. H. K. Rees and his assistant missionary, Rev. Wm. Leacock.
May 17th. Received notice from the Bishop of Illinois of deposition from the sacred ministry of Rev. Henry W. Woods, Presbyter,
May 23d. Held morning service in Christ Church, Macon, assisted by Rev. Wm. Leacock.
In the evening held service, assisted by Mr. Leacock, and preached in the same church.
May 24th. I gave my canonical consent to the organization of the new Parish of St. Paul, Macon.
May 30th, It was my great privilege to attend and take part in the services in my old and dearly loved Parish of Trinity, New Orleans. The occasion was the ordination to the sacred order of Priests of the Rev. John M. Gallaher, by the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of Louisiana. I was permitted to preach the ordination sermon, and thus wish God speed to my successor. It would be introducing private matters into an official report were I to speak of my gratitude to God for permitting me once more to worship with my old flock, and to receive from them assurances of their kindly recollection of their former Pastor.
In the afternoon I attended service, with the Bishop and a number of the city Clergy, and made a short address in St, Luke’s Church, New Orleans.
June 2d. Performed in private the marriage service and baptized one child in New Orleans.
June 6th. Held Morning service, assisted by Rev. Messrs, Morrison and Duncan preached and administered the Holy Communion in Trinity Church, New Orleans.
In the afternoon I attended service in Christ Church, New Orleans, conducted by a Spanish Priest, lately a Romanist.
June 9th. Held morning-service, assisted by Rev. Messrs, Bakewell and Duncon, in Trinity Church, New Orleans.
June 11th. Held evening service and baptized two adults and two infants in the same church.
June 13th. Held morning service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Bakewell, and preached in the same church.
June 20th. Held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Hanson, and preached in Demopolis, Alabama.
June 24th. Received notice of deposition from the sacred ministry of Rev. J. J. Talbott, of the Diocese of California,
June 25th. Received letter dimissory from the Diocese of Louisiana of Rev. Robt. B. Clute.
July 1st. I laid the corner stone of Calvary Church, Americus, assisted by Mr. Broone of Alabama., Mr. Macauley of Albany and Messrs, Rees and Leacock of Macon.
July 4th. Held morning service and administered the Holy Communion, assisted by Rev. Mr. Leacock in Christ Church, Macon.
July 8th. Received letter dimissory from the Diocese of Ohio of Rev. Benjamin Johnson.
July 15th. Received letter dimissory from the Diocese of Alabama of Rev. Samuel Smith Harris.
July lath, Held morning service, assisted by Mr. Leacock and preached in St. Paul’s Church, Macon.
July 25th. Held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Dr. Henderson and preached in Emmanuel Church, Athens.
In the evening, held service and preached in the same church.
August 8th. Held morning service, assisted by the Rector and preached in the same church.
In the evening, held service and again preached in the same church.
August 15th. I had the privilege of taking part in the morning service with the Bishops of Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Easton and Florida in the Chapel of the University of the South,
In the evening I held service in the same Chapel, assisted by Rev. Dr. Fulton of Christ Church, Mobile, Ala. and preached.
August 22d. Held morning service in Christ Church, Riverdale, New York.
August 29th. Held morning service, assisted by Rev. Dr. Cooke, of St. Bartholomew’s Church, New York City, in the same church.
September 2d. Received notice of the deposition from the sacred ministry of Rev. John W. Shatzel, Presbyter, of the Diocese of Minnesota.
September 5th. Held morning service and administered the Holy Communion, assisted by Rev. Dr. Whittaker, Bishop elect of Nevada, (when it was my privilege to hear him preach) in Christ Church, Riverdale.
September 12th. Held service and preached in the same church.
October 3d. Held service and administered the Holy Communion in the same church; assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Wildes.
October 10th. Held morning service and administered the Holy Communion, assisted by the Rector, Rev. W. C. Williams and Rev. Mr. Elliott, his assistant missionary, preached and confirmed four in St. Peter’s Church, Rome.
Held evening service, confirmed one and preached in the same church.
October 12th. In the morning I held service and administered the Holy Communion, assisted by Messrs. Williams and Elliott, preached and confirmed four in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Cave Spring.
October 14th. Held evening service and preached in the Presbyterian Church, Dalton, assisted by Messrs. Williams and Elliott.
October 15th. Held morning service, assisted by the same brethren and preached in the new Church in Kingston.
October 17th. Held morning service and administered the Holy Communion, assisted by Rev. Mr. Elliott, preached and confirmed three in Ascension Church, near Cartersville.
In the evening, held service and preached in the Presbyterian Church, Cartersville.
Cave Spring, Dalton, Kingston and Cartersville form the missionary field in charge of Rev. Mr. Elliott, and it affords me pleasure to state that under his laborious care, the church in all these places is growing. Sound church instruction—free from ultraisms or party spirit is here producing its natural results, people are learning to love the church as the Bride of Christ, to value her sacraments as real means of a real grace, and to reverence her ministry as holding a divine commission, preserved through the ages and originating with Christ Himself. In Dalton a new and handsome church building is being erected. The Parish is poor but their zeal does not flag: their trials will only cause them the more fully to appreciate their privileges when the work is done. In Kingston a small but comfortable church has been built. To the efforts, under God, of the Misses Howard and Mr. Eddy, guided by Mr. Elliott this work is due. May the Master bless them for what they have done and may His Holy Spirit encourage and strengthen them for future effort.
October 18th. Held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Eppes, in St. James’ Church, Marietta, and preached.
October 19th. Held evening service again, assisted by the Rector, preached and confirmed six in the same church. In the morning I baptized one infant.
This Parish has long suffered from the need of a Pastor who could devote his entire time to the church’s work, and has been most fortunate in securing the services of one so devoted and acceptable as Mr. Eppes.
October 23d. Held morning service, baptized three adults, confirmed eleven and lectured in Emmanuel Church, Athens. These persons presented for Holy Baptism and for Confirmation are the fruits, under God, of a Layman’s devotion, and shows what blessings are in the hands of the Laity, if, amid the cares of daily life, they will only take the trouble to dispense them.
October 24th. Held morning service in the same church baptized one adult, confirmed three and lectured. In the evening again held service, preached and delivered an address.
October 28th. Held evening service, assisted by Rev. Joshua Knowles, in the Methodist Church in Washington.
October 29th. Held evening service and preached in the Baptist Church in the same place.
October 31st. Held morning service, assisted by Mr. Knowles, baptized one infant and lectured in the Church of the Advent in Madison. In the evening held service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Pinkerton, and preached in the same church.
November 1st. Held evening service, assisted by Mr. Knowles, and preached in the Church of the Redeemer, Greensboro.
November 2d. Administered the Holy Communion in private to a sick lady in Athens.
November 7th. Held morning service and administered the Holy Communion, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Chas. W. Thomas and Rev. Mr. Hunt, Deacon, and preached in St. Philip’s Church, Atlanta. In the evening again held service, preached and confirmed seventeen persons, one of which was colored, and addressed the candidates in the same church.
The rapid growth of this city renders one Parish and one Rector, however zealous, entirely unequal to the demands made upon the church. It will not be long, I trust, before a now Parish will be organized and in full operation.
November 9th. Held, evening service, assisted by Rev. Mr. George, Rector, Rev. Mr. Stanley, Deacon, preached and confirmed three in LaGrange.
November 10th. held evening service, assisted by Rev. Messrs. George, Stanley and Hunt, and preached in the large Hall of the flourishing school presided over by Mr. M. P. Kellog, in Newnan.
November 11th. Held evening service, preached and lectured in the same place.
November 12th. I had the pleasure of addressing the young ladies of this school. In the evening of the same day I again held service, baptized one adult, confirmed eight, preached and lectured.
I desire to record my thanks for the many courtesies extended tome in this place, especially by the enterprising and efficient President of the College Temple, Mr. Kellog. A Parish has been lately organized in Newnan, and this was the first visit they had ever secured from a Bishop of the Church. I was greatly encouraged by my visit. I found quite a number of persons looking for the church; the more they saw of her service, and heard of her doctrine, the more they seemed attracted by her. Rev. Messrs. George and Stanley seem to be doing it good work here, in which, I trust, they will be blessed.
November 14th. Held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Roy. Caleb Dowe, preached and confirmed three in Griffin. In the afternoon I laid the corner stone of St. George’s Church, Griffin, and delivered an address. In this place a handsome stone church is being built. Here also the people are learning to know and love the church. Violent prejudices are giving way, as they ever must and will when the church is shown kindly, but in her integrity.
November 17th. Received letter dimissory of Rev. Henry A. Skinner, Presbyter, from the Diocese of North Carolina.
November 28th. Took part in the morning service, assisted by Rev. Dr. Henderson and Rev, Joshua Knowles in Emmanuel Church, Athens.
December 3d. Held evening service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Leacock and preached in St. Stephen’s church, Milledgeville.
December 5th. Held morning service, assisted by Rev. Dr. Henderson and Rev. Mr. Knowles, lectured and confirmed two in Emmanuel Church, Athens.
December 12th. Held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. H. K. Rees, in St. Paul’s Church, Macon.
December 19th. Held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Benjamin Johnson, and preached in Christ Church, Macon. In the evening again held service, assisted by Messrs. Johnson, Rees and Leacock, preached and confirmed three in the same church.
December 24th. Held service again in Christ Church, Macon, assisted by the Rector and Rev. Messrs. Rees and Leacock.
December 25th. Held morning service, assisted by Rev. Mssrs. Rees and Leacock, addressed the children, lectured and administered the Holy Communion in St. Paul’s Church, Macon.
December 26th, The Rector being absent, I took the entire service and preached in the morning in Christ Church, Macon.
In the evening I held service, assisted by Mr. Rees, lectured and confirmed four in St. Barnabas Mission, Macon.
December 29th. I gave my canonical consent to the consecration of Rev. Henry Niles Pierce, D. D., Missionary Bishop of Arkansas. On the same day I received through Mr. G.W.J. De Renne, of Savannah, Five Hundred Dollars, being a contribution made through him, to aid in building a church in Middle Georgia. The money was, with the consent of Mr. De Renne, given to St. George’s Parish, Griffin.
December 30th. Performed the marriage service in private in, Macon.
January 2d, 1870. Held morning service and administered the Holy Communion, assisted by Rev. Mr. Rees in St. Paul’s Church, Macon.
January 7th. Took part in the evening service with the Rector, Rev. Mr. Harris in Trinity Church, Columbus.
January 9th. Held morning service and administered the Holy Communion, assisted by the Rector and preached in Trinity Church, Columbus. In the evening I again held service, preached and confirmed twenty-six and addressed the candidates in the same church.
January 10th. Confirmed in private one.
My visit to Columbus was one of peculiar interest and gratification. Trinity Parish had been for some eight months without a regular Pastor, the Rev. Mr. Deniston, giving it such service as his duties elsewhere would permit. I knew that the Parish had suffered, as under such circumstances must ever be the case. The place is an important one, and I had felt very great anxiety that no mistake might be made in the choice of a Rector. I found the Parish alive and prosperous, the people rallying with loving hearts around their young Pastor, and he earnestly, zealously and yet prudently guiding and directing their energies. May the Master prosper the work and long spare him to his flock.
January 13th. I performed the marriage service in St. Paul’s Church, Augusta.
January 14th. Held evening service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Stoney and Rev. Messrs. Mitchell and Stanley, preached and confirmed six and catechized the children in St. Stephen’s Church (colored) Savannah.
January 15th. Held evening service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Mitchell, and preached in Christ Church, Savannah.
January 16th. Held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Benedict, made a short missionary address, preached and confirmed eight in St. John’s Church, Savannah. In the afternoon I baptized one child in Christ Church, Savannah.
I also held service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Stanley, Missionary, and Rev. Messrs. Benedict and Mitchell, preached and confirmed eleven in St. John’s Mission, Savannah.
In the evening I held service, assisted by Messrs. Mitchell, Benedict, Stanley and Stoney in Christ Church, made a short address and confirmed fifteen. I was so wearied by the labors of the day, that after beginning my sermon, I was compelled to desist and proceed at once to the confirmation Service.
The condition of the Church in Savannah is very encouraging. Her growth is steady and rapid. St. John’s Parish has found it necessary to establish a mission which has already gathered a large number within its fold, and under the energetic guidance of Rev. Mr. Stanley, promises soon to attain the rank of a new and prosperous parish; while Christ Church Parish finding itself unable to provide seats for its increasing congregations has enlarged its borders by making many and most desirable changes in the interior of the church building by which its capacity is greatly increased, and its beauty and comfort enhanced. It will not, I think, be long before these noble Parishes will again be required to make room for those, who seeing the pleasant ways of the Church Catholic, are yearning to walk in her paths of pence.
It is my sad duty, however, to announce the death of the faithful Priest who ministered in holy things to the congregation of St. Stephen. After a brief illness which was borne with Christian patience and resignation, he passed away in February.
I was grieved that a visitation in another part of the Diocese prevented my joining my brethren in the solemn service which the church has taught us to say over the remains of those who die in the Lord. I am thankful to say that my Rt. Rev. Brother, the Bishop of Florida, was in Savannah at the time and acted in my place. Would that any words of mine could lessen the sorrows of the bereaved family. The Master promises rest to those who in their travail and weariness go to Him. Mr. Stoney was a faithful Pastor who often led his flock and family forth beside the waters of comfort, doubtless they realize the value of his teaching now in the day of their trial and bereavement. May the Great Bishop and Shepherd of our souls be with and bless them.
The Rev. Mr. Stanley, in addition to his many other labors, has temporary charge of St. Stephen’s Parish. I am glad to learn that this little flock of colored people is struggling bravely to build a Rectory. In this St. Stephen’s sets an example to many older and prosperous Parishes in this Diocese which, if they are wise, they will follow. A Rector must have a home, the Parish can far better afford to supply it, than can the Rector. As a rule his salary is not more than sufficient for the support of his family, and it is not right to subject that family to unnecessary poverty by compelling the Rector to devote from twenty-five to fifty per cent of his living to the rental of a house.
January 23d. Held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Rees and preached in St. Paul’s Church, Macon.
February 1st. Received Henry Tazwell Connor as candidate for the Holy Order of Deacons. On the same day Edwin Gardner Weed, candidate for the Diaconate, was received as candidate for the Holy Order of Priests.
February 13th. Held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Hunter, and his assistant, Rev. Mr. Skinner preached, administered Holy Communion, confirmed twenty, and addressed the candidates in the Church of the Atonement, Augusta. In the evening I held service assisted, by the Rector, Rev. Wm. H. Clarke and Rev. Messrs. Neely, Skinner, Hunter, and delivered a short address upon Diocesan Missions, preached and confirmed twelve in St. Paul’s Church, Augusta.
St. Paul’s Church has been very much enlarged and improved, and when the improvement is completed, by the addition of a recess chancel, the old church will be very grand and imposing. I am glad to congratulate both Rector and people upon what they have done, and to wish them God speed for the future. Their influence is great—their field is grand. I pray that they may be equal to their responsibility.
Feb. 14th. I visited the Parish School of the Church of the Atonement, Augusta, and addressed the children. It was extremely gratifying to visit the School of the Atonement Parish, and to see the noble work being there done by the Rector and his Assistant. The church can never do her duty in this land until she take hold of the children. The high way to permanent success runs through the Sunday and Parish School. I wonder that this fact is not more thoroughly understood. How much toil and anxiety would be saved, if we labored to be teachers instead of orators. It is our duty and privilege to preach ; but if we were also faithful teachers, the children of the church having reached adult age would be our zealous co-laborers instead of; as is now sadly the case, merely a part of that audience who come together to hear the strange story of the church’s history, her doctrine, discipline and worship. How can the Church grow and strike its roots deep into the life of a community when children are raised with the idea, which is an abomination, that they are not to be interfered with in matters religious until they are old enough to judge for themselves. Were we thus, in the matter of wordly honesty, to hand them over to the Devil until they became of age, it would ruin society. Can we wonder that it similar course, in matters of religion, paralyzes the church and prepares her youth for the sophistries of infidelity! I rejoiced to see the wisdom, in this matter, of the Rector and Assistant of the Church of the Atonement, and I pray God’s blessing upon the noble Layman of St. Paul’s Church, who built for them their handsome school house. May God hasten the day when every Parish in Georgia will have its Parish school, in which children are not merely being educated to be mathematicians or linguists, but churchmen. It is far more important that the rising generation should know the difference between the pure branch of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and Sectarianism on the one hand, and heresy on the other hand, than that they should translate the orations of Cicero, or demonstrate a problem in Euclid.
February 27th. Held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Geo. Macauley, administered the Holy Communion, preached and delivered a short address upon the duties of churchmen during Lent, in St. Paul’s Church, Albany. In the evening held service again in the same church, preached and confirmed seven and addressed the candidates. After service I baptized two adults.
February 28th. I held evening service, assisted by Rev. Mr. Rees, and preached in Americus. A handsome and commodious Church has lately been erected in this place which will soon be ready for consecration. The zeal and self-denial of that little flock are already beginning to reap their reward in the increase in interest in the church’s welfare and growth which is displayed by the community. I trust that a Rector will soon be living and laboring in their midst.
March 1st. Received notice from the Bishop of Nebraska of the deposition from the sacred ministry of Mr. Chas. H. Rice, Presbyter.
March 2d. I took part in the service in St. Paul’s Church, Macon.
March 6th. I held morning service and administered the Holy Communion, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Chas. H. Coley, and preached in St. Mark’s Church, Brunswick. In the evening I again held service ill the same church, preached and confirmed seven and addressed the candidates.
On Monday the 7th, I made an effort to go to Darien but was unavoidably prevented.
March 8th. I took part in the evening service and delivered a short address, in Christ Church, Savannah
March 9th. I again joined the Rector of Christ Church in the services.
March 10th. I held evening service, assisted by Rev. Dr. Babbit, preached and confirmed one in the Methodist House of worship in Bainbridge.
March 11th. I administered the Holy Communion in private to a sick person, aided by the Rector, Dr. Babbit, in the same town. On the same day I received the letter dimissory of’ Rev. P. Teller Babbit D.D., from the Diocese of Western New York.
March 18th. I held morning service, assisted by the Rector Rev. Mr. Brown and Rev. Mr. Philips, of Florida, and preached in St. Thomas’ Church, Thomasville.
In the evening I again held service in the same church, preached and confirmed two and addressed the candidates. This Parish, under its former Rector, Rev. Chas. Grant, now I grieve to say unable, on account of impaired health, to do Parish work, has completed a handsome church building, which is free from debt and is awaiting consecration. The little band has struggled nobly and now they are being rewarded. The church is growing in number and winning the hearts of the people.
March 20th. The Rector of St. Paul’s Church, Macon, being, absent I supplied his place in the morning, both reading the service and preaching. In the afternoon. I again rend the service in the same church and had the pleasure of listening to the Rt. Rev, the Missionary Bishop of Africa.
April 2nd. I took part in the evening service with the Rector, Rev. Mr. Johnson and delivered a short address in Christ Church, Macon.
April 3d. 1 took part in the morning service with the Rector, Rev. Mr. Rees and administered the Holy Communion in St. Paul’s Church, Macon. In the evening I read the service in Christ Church, Macon.
April 17th. Easter day I spent at Riverdale, on the Hudson, in the State of New York, and administered the Holy Communion, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Geo. Wildes, in Christ Church.
April 24th. I held morning service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. John M. Mitchell, preached and confirmed fifteen, in Christ Church, Savannah. In the afternoon I held service in St. John’s Church, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Samuel Benedict and Rev. Messrs. Mitchell and Stanley, preached and confirmed of St. John’s congregation thirteen, of St. John’s Mission sixteen and of St. Stephen’s, (colored) congregation five, making a total during this visitation of forty-nine.
May 1st. Held morning service and administered the Holy Communion, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Mr. Rees, preached and confirmed nine and addressed the candidates, in St. Paul’s Church, Macon. In the evening I held service, assisted by the Rector, Rev. Benjamin Johnson, preached and confirmed six and addressed the candidates.
In my last report I stated that I expected, within the year, to see “The Appleton Church Home” completed and a sisterhood established and at work. I have been disappointed, but the building is nearly complete, and two Christian women are waiting to enter upon their labors. I have received assurances that the building will be handed over to me in a few weeks. I trust I may not again be disappointed.
My work since the last Convention has been far from satisfactory to me. I feel that, instead of advancing it in the Diocese to its utmost, I have been somewhat a hindrance in the way of its progress. Since the 10th of October last, during the season most favorable to labor, I have lost no less than eight weeks. The circumstances which have thus interferred with my labors have been entirely beyond my control. I mention the fact that you may know that the growth of the church is not fully represented by my report. I trust that God will enable me hereafter to meet more fully the demands of’ the Diocese. The past year of our church life in Georgia has been especially distinguished by works of preparation for future growth. The division of Parishes and the formation of new Parishes, the enlargement of church buildings and the erection of new churches, are so many works of preparation. Coming events are casting their influence upon the church, and she is preparing, I trust, to meet and control them. Preparation seems to be the characteristic of the religious world at this time. Religious bodies everywhere seem to be stirred by a mysterious conviction that some mighty event is not far off in the future. Our own church, in England, is being slowly but certainly arrayed against State influence and interference, and thus prepared for disestablishment. European civilization and Romish superstition and false doctrine are in open hostility, and Europe is preparing for reform. The famous Syllabus closes with the notorious assertion that “they are in damnable error who regard the reconciliation of the Pope with modern civilization as possible or desirable.” The Provincial Council now being held in Rome is preparing to sanction this by declaring Papal Infallibility an article of the faith. Meanwhile Spain banishes the Jesuits; Italy discards the Pope’s temporal power; and Austria takes the education of her children out of the hands of the Priests; and in view of Papal Infallibility, all Europe is reading the story of a Pope, Honorius by name, condemned as a heretic by three Councils, anathematized by Pope Leo II and acknowledged to be it heretic, by the Popes, themselves for four hundred years in their profession of faith, made with their oath, on the day of their election.
In this country, torn and distracted by religious dissensions, Rome is crowding her emigrants. She knows that these multi-form divisions, the fruit of unbridled private judgment, are driving some men into infidelity, while others in very weakness are longing for authority which will combine guidance and government, with proper freedom of judgment, and she is preparing to meet this want by pointing to her own infallibility.
Sectarianism is also preparing for change. Aside from the disheartening effect of its tendency to be agitated and torn asunder by political convulsions; the growing popularity of the doctrine of the non-necessity of the unity or even existence of the visible church ; the teaching that sacraments are not the real means of a real grace, and that an apostolic succession is not necessary to the existence of a duly authorized ministry; these all indicate preparation for changes, the extent of which no man can foresee and the certainty of which no man can prevent.
It would be strange indeed if amid the swell and move of these approaching commotions, individuals in the church were not disturbed and sometimes drifted into extremes. Consequently we do find individuals injuring their influence, for good, by indulging in so-called ritualism on the one hand and mis-styled evangelicalism on the other. These individuals, however, do by no means represent the church.
The condition of things, thus briefly alluded to, seems to me, my brethren, to impose tremendous responsibilities upon us. That guidance and government, combined with proper freedom of judgment, which Rome professes to give, but which her own history for a thousand years proves to be impossible to her ; our branch of the Catholic Church offers to all, and that stability which the very changes of the times show to be the great want of the times, our church, holding now, despite ages of human corruption, the same creeds, sacraments, ministry and church authority which she has held for well nigh eighteen hundred years alone can offer.
The amount of ignorance of the church in this land is most lamentable. That for which men are yearning and which they know not where to find, the church has in her keeping. Our duty to the souls of our brethren, to our age and country is to make the Church known. We work not for to-day, but for the future. We must expect the opposition and even the sneers of those who do not understand us. In our work we must be charitable towards those who do not agree with us. But woe betide the Priest of the church who undertakes to be charitable, as it is called, towards others by suppressing the truth. The faith, the ministry, the sacraments are not of our creation, nor do they belong to us; let us exercise charity in that which belongs to us ; but as Priests of the church we are but stewards of God’s mysteries; and we have no right to change, to add to, or to omit any of these truths which He has appointed us to dispense.
That God, in these difficult times, may bless His Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and guide and strengthen His appointed ministers, should be the earnest prayer of very devoted churchman, for the Redeemer’s sake.
JOHN W BECKWITH,
Bishop of Georgia.
