to Holy Baptism, or to Confirmation, or to the Holy Communion, has been married otherwise than as the word of God and discipline of this Church allow, such Minister, before receiving such person to these ordinances, shall refer the case to the Bishop for his godly judgment thereupon; provided, however, that no Minister shall in any case refuse these ordinances to a penitent person in imminent danger of death. This Canon seems to be explicit and clear, unusually so, but as it is new and relates to a most important matter I recommend that it be read at some time in this Council, in order that there may be an opportunity for asking and answering questions. I was very much disappointed with the course pursued respecting the petition of the Conference of Workers among Colored People for Missionary Jurisdictions and Bishops of their own. It seemed to me that this was one of the great matters which came before the Convention and that Boston was logically just the place for the giving of such a question the full consideration which its importance demanded. But the Convention, I think, shirked its duty and shifted its grave responsibility by turning over the petition to a Joint Committee which has no authority or responsibility in the matter beyond reporting at the next session of the General Convention. However, the committee is a large, representative and able one, and I have no doubt that its report will be one of the most interesting features of the Richmond Convention. In my humble judgment, the Missionary work of a General Convention, is always the best work done by it. The Boston Convention established two new Missionary Districts, Mexico and Cuba, and elected four Bishops, one for Hankow, Salt Lake, Cuba and Mexico. I was especially interested in the last of these elections, for the lot Providentially fell upon one, Herbert Logan Roots, who, though not born in Arkansas, is nevertheless proudly claimed by her as a son, because he was brought here in infancy and made this his home until God put it in his noble heart to leave his father and mother, friends and country and take up his abode in the far away, strange land of China. Let us bless this heroic man with the blessing wherewith Moses blessed Joseph when he said: "Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of Heaven, for the dew, for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things brought forth by the moon, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, and for the precious things of the earth and the fullness thereof, and for the god will of Him that dwelt in the bush; let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren." So, and more also, may it be to the second hero Bishop of Hankow and to the lovely heroine whose heart beats and whose brain and hands work with his, and so may it be to their children through all generations. The Rev. Henry Damerel Aves, LL. D., was a classmate of mine, and I feel that we have great reason to thank God for his election, too, and acceptance of the Mexico Episcopate. He is a wise man of the judicial type of mind and he has had a legal training. I am confidently expecting that we shall have no more of the perplexing and humiliating "Mexican muddle." The Rt. Rev. Albion W. Knight, Bishop of Cuba, and I, have known each other as members of the Board of Trustees for the University of the South since my coming to Arkansas. He is a young, vigorous, zealous, and courageous man, who will undoubtedly undertake great things and with God's blessing upon his endeavors, accomplish them. The Rt. Rev. Franklin S. Spalding is unknown to me, but my great confidence in the judgment of the Bishop who presented his name, caused me to vote for him. There were several nominations in the case of each of the Bishoprics to be filled. It so happened that I voted for all who were elected, and though with one exception there were several ballots cast, I voted for no one who was not elected. I am inclined to think I was the only Bishop who had this rather remarkable experience. My rule, as observed in Boston, is to vote first for the nominee whom I think, all things considered, to be best qualifed for the office and work, and if he is not elected on the first ballot, or does not lead in the number of votes received, to go over to the one who received the highest vote. Those who had the Missionary matters of the Convention in hand, in my humble judgment, made a mistake in practically turning everything over to the representatives of Foreign Fields and leaving no opportunity for a hearing on the part of those who have large Domestic Missionary Fields with great opportunities and pressing needs. I could not be induced to allow myself to be classed with those who say that they do not believe in Foreign Missions, but in view of the weakness of the American Church, and the rapid growth of the United States I feel that the Bishops of such large, undeveloped, promising, but poverty-stricken fields as Arkansas, should have had, at least, a chance to get in a word edgeways now and then, at the great Missionary meetings; but there was no opening for us. I was by no means, the only one who noticed and felt this mistake, but there seemed to be no help for it so far as the Boston Convention was concerned. I hope that those who are charged with the responsibility of lengthening the cords and strengthening the stakes of the Church at home, will receive less partial treatment at the hands of our Missionary authority at Richmond. The hospitality and social features of the Boston Convention were superb and I am not expecting that they ever will be excelled, not even when the Convention sees fit to accept the standing invitation to meet at our famous Hot Springs. St. Mark's, Pulaski Heights (on last year $5; Christ Church, Mena (on last year, $6.25; on this 25.00 30 00 July 5 May 17 Janitor Pine Bluff Council... $ 5.00 875 July 9 Taxes on SW. NE. 18, T. 20 N., R. 2 18 July 9 Journals Pine Bluff Commercial; printing Coun- Aug. 5 Bishop Brown's Salary, first quarter... Nov. 7 Bishop Brown's Salary, second quarter Dec. 24 Arkansas Democrat Co.; publishing 1905. Journals Jan. 4. Expenses Standing Committee... Feb. 4 Bishop Brown's Salary, third quarter... Apr. 25 First Payment on Publication of Constitution and Canons... Apr. 29 Taxes on SW. NE. 18, T. 20 N., R. 25 W.... May 9 Bishop Brown's Salary, fourth quarter. May 27 Council Janitor.. May 27 P. K. Roots..... May 27 John M. Daggett, Secretary. Cash balance on hand.. I 00 375 00 5 00 600 150 00 $2.188 27 $ 992 71 |