Luke's Church, Rochester, N. Y. In 1859, he became Rector of the Church of the Atonement, Philadelphia, and held that charge till, by advancing age, he was led to resign it seven years ago. In addition to his parochial labors, Dr. Watson was entrusted with many prominent positions and important interests in the Diocese. "He has served as a member of the Standing Committee since 1870, and has been its President since 1890. He was President of the Northwest Convocation from 1888 until he retired last spring. He was also a Vice-President of the Bishop White Prayer Book Society, a member of the Board of Council of City Missions, an Overseer of the Divinity School, a Manager of the Episcopal Hospital and a Manager of the Educational Society. "These positions were given to him as expressions of esteem and trust, and recognitions of his faithfulness and ability in performing all duties which were assigned to him. He was a man of strong convictions and of decided opinions, but with a gentleness and amiability of disposition, and a Christian courtesy, which recognized in others, convictions, and a conscientiousness like to those which he himself felt and maintained. "He was greatly respected and beloved in the Diocese by both clergymen and laymen, and he impressed all who knew him with a sense of his sincerity and earnestness. In our Standing Committee, as in all the Church work with which he was associated, his absence will be deeply and sadly felt. We offer to the members of his bereaved family our sincere sympathy, and pray that both they and we, 'being knit together in one communion and fellowship, may so follow God's blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which God has prepared for those who unfeignedly love Him." " On December 5, the Bishop was advised to consent to the establishment of a Mission to colored people on Ludlow street, between Thirty-fourth and Thirty-sixth streets. Consent was given to place a mortgage of $10,000 on the property of the Church of St. John Chrysostom for the purpose of completing the new church building. The Rev. Thomas A. Tidball, D. D., was elected a member of the Standing Committee in place of the Rev. Dr. Watson, deceased. On January 2, 1900, the Standing Committee gave consent to the consecration of the Rev. Sidney G. Partridge as Bishop of the Missionary District of Kyoto. The Bishop was advised to consent to the establishment of a Mission by the Convocation of West Philadelphia, at the northeast corner of Fifty-sixth and Market streets. On February 7, the Standing Committee gave consent to the consecration of the Rev. Robert Codman, Jr., as Bishop of the Diocese of Maine, and to the consecration of the Rev. Chas. Palmerston Anderson as Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Chicago. On April 3, the Standing Committee recommended the recognition by the Bishop of the new St. Paul's Mission at Bristol. On May 1, the Standing Committee approved the amended Charter of the Church of the Atonement, memorial to the Rev. Benjamin Watson, D. D., and refused to approve the Charter of the George W. South Memorial Church of the Advocate. On May 14, the Standing Committee accepted with regret the resignation of their fellow-member, Dr. John Ashhurst, Jr., because he saw no prospect of being able to resume his duties. Consent was given to the Rector and Vestry of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Lansdowne, to sell the church building in order to raise money for the erection of a new building. The Standing Committee presents the report of the Treasurer of the Diocese, which has been examined and found correct. By order of the Standing Committee. W. W. FRAZIER, Secretary. it On motion of the Rev. J. DeWolf Perry, D. D., was resolved to return the report of the Standing Committee to the Chairman for additional matter, relating to the George W. South Memorial Church of the Advocate. Additional report of the Standing Committee relative to the Charter of the George W. South Memorial Church of the Advocate: The Charter of the George W. South Memorial Church of the Advocate being submitted to the Standing Committee at their monthly meeting, May 1, failed to obtain their approval for the reason that it provides that a board of five Trustees, who are not chosen by the Parish, but appoint their own successors, and are self-perpetuating, shall choose the Rector, subject to the approval of the Bishop of the Diocese, who is also ex-officio a member of the Board of Trustees. This Board also pays out of funds which it controls, to the Rector which it appoints, a salary of $2,000 per annum. This deprives the Vestry and Congregation of any voice in the choice of their Rector, and enables such Board of Trustees, should they be so minded at any time, to force upon the Parish, and to keep in office, a Rector objectionable to the Vestry and to the Congregation. A privilege and responsibility which by our usage are placed in the Laymen, would thus be taken from them. Such a departure from our practice seems to be undesirable and unwise. To mark it with approval might be a mischievous precedent, and might encourage others to adopt and follow this method. J. DEWOLF PERRY. On motion of the Rev. Samuel Upjohn, D. D., it was Resolved, That the Bishop be requested to offer such memorial collects relative to the Rev. Benjamin Watson, D. D., deceased, as he may deem suitable. The Bishop, in accordance with this resolution, offered the Collect for the Feast of All Saints, and a Collect in office of the Visitation of the Sick, together with the Apostolic Prayer for Grace. The Tenth Annual Report of the Stewards of the Sustentation Fund was read by the Rev. Francis Wood, as follows: port. TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STEWARDS OF THE SUSTENTATION FUND. The Stewards present herewith their Tenth Annual Re Nine Parishes received aid from the "Fund" during the past year. In three of these there occurred vacancies owing to the death or resignation of their Rectors, but in each case a new Rector was chosen, and the appropriation was renewed. The Stewards are happy to report that in at least one of the aided Parishes there are signs of new life and growth, and they have reason to hope that this Parish, and one other now receiving aid, will in the course of one or two years become selfsupporting. (See Treasurer's Report, Appendix L.) The following Parishes have responded to the circular sent by the Treasurer, notifying them of the amount of their apportionment: The list of appropriations for the year will be found on page 376 of the Convention JoURNAL of 1899. As all the Parishes now receiving aid have applied for appropriations for the coming year, and one additional application has already been received, the Stewards beg leave to offer the usual resolution: "Resolved, That the Stewards of the Sustentation Fund shall this year request contributions from the Parishes of the Diocese, amounting in all to $3,000. O. W. WHITAKER, GEO. C. THOMAS, R. E. DENNISON. On motion, the resolution of the Stewards of the Sustentation Fund was adopted. The Secretary read the additional Report of the Standing Committee relative to the George W. South Memorial Church of the Advocate. (See page 39.) The Registrar of the Diocese, the Rev. S. F. Hotchkin, read his report. (See Appendix C, Part ii.) The Report of the Committee on Parochial History was read by the Rev. C. E. Stevens, D. C. L. (see Appendix C, Part iii), and offered the following resolution: Resolved, That an annual appropriation of $200 be paid out of the Convention Fund to the Committee on Parochial History for expenditure in its work. Mr. Lucius S. Landreth offered an amendment to the proposed Canon VIII (see page 105); which, on motion, was referred to the Committee on Canons. The Report of the Trustees of the Episcopal Fund was read by Mr. Francis A. Lewis, as follows: REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE EPISCOPAL FUND. The Trustees of the Episcopal Fund of the Diocese of Pennsylvania beg leave to report: In the past year there has been paid off on account of principal, the following loans: O'Rourke Mortgage, settled by court. $20,000 00 Drexel & Co., certificate of deposit. 5,000 00 Wilson Mortgage, 56th and Market streets, paid on account.. 8,000 00 $33,000 00 They further report having made the following invest ments on account of principal: |