Journal of the Proceedings of The...annual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Western Michigan

By the the Rev. J. F. Conover, Secretary of the Standing Committee:

RT. REV. FATHER IN GOD:

I present to you the original Testimonials of a majority of all the Dioceses in the United States, giving their consent to the Consecration of the Bishopelect of this Diocese, in the form prescribed by the Canon, as follows:

TESTIMONY FROM THE STANDING COMMITTEES.

We, whose names are underwritten, fully sensible how important it is that the sacred office of a Bishop should not be unworthily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is our duty to bear testimony, on this solemn occasion, without partiality or affection, do, in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD, testify that the Rev. George DeNormandie Gillespie, D. D., is not, so far as we are informed, justly liable to evil report, either for error in religion, or for viciousness of life, and that we do not know or believe there is any impediment, on account of which he ought not to be Consecrated to that Holy Office, but that he hath, as we believe, led his life, for three years last past, piously, soberly and honestly.

Signed by the Standing Committees of the Dioceses of Albany, Alabama, Connecticut, California, Delaware, Easton, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Missouri, Michigan, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, North Carolina, Nebraska, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Western New York and Wisconsin, being thirty-six in nuraber.

By the Rev. V. Spalding, the most aged Presbyter in active service in the Diocese of Western Michigan:

RT. REV. FATHER IN GOD:

I offer in evidence of the Canonical consent of a majority of the Bishops of this Church in the United States, the following certificate:

CERTIFICATE OF THE PRESIDING BISHOP.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

I, Benjamin Bosworth Smith, D. D., LL. D., by Divine Permission Bishop of Kentucky, and Presiding Bishop in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, do hereby certify that a majority of the Bishops of said Church have, in accordance with the requirements of subsection [2] of Section 111, of Canon 13, of Title 1 of the Canons of said

Church, given their consent to the Consecration of the Reverend George DeNormandie Gillespie, D. D., Presbyter and Rector of St. Andrew's Church, Ann Arbor, in the Diocese of Michigan, as Bishop of the Diocese of Western Michigan.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal as Presiding Bishop aforesaid, in the city of Hoboken, N. Y., on this fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord 1875, and in the 43rd year of my Consecration. B. B. SMITH,

Attest:

Presiding Bishop.

HENRY C. POTTER, Rector of Grace Church, New York,

and Secretary of the House of Bishops.

Appended to the foregoing statement is the following memorandum:

Feb. 6. Thirty-four Bishops consenting.

I, George D. Gillespie, chosen Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Western Michigan, do promise conformity and obedience to the Doctrine, Discipline and Worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. So help me God, through Jesus Christ. The Right Reverend, the Bishop Consecrating, then proceeded with the Litany, after which he put the required interrogatories to the Bishop-elect. The examination being concluded, the attendant Presbyters vested the Bishop-elect in the rest of the Episcopal habit, and, he kneeling down, the Veni Creator Spiritus was sung alternately by the Bishop Presiding and the other Bishops and Clergy.

The Bishop Presiding then pronounced the words of Consecration, the other Bishops uniting in the Imposition of Hands.

The new Bishop then arose, and after the delivery of the Holy Bible into his hands by the Bishop Presiding, he was received by the other Bishops into the Chancel.

The Bishop Presiding then proceeded with the administration of the Holy Communion, the Rt. Rev., the Bishop of Vermont reading the Offertory and the Prayer for the Church Militant, and the Rt. Rev., the Bishop of Indiana saying the Exhortation, Confession and Comfortable Words. The Ter-Sanctus was sung by the Choir and Clergy. The 207th Hymn of the Hymnal was sung, when the Bishop Presiding proceeded in the distribution of the Elements, assisted by the other Bishops.

The Post Communion was said by the Rt. Rev., the Bishop of Missouri, the Gloria in Excelsis was sung by the whole Congregation, and the final special Prayers and Benediction were pronounced by the Bishop Presiding.