Centennial Observed in Southern Ohio
Diocesan Press Service. May 12, 1975 [75182]
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Pomp and circumstance of a Festival Holy Eucharist May 8 launched the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Southern Ohio into the last of a series of special Centennial celebrations.
The Festival Holy Eucharist, during which the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, presiding bishop of the national Episcopal Church, was preacher, was the first of three special events planned during the weekend to climax a year-long Centennial observance. They were held as part of the annual legislative convention of the diocese, this year hosted by the Cincinnati area parishes.
More than 100 individuals made up the traditional procession consisting of acolytes, banner bearers, dignitaries and bishops.
A choir of about 200 provided music for the more than 1,000 persons in the congregation.
While the Holy Eucharist was being celebrated in the Convention Center's South Hall another group of adults and young people were busy in another area of the building preparing for the Fountain Square celebration which followed the formal service.
They were donning clown costumes and makeup and doing final rehearsals for skits with Biblical and moral themes.
As the Eucharist ended brightly colored banners led the congregation to the nearby skywalk where they were met by a bag pipe band which led the way to Fountain Square, three blocks away.
Bright blue, red and white spot lights greeted the procession as it wound its way down to the Fountain Square level.
After a major portion of the crowd had descended the steps trumpets sounded and the spot lights searched out a group of jugglers high on the roof of the Fifth Third Bank building, which is part of the Fountain Square complex.
They were quickly swung around to focus attention on the Carew Tower building on the opposite side of Vine Street where another group, high above the street, was waving large banners.
Episcopalians and bystanders were then treated to almost two hours of skits and music. Clowns provided the skits and the music was led by the "Peace, Power and Light" group from the Church of the Advent, Cincinnati.
The first of two legislative sessions was held during the day on Friday, May 9, and then delegates, joined by other Episcopalians and guests, returned to the Convention Center for the final Centennial event.
As they entered the North Hall, delegates and others were greeted by a German Band and then treated to a German buffet dinner with all the trimmings.
Midway during dinner, the Rt. Rev. John M. Krumm, bishop of the diocese, stepped to the middle of the hall where he made the first cut in a huge white birthday cake, trimmed in yellow and white daisies.
Following dinner a special choir led the crowd in the singing of several original songs, written especially for the occasion.
Several special guests arose to congratulate the diocese on its first hundred years of service in Southern Ohio and then the two bishops emeritus reminisced about their days as diocesan bishop.
The Rt. Rev. Henry Wise Hobson, fourth bishop, brought roars of laughter several times as he told of his election as bishop and of his vast and hard work as diocesan leader. A project of which he was noticeably proud was the Wayside Cathedral, an especially-designed trailer which was used for church services throughout the diocese in the Forties and early Fifties.
The Wayside Cathedral played an important role in the religious life of Pike County during the " atomic boom " there in the early Fifties when thousands of workers moved in to construct a large atomic facility.
The Rt. Rev. Roger W. Blanchard, fifth bishop of the diocese, reminded those present of the nation's turbulent era which seemed to coincide with his episcopate.
In legislative action, the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate of the Episcopal Church was again endorsed by the convention during its final session.
Efforts by the American Church Union, a conservative group of Episcopalians opposed to women's ordination, to cause the memorial's defeat failed.
Several members of that group were present at the opening of the convention handing out literature and two of its members, one a clergyman, one a layman, represented the opposing view on a panel the night prior to convention action.
Ordination resolutions (memorials) have passed at two previous conventions and the diocese supported the ordination of women at the last General Convention.
Memorials are resolutions passed at diocesan conventions which urge action by the national General Convention of the Episcopal Church.
Also meeting approval of the delegates was a resolution which extends the life of the Institutional Racism Project for another year.
The project, first approved in 1971, deals with Institutional Racism as it affects the diocese and its constituent parishes. It includes a clause which authorizes expenditure of $100,000 in the 1976 budget of the diocese for minority empowerment in Southern Ohio.
Among other resolutions approved by delegates was one which set as a goal the election or appointment of at least two persons between the ages of 16 and 21 to all diocesan committees and urged parishes to follow suit.
A high school student was elected to serve on the Diocesan Council (legislative group between conventions) in keeping with a Canon of the diocese which requires one young person on that body.
Also elected were eight deputies to the next General Convention, two other new members of Diocesan Council, one trustee, one trustee of the Church Foundation and treasurer.
Among special guests during the three-day event were the Most Rev. Joseph L. Bernardin, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati; the Rt. Rev. John C. Bothwell, bishop of the Canadian Anglican Church's Diocese of Niagara; the Rev. Jane Hwang and the Rev. Benjamin Pao, representing the Anglican Diocese of Hong Kong and Macao -- companion diocese of Southern Ohio -- and the Episcopal bishops of the Dioceses of Kentucky, Indianapolis and Ohio.