NOTES, 11 OCTOBER 2021
Welcome, blog reader, on Monday, October 11, 2021. It is time to check in on some of the subjects we have been following on this blog. This is going to be an interesting and important week, as we shall see momentarily.
The pandemic is lessening across the board. We are clearly on a sharp downhill slope of the third great surge. Numbers of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are declining almost everywhere in the U.S. Vaccinations are up. In the U.S., 57% of the population is fully vaccinated. In SC it is 48.2; and Alabama 43.4%. For the charts on trends in South Carolina, see here . For info on Alabama, see here . This does not mean the pandemic is over, far from it; nor does it mean we should go back to "normal" in our public life. The virus is still running rampant. In my home county, one in five people has contracted the coronavirus. The vast majority of them have recovered, but some with lingering effects. The death numbers given in worldometers are staggering: world=4,865,881; U.S.=733,068; South Carolina=12,929; Alabama=14,857. COVID-19 has been the worst pandemic in a century.
This week will bring up two important events concerning the schism in South Carolina.
One is the anniversary of the schism. This Friday, October 15, 2021, marks the ninth year of the schism in the Episcopal Church diocese of South Carolina. It was on October 15, 2012, that the people who were the leaders of the diocese at that time made their separation from the Diocese of South Carolina and the Episcopal Church (on Nov. 17 a convention ratified this decision and most clergy and laity followed the leadership out of the diocese and the church). If I can, in memory of the event, I will post a brief review of how this schism came about. The question I am asked most often is, What caused the schism? Unfortunately, it is not simple to answer because it was thirty years in the making and involved numerous factors and events. I have made several long-winded posts on this blog trying to answer that question. Nevertheless, on Friday I will try to give the thumbnail version of what caused the schism. I think it will be an appropriate moment to reflect on this disaster.
The other major event of the week is the secessionists' election of a bishop to follow Mark Lawrence. Although Lawrence was released and removed as the bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina on Dec. 5, 2012, he and his followers continued, and still continue, to regard him as the bishop of their "diocese." The leaders of the exodus from the Diocese of South Carolina created a new diocese, under Lawrence, now called the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina (even though it is not in the Anglican Communion). They are under an injunction from the federal court forbidding them from claiming to be in any way the historic diocese. The ADSC is now part of the Anglican Church in North America, also not part of the Anglican Communion. It is this new organization, the ADSC, that is to elect a bishop to follow Lawrence. The election is to be next Saturday at 10 a.m., at Christ Church, in Mt. Pleasant (Christ Church belongs to the Episcopal Church according to the majority decision of the SC Supreme Court). It is to be livestreamed. I expect to post a running report on the voting. There are only three candidates; and it looks to me as if this is a foregone conclusion set up by the powers that be. Nevertheless, this is an important moment for the contingent that left the Episcopal Church and Diocese of SC.
Meanwhile, on a lighter note, my garden is now into its autumnal phase. Here are some views from yesterday.
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana). This is commonly seen in the southeastern U.S. in sunny spots. It makes an open and leafy shrub with purple seed clusters. Unfortunately, this bush is getting too much shade.
It is camellia season. I have a ring of three white and three pink camellias surrounding a large tree. They bloom prolifically in October. The tags said the bushes would grow 4-6 feet. They have already reached 15 feet and are still growing. Moral of the story=do not trust what is on a plant tag. This is Camellia Sasanqua 'Setsugella.'
The pink one is Autumn Pink Icicle Camellia.
The banana trees at this seating area, in the afternoon shade, have almost taken over this area. Thanks to copious rainfall this year, these reach over 15 feet tall. I will have to thin out some of the small sprouts to keep these under control. We have about another month before killing frost so these will get even larger.
Years ago, I put one plant of False Aster (Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank') near the banana trees. It did not like the spot and died away but not before seeding freely along the drainage ditch that runs around the back edge of my garden. It obviously loves being left alone in the ditch where it has naturalized. I found this plant at Woodlanders Nursery in Aiken SC. They have a large collection of unusual garden plants suitable to the southeast. I recommend them but I think they only deal by mail order nowadays. Another favorite nursery near there is Nurseries Caroliniana, in North Augusta. It is a vast walk-through place that is heaven to gardeners. If you are a serious gardener, be sure you have plenty of room in your vehicle because you will want to load up with what you find there.
Contrary to public opinion, I do not like all plants. There are some I would be perfectly happy living without, e.g. poison ivy, privet, kudzu. Another high on the list is goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis). This is in the ditch behind my garden. Actually, there are gardeners who cultivate this plant. After all, it is striking and beautiful in the fall. However, it is very bad for anyone with allergies (comme moi). Simply pull up the stalk by the roots while taking care not to shake the plant. As everyone knows, goldenrod self-seeds very easily into any sunny untended spot.
All in all, there are many reasons to feel encouraged these days. There are signs that the worst of the pandemic is behind us. It will linger for some time but the impact on society is lessening all along. We should not declare victory, but we should be hopeful. The light at the end of our long and dark tunnel is indeed a sunbeam and not an oncoming train.
Moreover, after nine years, the schism is inching towards legal closure. In less than two months, the SC Supreme Court will hold a hearing on the church case. At some time afterwards (last time it was 23 months) the court will hand down a decision. This will be final in determining which side will get the 29 parishes and the Camp. Of course, if the Church wins, putting the decision into effect will require time. Moreover, the federal appeals court will have to issue a decision on the breakaways' appeal of Judge Gergel's 2019 order that recognized the Episcopal diocese as the only legal heir of the old diocese. Remember, there are two different avenues of litigation, one in state court and one in federal court. I think chances are good the federal appeals court will uphold Gergel. If so, the Episcopal diocese will then have to take action to gain possession of the assets of the old diocese still held by the breakaways. That will take time. So, even if the hearing on 8 December is not the end of the story, it is a major step in that direction. Peace.
