Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-11-07
From the Boston Advertiser
Summary Of the late Episcopal Convention,
at Philadelphia.

Summary Of the late Episcopal Convention
/ at Philadelphia.
\ The recent session of the Genera
I IConvenilnn of The Protestant Episcopa
I Church, has excited great public inter
est, attributable in part To The nature a
the subjects presented for its considein
ton. The Church in which il was he'll
was crowded daily, and reporters wen
cmployed by the secular papers. In ih
belief that our community feels some
lw hat Of the same interest, the followin!
summary has been prepared from goo'
authorities
Constitution oC the Contention.
This body is composed of two houses
which hold separate SESSIONS, and whns'
concurrence is necessary for the passag'
of any act. The upper house, Gale,
the House Of Bishops, consists of all lh'
Bishops oi The Church, who sii er oficio
! Their sessinD is with closed doors. Tn,
lower house, called The House of Cieri
cal and Lay Deputies, is composed %
Tdrlegaies from The different dioccses
Ea6,i diocese is entitled 10 four clericn
and four lay delegates; so tha, the hous,
is composed of an equal nnmher of ,acl
order. The sessions of this boiy al.
public, and It's votes are taken, not b,
the number Of persons, but by dioceses
and by orders, each diocese being enti
tied 20 two votes, one from its clcrica
and one from lis lay deputies. In ordc,
To the passage of any art through the
House Of Deputies, il must receive q
majority Of all the diocescs, in. each or
der.
Proceedings Of The Conrenfion.
The session opened in ST. Andrew,
Church, Philadelphia, on Wedne sday
Oct. %, by divine service, at which
were present all but three of The bishops
sitting within the chancel, in the white
snrpIcos Of their order. On the floor oI
the Church were the clerical and Ia,
deputies, in number about two hundred
and the galleries were filed with spscia-
tors.
So far as the dignity and ceremony OF
Its outward appearance goes, Tins /.
probably the most august assembly
which now meets ~ our republic aud
among The Delegates we recognise many
Of the most distinguished names IN the
Union.
After service the bishops Withdrew
and the House of Deputies elected the
Rev. DR.. WYATT of B,IIimorc, its PreSi
dent, and entered upon business. The
chief topics of d,scussion we shall give
under then separate heads.
aetion upon he Oxford Tracts.
1t was gradually anticipated that an
tiiou would be made to procure al ac-
ton Of the Convention upon certain doc.
trlGrs which have lately been subjects
of great public attention, Accordingly q,
early IN the session, the Hon. Mr.
Nemminger Of S. &. introduced the fol
loving preamble and resolutions
Whereas, in III" c-rimn'ion or many minis
tors and ui"mbrr- til" Protestant Church ~
the Unit states, serious errors of durtr,u,
have, wihln irw ,car-, hr"n introduced and
extensively promulgated by means uf tracts.
through the per:odira pres aud from the pnl
pit and whereas II /. important Tor the prar,
aud punt, of tl" Church ihnr such errors, j.
cSis,ng, should be met and as Ear ~ praclicabr,
r., Al II 4 la,
lhrrrinrr,
R'So'rCd, Or The House Of Bishops conrur,)
iiat II Is d",ir"I.i" L" prepare and pr"mulgaie i
'l"ar and distinct cxprrs,iuu of the opinion ciI.
"rlaincd by TIA" Convention respecting rh,
al" Of iartn the Justification of man ia,
'atnr", design and efficacy %. ia" Sacramcnis
md -nrh other matters as ~ ,iew of the fore
,"lng circumstances may be deemed rxpcdienri
" the House ui Bishops
BE II fWHcr RcS0ircd, That it is desirable,
hat such expression nfopuiun should origin.
''c III the House "f Bishops md receive H.,
'"ncnrrrnt action Of this House and that rh.
Ious" Of Bishops he requested IL take ucliou
ccorlug.y.
These resolutions led Ia long and in
eosely interesting disrussinn. The prin !
opal speakers ~ rs support were, lh. ,
n"yer, Mr.. AlrmrIna"r, lion. J. NJ /
}"rrrrn al Geo, the Rev. Dss F.mpir, ,
# Va Tying of Pi., Brook of OHIO
~" Ilaak Us Of Miss. late of ST Thomas'
Y ard Nessrs McFalland and
Williams OF Va, and Swalowood o'
)hio. The argnmcnis urged ia favor ot
heir adoption were those alleged in III, .
reamhle, and the general opinion thar
ne peace and unity Oi the Church were
by certain doctrines devel /,
ped by the Oxford Tracts, and other
'rItings, and that tins unity and peace
onld best be restored by the proposed
ctlon.
The principal speakers against The
solutions, were Judge Chambers (lai'
the Unned States Senate) of Md, II
'rofpssor Ogilby of n, j., the Rev. DIS
lason of y. C., 'ligbce and Forbes Of
!. Y, aud Strong of Mass. and The
'rv Mcssts. Pant T,aprcr of ) G., /
tkinson Of Md Young ot ). c., Boyd
Miss, and ila't OF Florida The ar.
ulnenis urged against the passage %
'e resolutions were chiefly these y
a, the faith Of The church was suili
emily declared in the liturgy, Office,
I'd articles that the canons provided
n the discipline OF any persons who
cached or praciised contrary 10 these
andards that !eglsla''ng, or any off.
al authoritative action OF the Conven.
~, upon abstract opinions, was dan
'rouN and unprecedented and inlermlna-
q ihai the peace aud unity Of The
burch were nut IN danger and that u
ey we're, this course would tcud tn ioS