The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-11-13

|
sant Episcopal Church IN tns United seasss'
The General Episcopal Convention, when
closed its late trennial meeting on the 2oth UT
after session Of twenty-three days, IS the su'
preme federal Legislature of the associa'ed c'o'
ceses, which together compose the con''i'"n'o
known as the Protestant Episcopai Onurch Vi
the United States and consists OF TWO HOUSES
the House of Bishops, VINO si' ny iIs"'
of Office, and the House OF Ciericai ana Lay
| IDENTITIES. which dixie the Senate OF the onlted
States> is made up of equal delegations from the
| several dioceses each OF which ID entitled 10
ssnd four clerical and four lay delegates. In the
nresent session, all the bishops estitled to seats
were present, and all the dioceses-twenty-eigh
| in number-were represented in both orders
The importance of the matters to be submitted
TO it. and especially of the New York case, con-
trbuted to secure full attendance of its mem
bers, and invested its proceedings with unusual
interest and importance.
The New York case was brought before the
House of Clerical and Lay Deputies on the
second day of their session, by the presentation
of memorial from the convention OF that do
cese, asking to be relieved from the anomalous
position in which it has been placed by the In
definite suspension of Its diocesan The whole
matter was referred to joint committee OF the
two houses (seven being appointed by each
house,, to consider and report upon it.
In the meanwhile, other matters were enter
tanned in the House of Deputies. variety OF
propositions were referred to the appropriate
committees, some of which were acted upon at
a later period of the session, while others were
either dropped or laid over to the next session.
Nc A. otovSo oil tha nv
listing canon law of the church.
An incidental discussion, that occupied two or
three days, grew out of a question which the
committee on elections raised respecting the
right to seats of deputies who were appointed
not Immediately by the convention OF the do
ceses which they claimed to represent Gas the
letter of the constitution, aside from prac-
tce. would seem to prescribe), but by
some party or parties empowered by the conven-
tons to act for them The question, turned
not only upon the apparent literal sense OF the
constitution, but also upon the Interpretation
which usage had put upon it, and upon the rela
tive powers and rights of the confederation, and
of the several dioceses which had entered into It
by compact, and which together compose IT,
The more literal construction was finally adopt
ed, and the right of diocese to appoint Its
deputies, either directly by its convention or by
some party duly authorised by Its convention,
was virtually recognized and santioned. in con-
formity to the previous practice of the house.
The remainder of the interval between the
second and ninth day of the session was occupied
with ordinary business. On the ninth day, the
joint committee on the New York memorial unan-
imously reported, as the result of their labors,
three proposed canons. The first recognizes, or
vests in the House of Bishops, the power to remit
ormodify any judicial sentence imposed by acourt
of bishops; the second provides that no sentence
of suspension shall hereafter be indefinite, but
"shall specify On what terms or at what time said
penalty shall cease;" and the third authorizes
the standing ommittee, or the convention OF
diocese, whose bishop is suspended, to call in
the aid of neighboring bishop.
A lay-deputy from. Virginia, (Mr. Williams,)
gave notice OF his intention to offer as substi-
tute for the canons proposed by the Joint COM
mittee, two canons prescribing the manner In
which bishop suspended for an unlimited time
may be restored, and defining the effect of the
unlimited suspension Iof bishop. The latter
canon implied or assumed that jurisdiction was
voided, ipso facto, by such a sentence of suspen-
sion.
Both sets of canons were ordered to be printed,
and the subject made the order OF the day for the
following Monday, (the eleventh day of the
SESSION.. Meanwhile, on the tenth day, the
case of the Assistant Bishop elect of Illinois
was taken up, and occupied the house during
the greater part of the three days, so that the
New York case was not resumed until the latter
part of the twelfth day. Objection was formally
made to the certificate of election forwarded by
the Convention of Illinois, on the ground, LIST,
that it did not specify the existence Of the con
tingency contemplated by the canon, of assis-
tant bishops; 2dly, that such contingency did
not exist; and 3dly, that the election was
not free one, and, therefore, not valid. After
full discussion Of all these topics, it was
moved to suspend proceedings in the case, until
future convention of the diocese Of Illinois
should declare their wishes on the subject. This
motion being negatived, the motion was made
that the house proceed to sit the testimonials Of
the Assistant Bishop elect. Whereupon, this
motion, also, was decided in the negative, and
the election, therefore, became nullity.
This matter being disposed of, the house re-
sumed the chief topic of the session, the New
York question. The first canon was taken up,
and several substitutes for it were SUCCESSFULLY
presented. Mn Rives, of Virginia, offered a re-
solution providing for the election Of new
bishop in diocese whose bishop has been sus-
pended without limitation of time. Whereupon,
Judge Chambers, of Maryland, submitted apro-
position denying the principle involved in Mr..
Rlves' resolution, and affirming, on the contra
nv, that suspension does not void jurisdiction
Mr.. Ingersoll, of Pennsylvania, subsequently
offered two sanens--one authorship a diocese,
whose bishop is under sentence of suspension to
proceed to new election, as in case of vacancy;
and the other, prescribing the manner and con-
diion of suspended bishops restoration, u
| Whereupon, the Rev. DR.. Forbes, in behalf of
the New York delegation, moved, as substitute