The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-10-12
THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION

acted by the Episcopal Convention, now sitting in
Richmond. The Episcopal churches were all
crowded on Sunday, and sermons were delivered
by Bishops Elliott, Clarke, Lee and Hopkins, and
Drs. Vinton, Howe, Nicholson and Others
The following Bishops elect will be consecrated
on Thursday next:
New Jersey; Rev. Alexander Gregg, D. D., Bishop
elect of Texas; Rev. G. T. Bedell, D. D., Assistant
Bishop elect of Ohio; and Rev. Henry b. Whipple,
D. D., Bishop elect of Minnesota.
On Monday the Convention adopted the adverse
report of the Committee on Canons on the propo-
sition to make Philadelphia the permanent place
for the meeting of the Convention.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of
the order of the day, viz: The proposed amendment
of Art. of the Constitution. The original article,
which has been in force more than half a century,
is as follows:
ART. 3. The Bishops of this Church, when there
shall be three or more, shall, whenever General
Conventions are held, form a separate House, with
a right to originate and propose acts for the con-
currence of the House of Deputies, composed of
Clergy and Laity; and when any proposed act shall
have passed the House of Deputies, the shall
be transmitted to the House of Bishops, who shall
have negative thereupon; and all acts of the Con-
venton shall he authenticated by both Houses.
And in all cases the House of Bishops shall signify
to the Convention their appreciation disapproba-
tiOn the latter with their reasons in writing with
i'll three days after the proposed act shall have been
reported to them for concurrence; and in failure
thereof, it shall have the operation of law. But
until there shall be three Bishops as afore-
said; any Bishop attending a General Convention
shall be member ecCiciO, and shall vote with the
clerical deputies of the ID ocese to which he be-
longs, and Bishop shall then preside.
1t is proposed to amend bv substituting the fol-
lowing:
Art 3. Whenever General Conventions are held
the Bishops of this Church shall form separate
House, with the right to originate and propose acts
for the concurrence of the House of Deputies and
all acts must pass both Houses.
MIR. Evans, of Nd, said the House would perceive
that the effect of the amendment was to place the
two Houses which constitute the Convention on a
footing OF equality. This, said he is a principle
universally recognized in American legislation and
in English legislation. The House of Commons was
on footing of equality with the House of Lords
and in the Congress of the United States the Senate
and House of Representatives upon precisely
footing of equality. Such ought to be the fact in
reference to the two Houses constituting this Con-
venton. Such is the practical effect under the
Constitution as it stands but the existence of this
provision, in Article III, requiring that the House
of Bishops shall give their reasons, in writing, has
been the cause of many discussions, in this Con-
vention as to present of itself for its re-
peal.
The speaker went on in detail to explain the eff
feet of the amendment if adopted and to state the
history of the adoption of the Constitution as it
exists. When our fathers met. shortly after
the American Revolution, to form Constitution of
this church. they had no experience; they had no
idea of Bishops, except the English idea, which
they had derived from the mother country. The
first General Convention, called, was held in 1885
They proposed Constitution which was never ac-
cepted by the Dioceses At that time there was no
proposition of a separate House of Bishops; nor
were the Bishops connected with the Convention or
consulted in any way except members of the Con-
vention, with no other power than that vested in
! lay delegates. In 1856 another Convention was
| held, in which another Constitution was framed,
providing that the Bishops should form separate
| House. That Constitution was not accepted, and
! did not go into operation In 1889 still an
| other Convention wa nollad yph alsp nrO-
vided for House of Bishops, giving them no
| right to originate any measure, but constitut-
| ing them n House of revision, giving them a
| veto on the action of the Convention but pro-
vidng that, if the Convention shall pass any pro-
| position which shall have been vetoed by the
! House Of Bishops by vote of three-ftths, after
wards changed to four tfths it shall, notwithstand
| ing become law. That Constitution was adopt
ed by seven States, but three Northern States OBJ
jected to it, and put their objection the ground
| that church with such Constitution was not an
! Episcopal Church. resolution was then adopted
declaring that that Constitution open tC
amendment. Another Constitution was then adopt
ed providing that the House of Bishops should
| have also the power of originating propositions
The idea OF qualified veto as it has been called
as it exists in the constitution, taken from
that given to the President of the United States
under the Constitution of the United States.
In 1908, constitution was adopted in the form
| in which it now prevails.
| Mr.. Evans, advocated the amendment at cOnsid
cradle length.
Mr.. ThralI, of California, and DR.. Vinton op
posed the amendment and Mr.. Hoffman and other:
| supported it,
| Mr.. Thrall offered the following amendment:
| The General Convention shall be composed of two
Houses, of which all the Bishops of this Chnrch
cising jurisdiction in the United States, with the
Assistant Bishops if any such there are, shall form
one House, to be known as the House of Bishops
and Clerical and Lay Deputies, to be elected from
all the DiOceses who have already shall hereafte
have adopted this Constitution, shall form the other
to be known as the House of Deputies. Each Hous
shall have power to originate acts, pass upon them
and send them to the other House for their action
and on the concurrence of both houses in such &C
tion, it shall become law of the Church.
The House of Bishops SHALL or before the fiftl
day after any action is sent to them by the HOus
of Deputies, inform the House of Deputies of thei
concurrence or non-concurrence, (the latter witt
their in writing, if they see fit;) and il
failure thereof, it shall have power of law, withou
action of the House of Bishops-ProUided, tha
any action of the House of Deputies which shall
sent to the House of Bishops later than the fift
day preceding the adjournment, shall become Law
only bv the concurrent vote of both Houses
All acts of the Convention shall be authenticate
by the signatures of the presiding officers and o
the secretaries of both.
Pending the discussion of the amendment,
| The House adjourned