The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-26
Protestant Episcopal Convention in tn
Confederate States-Fiaal Action Upei
Changing its Name.

| Confederate States-Fiaal Action tpen
| Changing its Name.
| The following is a brief synopsis of thf
| debate which ensued III the Protestant Epis
| f"pal Convention OF the South, now in ses
sion at Columbia, S. g, upon the propriets
| of changing the name of the Church, notice
| of which was made in our paper of yester
| day:
| Rev. Dr. Wilmer moved, that the ques
| ton now before the House, no mem Der spca h
! longer than ten minutes nor more than twice
| and that this vote b. given by one O'Clock.
| Judge Phelan, Of Alabama, took the floor
| he had never been satisfied with the word
| Protestant. A name should be descriptive
| Protestant expressed nothing. Eaith, minis
Try, and worship constituted the church -
| Protestant has no thing 10 do with either. II
| had some historic Interest and he had
| z respect for it for that reason. But he had
| DO such feeling for It as applied to a mul-
| titude of disc0rdant sects, some of which
| even denied the doctrine of Trinity H.
! thought it time that the Church should take
| Itself out of the number OF sects designated
| by this objectionable 'erm. He was not in
favor OF the amendment substituting Re
| formed Catholic" Reform could not in any
| just sense be prediCatcd Of Cltholicty II
| WAS All essential note of the Church, and it
| would be rs well to talk Of reformed sun
or moon, Reformed catholic He was
| content with the title Of Episcopal Church
bishop Elliott found q sufficient reason Tor
adherIng to the WGrs Protestant I in the fact
that in faith We protest against the DEGREES oi
the Council OF Trent, in worship against the
lass and the IN vocation of Sain Is, and in dis
Cig'ine against the supremacy Of the Pope
The current of theolcgica writings in Eng
land recognized the Protestant Churches
OF the Continent as such, although they
might be imperfect.
Rev. Mr. Pinckuey was willing tC coaced,
| the evils associated with The term Protestant
but. thought the word Catholic associated
| with still greater IL popular estimation. 1t is
| IN possible tor Us 10 correct the popular ap-
| prehension Of this word In the popular mind
! IL is equivalent TO Romanism, and Just as full
| of evil as Professionalism.
| Bishop Jones was sure that Virginia would
| not have sent delegates if she had thought
! this subject was 10 be discussed They had
| 10 power to act in the matter. We are me-
| here not to make radical changes, but 70 con.
| suit harmony, and to repair the evils OF Il dis
| iOluted state rs soon as possible. As 10 til,
| term Pro testant, il is positive, and Indicates
| positive faith and worship. Why >houlC
| it he changed? The oHHs grobqnGi rests upon
those who wish to effect it. The outcrJ
| against the term Protestant commented in
| little cliqac in Oxford that tried to Gepr0tes
| tantize the world. He did not like 10 follow
| their lead He feared that ii the name b,
| changed, it would BE- the beginning OF dyis
| ions, and lead to disntesration 10 8 greater
| or less extent.
Bishop Atkinson considered the choice to b
| between Protestant and Reformed Reform et
~ pressed - Lstct, IEottS tiGt II spirit, ana ont
| that he could not approve Of. Emerson
| Beecher, Parker, Strauss, etc., were all Pro
| trstants, Yet Emerson believed the leaves o
the forest were sod. The term, besides de
| noting unrest, doubt, denial and uuhalicf
| was indefinite, aud inexpensive OF anything
| good. Ue liked the word Catholic, becd use i
| indicates the continuity of the Church o
| Christ. The state Of religious feeling ii
! Geneva, Holland, and elsewhere in Euro pc
| among The seCts called Protestant, wa, no
| such as 10 recommend the name, except Wher
the influence of the English Church was felt
and produced - better sen timent.
| Bishop Gregg agreed with the Bishop 0
| North Carolina entirely as TO the facts. bu
| thoUEhtlt wholly lneNpedjent TO make an,
change. The question fer them &c determin
| was " hat is wise and prudent under the cir
| cumstances. II WIS purely question of ex
| pedtency. lie thought the fact that the WOri
| Protestant is abused no reason for tnro wins
| il overheard, but rather one Tor retaining ant
restoring it. The best words are subject t
| abuse the name of The Sayioar has beer
! abused He thought a conclusive 6TgUluen
| against the amendment was the fee ling WhicI
had excited in the Convention. That feel
| IEG WaS but the iorerunner OF still great"
| anu WIuer divisions IN the Churca itself il
| case the change be made. 1t would be Il
| awkward thing, too, fer Us 10 change on
| name, and the Church III the United state
| TO continue the old one.
Rev. Dr. Crane, Bishops Ot"y and Johns
| Rev. Ar. PeteTk Rev. Mr.. " WitilamS, key
| Mr. Trapier, and Mr. Fairbanks continue
| the discussion and entered into explanations
| The question was ordered to be taken b
| yeas and nays, on striking out from the frs
| article OF The proposed Constitution, as sub
| mittcd by the committee, the words Z" Pro
! testant EpiscoVai,' and inser ting " Il Setorme,
! Catholic
The Secretary reported the vote as follows
OF the Bishops, ayes 3, noes Is OF the Cher
gy, ayes noes of the Iaity, five diocese
| voted nO-One diyided-so the motion WA
| lost.
Judge phelan moved 10 strike out the ;ir
| section, and insert, THE Church shall b
called the Episcopal Church III the Confetie
rate States OF America. The reSOtutio
was lost. Bishops, ayes > noes :: Clergy
ayes ,, noes :; Laity, ayes /, noes I: divided
| bishop Elliott moved 10 amend the first ar
tcle so TO make il read < This Church, TT
tanning the name OF Protestant Episcopa
shall ne known as The Protestant Episcop1
Church in the Confederate States Of Amer
! CT, the melton was carried. Bishops ayes
noes ;, Clergy ayes ,, nces = Iiait9, ayes
| noes D.; divided l.
| Rev. DR., Wilmer thought the first articl
| Just adopted one rendered necessary by cil
| cumstances; but not SO rs 10 the others. II
would now move 10 recommit the matter int
the hands OF the committee. He wished n
| issue to be between the old Cons tit ton an
the one proposed by the committee
| Bishop Elliott eX planned that the al lferenc
| between the old Constitution and the subst
tnte offered by the committee was more i
form and Arrangement, than substance Th
novelty mainly consisted in the iDtroductio
| of provinces. Adjourned
!