, 1865-01-26
The Protestant Episcopal Church Nc-
fore the LcElxlatNre.

Aoul SIElAHue1N correspondent IN yOnl
issue Of the 24th, seems much exercised ri
the apparent mysteries aud dangerous pow
crs Involved in an act pow before the Lesis
lature Of this State; the reason OF this i:
plain, he cntirely misunderstands ard mtsre
presents the whole subject.
The act Of 1870, approved Feb. 10th, can
readily be found, notwithstanding the asser
ton to the contrary, aud Is exactly what iti
title represents 1t to be, IAN act to author
ize the Protestant Episcopal Church Of the
State Of Illinois to mise fund for the sup
port Of Bishop, and to aid supcsaunuated
ministers, and widows and children Of dc.
ceased ministers !" the corpo,ators were all
1nymen, and tE.iE Successors hare been re yu,
latly s:ected ut every annual convention u
The diocese since that time. The present
trustees arc the Rev e. D, Cummfns, D., D.,
the Rev. Ii. n. Bishop, D. D., afessrs James
Caiter, II: ". Hinsda1t and E. Fl. Sheldon.
1he B;shup is not 4 member of the corpora
tion and has nothing whatever to DO with 1t.
How .hleHd ti,vn. the guess Of your able cor
respondent that this law 50 authorized the
conveyance to the Bishop, In trust, for use
ard to hula, MI the churches, charitable In
:tilntions. &C., OF the Protestant Episcopal
How profound the criticisms on til. effect
III 'uC t1ESEAL Hll4 4S1hO1A1 LuE AEL1 GUAt
''lt anuuls The acts and transactions Of the
Trustees Who have administered the Ia.
since 1SB1, j" DC.
The Trustees under that oct of 1910 have
gem On exactly as they did before tae sinis-
Ter attempt in 16j1 to charge their p :wcr5.
ibe act VI 1855, i!cntic1! With one tasssl
in relief Of thc Roman Catholic church, was
rendered necessary to legaiize the nets oi
Biehap Chase who had taken property ln
trust TO himself and "his successors il
Office .''-;n reality it eonfers no power on the
Biehoy he andhls successors are simply Tru5-
tees, and each trust rould be specially limit
ed and defined.
Tho laws OF 1si9 and. 1858 we're granted. by
the Legislature on proper application Of the
In 1861, surrep:itiously few individuals,
unknown, without the slightest authority
fitm The Church, undertook to obtain re-
peal OF these by the substitution ofan act OF
their own. The matter created general In.
d'gnatIon, the Trustees declined to act, and
of The Annual Convention, and the following
report Hod resolutions wee adopted:
REPORT or coAHIr7BH or ACT or TIE GENERAL As
tEhBLF, 1860.
The Committee, to whom was referred thst por-
nou Of tho Bishops Addrc.s which teia,e, 10 the
Act passed by the Legislature Of shis Stat. IN the
winter Of lst0-d1 and approved Feb. 21s lsG1, re-
port:
red to- aud find It pnrportfng to be m Act amcnda-
tory Of the Act Obtained in l849 which incorpor-
atsj the rustees OF the Diocese, and slso pur-
bishop Of the Diocr'e Is empowered to hold pro-
rcrty for church and educational purposes.
6YouE Committee alsu nnd, tuat me 4ct, 30 far a.
!. Is a1mendatory Of that ct 1s4g, eonfera ees-
poses upon them dndee, not contemplated by, or
coming within the scope and purpose Of The or'gl-
nal act the assumption and exercise Of which By
1'rtf IN rFN Nh4hlt Arfi "a
\ large amount OF church property In the diocese,
By confusing the chain Of tile, and placiag Its
stewardship in body, not only llab:e 10 thaage
BY en- anpual election, but BY It's ,yeT5 const!a-
Ton, wholly incompetent 70 sdm,nisteI .1ch In.
iercst without permanent and salar1ed of1c!r-
Your Committee iutt9eFmoIe y F1 and T. thst The sc
ton Isrcst itom the Bishop Of the Diocese nghts
snd immunities which every Bishop possesses By
S!.tuf Of biz ,Hee sna Which fR shls +;
act sought to be repealed; and Of which rights
ind privileges he oueht not and could not be d.
rested By any mere legislative action.
but regard the act Of 1el not only A. contrary to
to the Interests and well-being Of the church In
this Diocese, but unconstitutional and void.
There Is one feature In connection with the p7ss-
age. Of this act upon which your committee find
themselves called upon t. animadrert in unmis-
tskab]e and decided disapproyal; and that Is that
II e 3 oe9
s,luied authority having power to ask for such or
siulAr legislation at the hands Of the State. but
without the knonIedge, and i5rcspecttre Of tho
wishes Of the Diocese expressed OF implied.
Under these circumstances your committee re-
commend The adoption by this Convention OF the
Whereas, the aforesaid Act, approved Feb. 81,
1861, was procured without the sanction. Of this
body, cr the knowledge Of any considerable por-
ton Of the Diocese and Is IN lrany OF is proyis
ions detrimental 10 The interests Of the PROTESTANT
And whereas, a grave question exists as to its