Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-11-13

CeIH ArOAtcg tAsAn ~ lftt sftt CCcSa
! Geft JHdOHe.
[From the N. Y. Times, Ist instant.l
The General Convention Of the Protest
ant Episcopal Church, whose tTiennial ses-
sion has just closed, accomplished very lit
tie, and occupied a great deal Of time 10
doing 1t, as is usual with cOnvOcations Of this
character. Many measures Of unusual i'm
portance were proposed, but, with very few
exceptions, they were either not acted on
80 all, or the hual disposal of them was post
| p"u-d for three years or more. Eighteen
I days were spent for tie nlst part in discus-
sion, and then the Co1scItlcn sdio1rned
| until 1871.
| Yet If all that was expected Of IL was not
/ done, il cannot bs said that the assembling
/ OF thls body at this tine vas without its
/ good effects. The General Convention is a
safety valve tn the Church. When dissen-
I sloEs arise, a. they will arise occasionally in
/ the best regulated diocese, the extremists
are prevented from taking hasty and rash
action bv the reflection that what is wrons
/ may be righted at the General Convention
| upon presentation Of the facts by the cho-
/ sen Representatives OF the dioces and If
when the reverend doctors come together,
after much consideration, they find it diff
4 hcu't at once to heal recent wounds, they
can apply emoIlients f7r the present, and
give the patient something 20 hope for from
I the next General Convention. In this way
oil is poured upon the troubled waters, and
time is given for them to s1bside Of their
own accord.
Thus the case Of Rev. S. IT. Tyug, Jr.,
which caused so much extciemeut 10 the
dioceses Of New York and New Jersey last
spring, was brought before the Convention
In the form Of various propositions 20 so
amend the canon on intrusions which he
had been found guilty of violating, as to
give larger liberty to ministers seeking to
nticiate within the parocial limits OF other
clergy men. To have made such an amend.
ment at this time would have been con-
Structjvely to confess that the cannon, as il
stands, is as ulfberal in its spirit as Mr.
T7ug's friends have claimed it to be. To
refuse 10 make such an amendment was vir-
tual'y TO sustaiu the party OF Rev. Drs.
Stuhbs and Bogks. In either case one par.
y or the other would have been dis,atisf-
ed So after several debates, which gave
opportunity for the advocates 0f both views
70 ventillate them very fuIly-after the es-
cape q great deal Of steam that was not
uyeful ia the economy Of the Church, the
whole m liter was finally indefinitely post
poned hv 50 large a majority that il may he |
Inferred that this dis os.I Of the case WAS
satjsac'Ory 70 all parties. When the next |
T-iennial Convention meets, if those who I
are tur amending the canon, after three (
years deliberations, are still Of the same T.
mind, the subject NAV be considered with |
but heat and troubled water, land conse- |
Fueutlv without steam,l and the hnal ac- 1
ION, if any be deemed necessary, is likely /
b be- unabiasrd and iudiciOus.
I Another good effect Of these great gath .
tirgs Of the Bishops, the representative /
oergy and lsymen, Is in the opportunity /
f. communion which affords them, which /
rsults in good works outside Of the Con- .
vption. IL awakens a spirit Of zeal for the |
inerests Of the Church, and infuses n-w
III into the labors Of the preacher The .
graf missionary enterprises of the Church .
( ar quickened. Dnring the recent COnven-
tio the Board Of Missions has been in ses-
so 10 this city, and large contributions
| hap been made in aid Of its labOrs. But in
/ intervention no great measures have
orijnated at this peculiarly seasonabe time
! forztending the Geld Of the Church, There
is atrong movement among al the Chris
.!,.=.555 10 uviuaii Of uuiiira-
tionfthe Church. The p pc Of Rome has
issui his manifesto; representatives Of the
varils sacts Of the Protestant Church in
this 0uutry and elsewhere have more than
4 lDlitEfeu q NeSIfe 70 come LHCEfNFF q lew
year,may decide which is to be the Church
Of Alerica, and which the Church, or the
two burches, perhaps, Of the world The
( Proteant Episcopal Church Of the United
States certainly rot taking the lead in this
moveieut. While other denominations are
stretching forth their hands toward her, the
{ Genea Convention stops Just long enough
/ in the purse Of its debates on ritua ism 30 [
pass aesolution declaring that the Bishops
NAV point a committee Of their own num-
her toct as an "organ Of communication
With tbother branches of the Church, and
with tn different other Christian bodies
who ma desire information or conference"
on the inject Of Church unity. Whether
the BisAps acted upon this permission or
not doenOt appear.
The lbiect to which the Convention
gave thmost attention was what is called
rituaiss it is well known that certain
usaZes bve Of late crept into some Of the
Protests Episcopal chErcbe Of this couu-
try, whit were not known ia them 10 the
early d@ An earnest effort was made
By miIrity in the Convention to obtain
an auth6tative defnition Of the limits in
regard tghe business Of lights In the com
muuion 'rvice, the burning of incense,
reverence the holy table or the elements
placed Oft, the elevation Of the elements,
making t sign Of the Cross texcept when
prescribe By the Ruhric) during Divine
service the celebration of the Lords I
Supper, VI the use Of many colored vest
meuts sustrange ornaments Of the sacred ,
places cduCive TO vain show or supersti
tion. Ahaiority and a minority report .
, were preSted by the Committee on Can
ons. Thforufer declared it inexpadient ,
to make 4 restrictions in this regard, ard
81 Iu4F ha fh ha ] ?
verse. He were two horns Of another di-
lemma up which the Convention was
for a Iorgme tossed. It was only relieved ,
a. length | leaving the whole subject to
the Bishop whose report, if it concludes
that any hauges in the Ruhric are neees-
sary, is toA submitted three years hence
In matte concerning the general tenets
f. Of the Cheh, IL viii be observed, there / e
was q Misrepresentation, carried sometimes q
indeed, to{ar, and especially 80 in regard Z
To- ritualisl In the details Of Church gov .
ernmeut tre WIS less hesitation Jo take {
decided aqn. Consent was given 20 the
erection of0 new dioceses within the nio {
case Of M York, and Of Long Islaud. .- !
Consent whl,o given 10 The erection Of e
NV diocel Within the limits of that OF |
, Western " York, and OF another within e
the limits / tho Diocese OF Marvland. TO d
consist Of Dat is known as the Eastern !
: shore of Aklaud. An smaudment tn the b
canous wa8lopted, whicl makes it npces- !
sarv for applicant f'r orders in tho Prot Z
, estaur Fpiq0al ChareF, who hs4 previous /
1 . Iy been 3 4 vmau iu another Church, 70 q
rrua,u on thstno wear, instead - .ix 3
months, aseviou.ly required. prosis- (
,f ION for The mission Of a for1-n deacon 10 I
Uriestis orfs. after a residences of one 4
YEAR ia thismutrv, instead OF three years,
a. previous required, was also ad"pted.
An imo0rtatauon 90 the cOnsecrntlon Of Z
churches widopted. Il provides that no
3 rruch shsl lconsecrated Hnt.l the bishop 4
b Is satisfied 4 the ground and buildings are
Z. a. :