The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-24
The Approaching General Convention
of the PrOte slant Il nISCOnal Church.


In few weeks there will assemble in New
York city the General Convention of the
Protestant Episcopal Church of the United
States. This high Council, composed of a
House of Bishops and of the Lay House, holds
its session triennislly; and to it are referred
all questions affecting discipline, ordinances,
canons, articles of faith, and all similar matters
pertaining to the state of the Church militant.
1t is SO constituted as to truly represent all
the various divisions of the Church organiza-
ton. The Bishops sit by virtue of their
Office, the clergymen and laity are regularly
eleoted-each having constituency as dis
tlnct as that Of any political representative.
Their decision can be justly held to be the
decision of all the Church. The approaching
Convention will be the first one, since 1859, at
which every State of the Union will ba rsprA.
sented. 1862 and 1865 saw the Rebel section
outside of the union with Northern Christians;
SO that it is happy augury of future
unity to see the reassemblage of the delegates
from the Episcopal churches of every State.
To this Convention, when it meets, will be
referred questions of the most vital conse-
quence to the entire Christian world; and it is
an act of great propriety on the part of Bishop
Stevens to direct that the prayers Of the various
congregations be offered up for wisdom to guide
it in all its deliberations. There are two great
matters which cannot fail to attract the atten-
tion of all its members, and require its wisest
action. The first of these issues is that of
ritualism. For the past two years there has
been no settled rule in the Church on the
matter, the Bishop of each State deciding pro
or con, as he sees fit. New York forbids any
such customs as those which st. Alban's and
St. Marks are inclined to indulge in. New
Jersey sanctions them. Pennsylvania stands
without committal to either side.
So it is with all the other
Commonwealths. Each follows its individual in
clinations. 1t is requisite, however, when the
General Convention is in session, that some
decided rule of conduct should be adopted. A
rule either allowing the burning of candles
elevating of crosses, wearing of surplices
worked and embroidered, and authorizing q
continuous nodding and bobbing of heads,
must become canon of the denomination and
this ceremonial be made part of the autho-
gymnastics must be forbidden. We have
already said that the constitution Of the Con-
vention makes it truly representative body,
and its action can be truly said to be the
action of majority of the Church. The mi
nority must submit, or secede into the Romish
Church. 1t is eminently proper that this
body should decide the question: and thus end
discussion which is doing harm to all the
Church of Christ. AS to which side our feel
ipgs tend most strongly, it is useless to repeat
here. Sympathizing with a Christianity of
the heart and not of the lips or the muscles,
we cannot see in chants or in inclinations OF
the spinal column any such additional claim
rules OF the old established Church.
The second point upon which discussion will
beyond all doubt take place is the conduct of
the Court which tried Rev. Mr.. Tying. 1t will
be remembered that the father of the accused
gave notice that he should present pl otest
at the next General Convention. The matter
will, therefore, be brought formally before
that body. The result of its action in the case
is a far more doubtful one than in the matter
of ritualism. We have no possible doubt but
that ritualism, in all its phases, will be con-
sidered, but we have very grave misgivings as
to the settlement of this question of union
with fellow Christians of different denomina-
tions. We hope that no barrier of bigotry OF
false exclusiveness win be allowed tC
govern the action of the Convention. L
may not be willing TO allow the general inter