Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-10-16
THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION


Eishh Ddy.-The Episcopal Convention me-
again IN New York yesterday morning. Rev
Dr. Solon w. Mannev. of Minnesota, from 9
special committee appointed at the last Con.
Nention 10 prepare report upon the provinc IA
system, read an essay in favor OF it, 1t divides
the church IN the United States into six proy.
lnces, the first Province of New EnglandD tc
comprise the dioceseS of Maine, New Hamp.
shire, Vermont, Ma sachusetts Come ctlcut
and Rhode Island. The second to be known as
the Province of the Atlantic, and TO consist o.
the dioceses of New York, Western New Yerk
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware The
third 10 be known as the Province of Michigan,
and 10 consist Of the dioceses of Ohio, Michigan.
Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The fourth
To be known as the Province of the Allegheny.
and TO consist OF the dioceses OF Virginia Norm
Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and MARYLAND
lhe hfth to be known as the Province of Ala
bama, aud to consist of the dioceses OF South
Carolina, Georgia. Flerida, Alabama. and MS
sisslppi. The sixth TO be known as the Province
OF the M sslsslppI and to consist of the dioceses
of California, Texas, Louisiana. Missouri, Kan
sas, Iowa, and Minnesota. The senior bishop
OF each province shall be the prirnate thereof
and there shall be a synod in each province.
composed OF all the bishops OF SAID province
and OF clerical and lay representation from
each diocese.
The report was accompanied by resolutions
That the canon on the ubdiyisi On of the chu
III the Cnited States into SIX provinces, pro-
posed by the last general convention. be re-
ferred TO special committee of five 20 con slider
and perfect. and 10 report to this Con- yention
Tor adoption; that on and after the adoption OF
the canon forming several provinces OUT of the
present one, this General Convention of the
church shall be known by the name and title
OF the National Synod; that a committee OF five
Pc appointed to draft 4 new constitution for
the national church, and TO report ID this Con-
Nention, in order to be submitted to the several
dIoceses for cons liberation.
Inc resolutions were ordered TO be printed
and the report and resolutions Were referred tn
aspecial committee of five, who were ordered
10 report upon them at the present Con yentiou
The Convention then took up the foiloying
which had been made the special order of the
day, and debated the same at great length:
"The Committee on Canons, 10 whom were
referred several memorials praying for an
amendment or repeal OF the third clause of ar
ticle ' of ite Constitution, respectfully report
the following:
''Res sOired The House Of Bishops colcurring
That the alteration of the Constitution (toyath.
or with the amendment OF the Cauons, J recom-
mended in The succeeding resolution, be pro-
posed, and that the same be made known TO the
seIeraI diocesan conventions, in pursuance OF
Article TX of the Constitution, viz Resolved.
That Article OF the Consultation be amended
as follows:
Il. By adding 10 the second clause of the
said article the following words And such
consent shall not be given blythe General Con.
vention until satisfactory assurance of a sui =
able provision for the support of the EpIsco-
pate IN the contemplated new diocese shall
have been given and accepted
"ll. BY striking out all OF the third clapse.
except the words, NO city shall form more
than one diocese
Iii. BY inserting the words sor more, be-
tween the words two and .dioceses' in the
first line of the fourth clause.
"IN. BY inserting the words ..or more be-
tween the words two and 'dioceses' in the first
line OF the fifth clause, and by striking ont The
word .two' before the word sdioceses' in the
third line, so that the article shall read as fol-
lows: Protestant Episcopal church in any OF
now repres may, at any tims hereafter,
be admitted on accedIng TO this Constitution:
and new diocese, TO be formed from one or
more existing dioceses, may be admitted under
the following restrictions: No new diocese
shall be formed or erected within the limits of
any other diocese, nor shall any diocese b.
formed by the junction Of two or more dioceses,
or parts OF dioceses, unless with the consent of
the bishop and convention of each of the do
eeses concerned, as well as Of the General Con-
ventlon, and such consent shall not be given by
suranee Of a suitable provision for the support
OF the Episcopate In tne contem lated new do
eese shall have been given and accepted. No
city shall form more than one diocese. In case
one diocese shall he divided into two or more
dioceses, the diocesan Of the diocese divided
may elect the one to which he will be attached
ana shall thereupon become the diocesan there
OF, ana the assistant bishop, if there be one,
and if 1t be not the one elected by the bishop he
shall be the diocesan thereof
whenever the division of Diocese into two
or more Dloceses shall be ratified by the Con-
vention, each of the Dioceses shall be subject
to the Constitution and Canons Of the Diocese
so divided, except as local circumstances may
prevent, until the same may be altered in
either Diocese by the Convention thereof Aud
whenever Diocese shall be formed ont of two
or more existing Dioeeses, the new Diocese
shall be subject 10 the Constitution and Canons
OF that one OF the said existing Dioceses TO
which the greater number OF clergymen shall
have belonged prior TO the erection of such new
Diocese, until the same may be altered by the
Convention Of the new Diocese.
"4rd further resolred, That the follow wing be
adopted as new canon, 10 be section OF canon
.. OF title three. No new Diocese shall be
formed which shall contain less than six
parishes, or less than six presbyters, within
the bounds of such new Diocese, and regularly
settled in parish or congregation therein, and
qualified to vote for a bishop.
..Nor shall any new Diocese be formed il
thereby any existing Diocese shall be reduced
so as 10 contain less than thirty parishes, or
less than twenty presbyters who have been re-
siding and settled and qualified Is above men.
toned"