The New York herald., 1870-06-02
NEW JERSEY EPISCOPAL DIOCESAN con-
VEgTi0N.

Interesting and Spirited Debate Yesterday on
the snbisct Of Minority Representations
PnssaSc Of n New Canon Agreeing Thereto.
The second days proceedings OF the New Jersey
State Episcopal Diocesan Convention, In session ut
Grace church, Newark, were held yesterday. Bishop
0denhetmer presided. Early communion, at seven
o'clock In the morning, was followed at n!neioclocx
with the usual morning prayers. At the close the
Bishop delivered his annual charge In the course OF
which, referring to rituasm lie said the progress OF
the Church was due to the increasing earnestness OF
the clergy and laiy in preaching and practising the
central fact or tile fattf-Chrst and HIN crucied.
II was this he was willing TO believe, which had
controlled the desires OF some for more formal SER
vices IN the ritual and worship OF the sanctuary We
are, generally speaking, quiet set OF church folks
IN this diocese; 80 far as my observation extends
what little diversity OF taste exists the ornaments
or beauties OF public worship springs from no
cold-hearted craving for empty forms but from
burning zeal To emulate the apostolic Injunction TO
the churches Of Gaiatia, "felore whose eyes Jesus
Chrlst haih been evidently et form crnc ned among
ter done In the long run by adding the cxtcrnats
OF devotion tnan by throwing more spirit mo the
cataohc ana ugniiied ritual already existing Ia
dividual opinions, the Bishop continued, should be
respect ted 80 long as the rubri al directions the
authorized orlces are adhered %.
At the close OI the charge an animated and In
teresiing al cussiOn took place on the sub ect OF
minority representation. wAlch came forward IN the
form OF new canon the elements OF which o. e that
In all elections by ballot In convention person
shall be entitled 20 as many votes a, tiere are per
SONS to be elected. (which votes may be cast all for
one name; or may divide them among any number
not exceeding the whole number 20 be voted for and
The canon was Introduced at the Convention OF
last year and referred 10 "a tiee, with
imstruetions to report ut tins Convention.
They did 80, and reported yesterday adversely,
whcrenpon discussion took place, the result OF
which was that the canon was referred back 10 the
committee with instructions to report as speedily
as possible. Afer short ume the committee re.
turned and reversed their FORMER actlol, and tnen
the debate over it was animatel and interesting.
Rev. DR.. Hodges, or Newark, opposed the measure,
on the ground thai 1t would ehlai2e the governing
bouy, and he believed that small bodies were better
Mr.. Goodwin OF New YORK. was also op 20 sed To II.
IL was too revolutionary IN ls character him.
ana IN his opinion Its further consideration ought to
be postponed for another year on account OF its
radical character. Judge Carpenter, on the other
hand, saw no reason Tor postponlng action on IL.
It's apparent extraordinary mseonception OF Its
spirit and meaning could easily be explained
away. lay aelcga,e from Railway, Of
large and commanding mion, said IT.
was a subject OF congraluation thai the measure
had been introduced. The world moves. said he,
bur sometimes, l ain sorry to say, the Cnurcb moves
was not an experiment, but one that had been prac
tcaly tried ana illustrated. The spirit Of the
measure was just and rgnt and roper The great
democratic party of the State OF NeH YORK, watch
had given u majority Of $1,000 at he receat judi
ciary election, respected the republican mnoiiy
and voted into 0iice Two republican Candidates out
or the six elected. The passage II the canon, he
thought was simply al act OF justice, OF righteous
ness ana christian liberalit,, not TO say aly hRg
about common decency. For the honor Of New Jcr-
sey. and the Episcopal Church, he hoped the ,res-
sure wodld be fagorably voted upon. 4 perfect
lowed. Before putting the matter 10 vote
the Bishop arose and announced himself
hearuly 4. favor Of the mincpe OF the
canon. Re believed Il wasss right before Cod and
man. Az for himself, daring Ills bish0prc, he had
always practced it in selecting his committees aud
for other Episcopal work. He, tOO believed Its iu
discussion over 1t had been conducted In Il manner
that caused him to thank Cod. The measure was
then put TO yoie and carried with an oyerShelm-
ing 'yea.n
Another canon, having in view the establishment
OF six missionary conversations In the diocese where
there are now only two, was reported in an amended
form by the proper committee. provides Tor three
divisions instead of SIX, TO be known as the Newark
New Brunswick ana Burlington convOcations. After
some debate 1t also was passed and the Convention
adjourned TIL evening. The evening service was
quite interesting also.