New-York tribune., 1874-10-26
THE PROCEEDINGS.


preach. Those who were present went to work with
very commendabe energy. As it was the last day LOT
the presentation OF new business, there was ihucn
eagerness displayed to obtain the oor until the CHAIR
mans gavel announced the time for the consideration
OF the calendar. Otherwise 1t made grand clear
ing day to relieve the delegates minds and the caien
dar of the House, as much possible from all minor
subjects previous the grand contest upon Rituasm
After the usual religious exercises, the Rev Dr. C. h.
Hall opened the regular business by reporting supst-
tute for the from the House of Bishops IN re
gard to the subdivision of the Diocese of Texas agreeing
to the subdivision recommended by the Upper House.
but removing the prescrptve clause of the last resou
top The substitute at first cOncurred IN, but was
subsequently reconsidered and placed the calendar
The Committee on the Amendment to the Constitution
reported adversely to establishment OF Court Oh
Appeals and at their own request discharged from
the consideration of the subject. The same Committee
reported the subject of changing the PrsyeBook so
rs to shorter services but added that this coud
only be done by proposing the question in one general
convention for action at the next. This report was
placed on the calendar. The Committee on the Prayer
Book reported adversely any change being made In
tie form OF divine service.
RELIGIOUS REFORM ABROAD.
The Rev. Noah IL. Schenck, ID. d. of Long Island pre-
.ented long report from the Joint Committee on Re
Hgious Reform Italy. This received and ordered
10 be printed the Journal 1t subsequently sent
TO the House Of Bishops for their consideration The
following abstract from the document, written by
ihe Rev. Charles r. Hale, which covers the reform
movement in many parts of the world:
The Italian Church Reformation Commission would
respectfully present the Joint Committee on Italian
Church Reform the following summary report touching
the progress of The Reform movement during the past
three wears and the work of church in aiding it,
Our Foreign Secretary the Rev VIM Channcey Laned0n
D. d. returned to Italy request shortly after the
last General Convention. In accordance with instruc
tons from the Commission he spent me greater part OF
the Winter Of ls7273 aud OF the following Spring in
Rome On the approach of Summer 1t was necessary 10
leave Rome for time. and American Churchmen resi-
dent in Geneva, Switzerland on passing through the
same earnestly desiring the establishment OF the ser
vices church there DIR. Langdon was authorized
the 2efOrm mOyement In Switzerland taking large
proportions and secretary was enabled to cooperate
In work c0gnate with that with Wnich Ne was specay
charged. Ii need scarcely DC SAID at WOfR ne hau so
much at heart has not Dfen negIecteai by inter- Ter
Italian journals, be has continued his useful Oces Inc
chief events OF the past three years III connection VITA
Church Reform In italy have been the extension OF laws
for suppressng religious corporations and the election
Of PARISH priests oy Tue people O sn cr am o ah and
discussion the bill tor the suppression OF monas
the Italian Parliament by large majority. On Sept
2 1873 legal voters of san Giovanni del Dose elected
unanimously Don LonaTdl parish priest. Don l. )uardl
delay, TOOK possession or MS paflsh ana MS
example has been followed IN several other places
may be that the law of the Papdl guarantees, or
something similar 10 H. was necessary at the Time IL
time to manifest themselves. UnGer 1t the Pope
has appointed over eighty bishops to vacant .stes IN
progress federation or liberty; two huudred thousand
clergy no longer permitted write speak think
win any kind of freedom" In such % state OF affairs
the conclusion has been reached that policy of conclia
tOn than useless when combination is lHIIOs
sbIe II felt that II the State up ne right o.
NOMINATING to the bishOprc, it should have returned TO
the people instead o. being handed over 10 the Pope
The Law OF Guarantees made provision for additional
arrangements which might be desirable Introduce
aud has proposed to take advantage OF TINS TO
When the state gives opportunity to the Church to
itself 1t will be that IL has been from con-
straut indifference: that the clergy have 50 long
kept silence. Great changes are Imminent IN ltay
There is an anagOnism between the national and pot
cal movement aud the Catholicism OF the Pope Ihcle
are two living forces there either one OF the other Will
end iu the suljectiOn OF the other.
have no DOUBT that th9 Character OF ths movement
will different from thai In Germany because the
state of affairs in the two countries is very different
Here there Is widespread oelef IN the truth OF
Christianity combined with determined opposition TO
the absSption Of Rome In Iay there is SO mtle re re-
no alternative between superstition and uubeef The
educated classes who have ceased TO mold 10 the super
stions current their countrymen tolerate them
OF the results OF handing their country over 10
unbelef They cOnteDt themselves with looking at re-
gous questions chiefly from their political side. They
do not take the of OLD Catholics, but hold to the
existence of Liberal Catholicism, and at one with
Germany in her opposition TO clerical despotisn
When the italian Church Reformation Commission
denotes to observed elsewhere than in Italy. Now
they manifest IN almost every part OF the Latin
expressed his conviction that Germany the eve
of an important church reform movement be was met
OF Papa IDfaiOillty proclaimed at the Vatican Council
when few German theologlans met at Nuremeurg, in
on March 2s 1871 Dr. Doeinger declared that, as
Christian, theoioglaD. as an historian, and cti
excommunicated. Addresses of sympathy pouring
In upon him FROM ali Germany. soon aitersard Com.
a formal declaration, in which they persIsted
in the rejection OF the Vatican dogma
The first Old Catholic Congress was held at Munich just
before the meeting OF the last General Convention. The
House OF Bishops In 1871 expressed by unanimous
In the moaihs February and March, 1872 Dr. Doein-
ger delivered IN the hall OF the Museum at Munich
gave an immense impetus to the cause OF reform. In
septemDer 1872 the second Old Catholic Congress
Cologne. The third Od Catholic COngfess was held In
September 1873 at Constance In this Congress Con-
stiiuton adopted. Tne fourth Congress met III
September 1874 at fTeiburg IN Baden. Italy most
worthily represented. Heneeorb the Synod will DIS
charge the legislative functions the Congress will still
be the agent for arousng popular feeling and for ~
structing the people as ~ The hatre O e Ola Catholic
movement.
pal reaction. In Holland the Rational church has dem
nitely taken Old Catholic ground and shown hearty
reforming tendencies not wanting III France, though
present such are few and slight Among the ArmenI-
Turkey there has long been dissatisfaction. The
third Vatican decree especially disaseful to them
In November, 1S7 the Pope excommunicated those who
more disposition the Church than 10 try wisely
reform it. Ia Portugal by the beneaetons OF
two cnurchmen, our BOOK OF Common Prayer has this
year been published In Portuguese.
In Mexico the political power OF the Church party has
and the Intelligent classes sustaining the
Government by their opinion, have gwen 1t the dis
position TO encourage rengous ifeeuon. 10 inns pro,
America gived aid. In Brazil two bishops dehantly
broke certain laws OF the land and OF them,
Bishop OF Olnda tired by the Supreme Tribunal OF
Justice. aud was condemned 10 four years imprisoh
ment the other the Bishop Of Para, will be tired
The Emperor's speech TIE occasion was remarkable
for Its frnness in the desire 10 protect the rights OF
citizens against the of ecclesiastical authority
In Venezuela similar difference arose. In Peru the
Roman Curia appointed the Bishop OF Huanco 10 the
vacant Arcbiepiscopal See OF Lima In violation OF the
Peruvian Constellation The Government refused 10
cept the appointment, and nominated the Bishop Of
TtuxilIo After delay the Curia yielded, but the
Husnc0 Bishop was invested with all AreLiepiscOpal
title. . ,,,,
Fran the foregoing 10 will be that Rome forcing
its more subservent governments aud peoples into OPP
position " their claims, and amid suen changes the
Episcopal Church could exert greai good ana has there
fre reaf res nonsihitY thrown upon 10. Already IL