, 1877-09-11
The Episcopal Diocesan conven~
ton Begins To-Day.
Several Propositions under Considcra-
tion for Dividing the Diocese.
Resumption Of the Weekly nj NJ
tstorfai Meetings. = -
Reports Of the Methodist Conference at
Grand Rapids and Adrian, Mich.
EP1SCOpAL1ANISM,

Tie Committee appointed year ago BY The
Diocesan Convention to investigate the poliry
Of tiridlng the Diocese OF Illinois Into two. and
perhaps thrcr, divisions or scparatc Dioccsee,
has held several meetings IN relation to tho
scheme, and the members hare talked with the
Eptscopa[ian clergy upon the subject to some
extent, but, according to reports, tho thing Is
far frnm completion. and arrangements arc
little nearer final settlement for decided re-:
port than when tho Commission wns formed.
Tho Committee was appointed In pursuance Of
resolution by the Convention. and consists oi
the following gentlemen: Bishop sicLaren,
Chairman; The Rcv. ur. Chase. the Hcy. 7. N.
Dcnucs'sct, the Rev. Frank tircgg, Judge 8. II.
Treat, Of Springfield, Judgc l. B. Otis, and E.
II. Sheldon.
In tho srst ptaec, IL was tfought Of fo11nip &
three Dtoccsca in Illinois, with headquarters at
Chicago Quincy, and springhell; but n grrat
deal OF opposition was fnund 10 exist to ts
among the clergy aul the people throughout
the State, AZ all wanted TO belong to tho Ch[ca-
go Diocese. 10 na to como tn Chicago In Tim
vcntiou. AL arc OF one mind In regard 10 the
d!ris!n as all agree That IL la too much 70 ask
of the Hashou to spend nine Of ten months q I
the year tu travelling throughout tho length and
breadth Of The Slate vi<[ttnE rarsk1rA but tho Way
tho State u to be divided 10 what appears Il,
stick the Committee. After irving for some
cssaye,i, as nn experiment, to uivido tho Statu
Into Two DloctRes.
THE LAST REGULAR MEETING
Of tho Committee was held IN June, at which II
was tried to form new Dlotcsc, With tlcntl.
quarters Mt Quincy, and IL was proposcl to slice
oil portion uf the State which would take
rcdgc-shnpcd course up to Quincy mud rovcr
tho whole lower portion Of the State tclow,
perhaps. Ccntralia. It was soon found, tn,y..
ever, that this would mot work, as the people
along the Illinois Central Road said they would
rather come to Chicago than TO 60 Oh around 10
Quincy.
:, Then meeting wns called at Springfield on
the elst of August, with view of attempting
the formation Of Diocese Ut the lower portion
Of tho State. including MI tl,c counllcs east nl
the ll'tnoIs lAYer, hnl south Of Nut"lfOrtl, ltv
tneston. Ford, and 1roq.loss Counties. With head
Chicago. Still another idea WAS 10 create Il
ssnAll Diocese Of tho counties Immediately III
the vicinity of Qnlucy, 80 that Thy Bishops resi-.
'1enee might stu bn IN That plase, a. . great
fine city Of nbort 40, ,00u Inhabitants.
The first idea WAS to cut oil tho southwestern
and southern section Ut tllc State, With Quincy
r. hcaa11ters. Then. ACCORDING to tno Spring
the form Of the letter V.
THE CONVENTION.
Extensive preparations havo been made for
receiving the visiting clergy IN this city by tho
lVVtLt Aclt% II AAEHDEI AlI&bElA yEHIEEu4F 4{QH{
different portluns OF tho State, ani were pro-
vdcd for i,y private hospitality. Tho hcatlailar-
tnrs arc. ut No. 158 State street,
where tbs reverend gentlemen wcro
to be found In Knots Ill llny yesterday, talking
over tllr prow1Rca division. All were agreed ~
to tile fat:t that there should he division, but
alicre were Utmost Us many different pplnIuas as
IL how It should be lnatlo as there werc dele
Eatrs present.
The Convention will continue three OF four
days. There haa as yet l,ccn no lciuitey mr.
ranged prsATamtne, the! Bishop prctcrrlng to
announce It Ms be COCA along, uill the needs III
tnc Convention are seen. This morning at 0:5t>
O'clock: tho clergy will assemble Ut thu Catllr-
Iral Chaur!, wlltre list WILL ho nude. The
e1eEises VI tho lay w!1leU,nincnce 1T 10 oeIoek,
viii. rrnycr and Holy Communion, conducted
by Bithnp- Mclarcn. Tho chulr will attend,
The Rry. Duane i. rhillipA of Kankakce. viii
lrcacll tile sermon, which Will be followed BY
the atldress Of the Bfahop. After lunch, rputius
seIye'i III the sclluot.fuom by the inlIcs.
Ile CuIAmitteo hgla q aecrct meeting at tho
Cathedral OF 81. Petcr and Paul, corner vi
Washington and Peoria streets, Last eycnEng, IT.,
regarl to the division of the Diocese, but no
final action waa taken. II is poestbla meeting
will be held by the Committee this mornlnE
before tie Regular exercises Of the Convention
commences and, in the language Of ouc Of tho
nctllbcEs, i IA extremely doubtful whether any
division Will be made ut NIL this year.