The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-10-11
Epi.cos sas General Convention.
fFrsnt gtneB Boston sadSertiser.J

\
OF the constitution:
Provided, that the General Convention
may by canon arrange and set forth short
ened form OF morning and evening prayer.
| to be compiled wholly from the Book OF
| Common Prayer.
Provided, however, that the General Con-
| vention shall have power, from time to
| time, to amend the dictionary; but no act
! FOR this purpose shall be valid which is not
voted for by majority OF the whole num-
| Der OF bishops entitled to seats in the House
OF Bishops. and BY majority OF all the
dioceses entitled to representation in the
House OF Deputies.
The Hon. J. w. Stevenson, OF Kentucky,
| presented minority report. This report
| goes on to say that in 1871 the Convention
had the matter under discussion, and in
1874 the committee on the matter reported
that 4 constitutional amendment was neces-
| sary in the premises. 1t then received the
decided approval OF both clergy and laity.
In the House OF Bishops the report was
adopted with few alterations. The MI
Enority assert that the necessity for the short
! ened form is now becoming more and more
apparent 1t has been in force in England
for some years. and found to be highly bene-
fetal. The minority claim that the whole
scope OF the proposed amendment is to pro-
vide the adoption OF form OF service suit
able alike to all, and having the sanctions.
This portion OF the committee recommended
the following substitution: ~~
! Resolved, That the above amendment In
constitution in section 8 be adopted.
The minority report is signed by George
F. Cumstock, L. F. Wilder, j. V. Howe,
and j. w. Stevenson.
| The Rev. DR.. Brock, OF Central Pennsyl-
| Lnk -, otfn rt y,ooI n
to bring the above matter to the attention
OF the House Of Bishops. This had been
| done, but no response was made. He
thought the rights OF the House Of Deputies
had been inYringed.
| The Rev. DR.. Leeds said that his obiec-
| ton was that the minority report was en-
deayoring to do indirectly that which they
would not be willing to take direct action
upon. He referred to the action Of Parlia-
ment OF England allowing 4 new service,
and said he could arrange series OF pray
ers such rs would alter the doctrine OF the
Church. The divine made several illustra-
tonS Of the danger which the Church was
| laying herself open to, and proposed that
| the amendments should be so amended so
| that the shortened style OF service be only
| used in circumstances which are peculiarly
appropriate, such as missions, etc. He OBJ
| jccted to the minority report for the reason
that it was proposed to thrust this service
upon those who wish for the present mode
of service. The speaker concluded by say
ing that while he was III favor OF shorter
service, vet he did not wish to remove the
bulwark from around the Book of Common
| PRAYER, which has been handed down from
our ancestors as most precious legacy.
The Rev. DR.. DeKoyen, Of Wisconsin,
said that the proposition was simply look
| ing to legislation in reference to the matter,
| and that when the subject comes up for di-
rect discussion it will be time to present ar
| gllments for and against said amendment.
| The speaker read extracts from former
| Journals to support his idea that shortened
services were extremely necessary. He be-
| lievcd that With a iudicious selection OF 4
service Of perhaps fifteen minutes the daily
| exercises would be attended by large pro-
portion Of our people. In certain portions
OF our country the shortened form OF SER
vice is almost universal. The speaker men,
toned such institutions rs Trinity College,
Racine College, ETC., under the direct SUI
peryision OF the bishop Of this Church.
The Hon. Richard Parker, OF Virginia,
moved that the whole matter be postponed,
made the order OF the day for Wednesday at
1 p. NJ, and that it be printed. Laid on the
table.
The Rev. DR.. Harris, OF Illinois, offered a
resolution that commission, consisting OF
seven bishops, seven preSbyters, and seven
laymcn, be appointed to consider the revi-
sion OF the constitution. Referred to the
Committee on Constitutional Amendments.
At 1880 O'Clock the House took recess OF
one hour.
On r,sssembling at $50 the House resumed
the consideration OF the motion to SuDStl-
tute the minority report for that OF the ma
iority OF the Committee on Constitutional
Amendments.
Mr.. Montgomery, OF Western New York,
presented certificate OF the action OF the
Diocesan Convention OF Western New York,
approving the proposed constitutional
amendments. It was received and placed
on file. H. ..... -
Mr.. Blrgwin, Of Pittsburgh, spoke
| against the pending resolution, ana sald
that perhaps the best reason to be given was
the circumstances under which the resolll-
ton was passed by the last Convention.
proving that matter OF this grave import
ance might be acted on with great facility
in the last days Of a convention. In other
words, it would be made easy to do what
ought to be done with the utmost dellbera-
| ton.
| The Rev. DR.. Beers, OF California, Ia
vored the resolution, saying that there were
few clergymen who had not ut some time
felt the need of shortened form OF service.
The Hon. Daniel r. Magruder, OF Mary
land, said that everybody acknowledged the
need Of some change, and yet, when prac-
teal way to make the change was proposed,
technical objections and chimerical fears
were raised. IL the resolution was passed
it would simply enable 4 subsequent Con-
ycntion to set forth 4 shorter service,
founded upon the prayer-book. Whatever
gentlemen might say as to the hasty manner
in which the matter had been acted on here
tofore, it should be understood that that
haste was owing to the fact that the action
of the last Convention was not final. The
Church was not made for the prayer-book,
but the praver-book for the Church. TouSe
a homelv phrase. the cart should not be put
before the horse The prayer-book was de-
seryedly beloved, but it should not be rever
enced TO the point OF ldoatry.
| The Hon. Isaac Atwater SAID 1t was con
fessed that Il change was necessary, but the
objection waS made that this was an attempt
to do indirectly what could be done direct
Iy. In answer to that he would say tIa1 Il
any gentleman could suggest direct way
he hopcd he would do so. The feetlnS was
universal among churclmen on the 1ronuel
that if they were to get thinking men II
that section into the Church there must ne
change. He did not think there was Dan
Ger in the trial, but il it was not MADE ther'
would be a check to the progress OF TUT
Church on the frontier.
The Rev. DR.. Ayrault, OF Centrai New
York, followed on the same side.
| T'ha Ray Dir dams OF w Wisconsin,, re