The New York herald., 1878-01-17
CHURCHMEN IN COUNCIL.
Second Session of the Reformed
Episcopal Synod.
A CONSTITUTION ADOPTED.
Bishop Cheneys Review of the Late Prot
estant Episcopal Convention.

year ago convocation oil ministers and delegates
comprising what is now known as the Synod OF New
York OF the Reformed Episcopal Church met in
Brooklyn and resolved to constitute a synodcal or
eanzaiion. The territory covered by It's authority
comprises New York, Now Jersey, Pennsylvania and
parts of contiguous States where local organizations
nfla>pd with the Reformed Episcopal Church exist
few months latcr The Synod thus constituted met in
Newark and perfected its organization. committee
vas then appointed to draft synodicai constitution
pyraws. Stewart l.. Woodiord was chairman of
that committee. The Synod met yesterday for tho
second time as Synod in the First Reformed Epis-
copal Church, Madison avenue and Ffty-hlth
street. where the ladies' had prepared ample
ment not only for the delegates but for all visitors.
After morning prayer Bishop Fallowes. Presiding
Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church. who has
charge OF the missionary jurisdiction of the East
Canada, New England and the Middle States-called
the Synod to order and presided. Dr. McNay,
physician, chosen secretary. The roll called,
and min and fort lone lay delegates
present. Some OF the clergymen represented more
Than PARISH, which accounts Tor the smalness or
their number Others entered the Synod later the
day. Bishop Cheney present for a short timo
during the recess, but took part in the business
sessions of the synod
CONSTITUTION
read Mr. woodiord reported constitution Tor the
government of the Synod. iollows;-
Whereas adjoining congre atoms union with
Reformed Episcopal Church have associated themselves
Synod OF New York. pursuance OF article OF the
rspresen.ng said Congregations do hereby frame and
adopt the following constitution or the government of the
l. The synod of New York shall be under the
OF the missionary jurisdiction oi the East
nj Ricbo
for this work from among themselves and may
change the missionary Bishop any time. AT pres
ent Bishop Fallowes has charge OF the missionary
jurisdiction OF the East. He without local charge
and travels everywhere organizing churches ana
dong the work OF missionary Bishop. His COM
peers-Bishops Cheney and Nchoson--have rector
ships in connection with their episcopal Office, the
former in Chicago and the latter in Philadelphia
where in each city they have eight Reform cd
Episcopal cnurcnes This arcle, therefore, couiorns
merely TO the constitution ana polity OF the Church
as IL ls:--
.. Each congregation shall be entitled to lay
an the meetings o the synod who shall be
soinmunieants and 10 one addtonai 'epresent tive Tor
be chosen by the respective conversations and all .. them
shall be communicates in The i.eoFmed Episcopal Church.
Before the adoption OF this article above was
amended as to allow Two lay delegates instead OF
one and compel ali representatives, 10 be comnuni-
the Church. The latter amendment called
opposition IRON delegates who thought
that good III the Church, wno might be prospec
communicates should not be debarred from serving
in councils oil the Church. The srIct Church
party however carried the puiAt ana the article as
gwen adopted
ART B. Regular meetings Of the Synod shall he held
twice year. on tae second Thursdays OF February and
from shall constitute quorum Tor the
lhis article was discussed and amerded hrst that
three meetings should be held during the year Instead
OF one, aud tncn that Two shoud be neld at the time
specified Also increasing the representation Tor a
quorum from snree 10 iour ia each case oil ministers
and churches. Thus amended the article WAS adopted
H. The officers OF the synod shall be bishop,
ica president and secretary and treasurer The
clerical wee president secretary and treasurer shan be
eeted az me aunanl meeting IN February and shall hoid
uce until their successors are chosen 1neir duties shall
be such as usually acvoive u. on such officers
THE SMALL EAR or PRELAcY CLIPPED
This the artce that aroused all the latent Ire OF
the radical relormers, led by the Rev. Mr. Reed of
Brooklyn; Dr. LeacoeH aud Mr. Irving, warden in
FIJI 81 reformed Episcopal Church. they Thought
they saw in the phraseoogy OF tue trst Lac the
ierGg wedRe oil soinethng they had contended
against the OLD Church which they had lett and
Ibey Determined 10 crush 1t here IN It's incip
encv. They would not admit the right OF any
Bishop BY virtue oi his episcopal oiee authority
preside at their meetings unless he elected
90 80 by voice OF the synod. lhey could not SEQ
how, log gcaily iutlonay, such theory could
be entertained They would, therefore, have the
article amended so that II should leave the nod Tree
It's president, lay man or bisnop, the
,eegates might prefer. On the other hand,
Dr j. Howard smith; Judge Savage, OF Railway,
n. j. and General stewart l.. Woodlord OF Brooklyn,
defended the article 1t is givon above insisted
that the Bishop having charge oi the missionary
Lhurcn at large and by virtue o the Office the proper
only presidng officer OF the meetings OF synods
wllnn his missionary jurisdiction. Judge Savage saw
this effort o place the bishops In ahe background
In attempt 10 make The church Deformea instead OF
II Reformed Epiacopai Church, and "A ne were Bishop |
he should refuse w attend the meetings OF body who
would treat MIN so discourteously.
General WOodiord argued that in the Reformed |
Episcopal Cnurun the Mctnodist the bishopric
simply an Office aud not an order; thai Uoln |
churches the bishops are simply general superntend
oil tho Chufch. General Woodurd so far as
declare that n Bishop simpson, OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church, should como over to the Re-
formed Episcopal Caurch tho latter woud |
be obliged 10 receive him OF its |
bishops, without any iurther ceremony. 10 this,
however, several OF the delegates demurred. The
Methodist Bishop would have to wall lor eli cton
TO The Office before he could exercise any episcopal
functions the Reformed Episcopal Church. The |
Generai tried to quiet the iears OF his brethren ~
proving from constitutional ana Church records that
the bisnops are SIMPLY presiding presDy ters OF the
Church, aud Dr SABINE ot this CITY, whose church
the synod sat, 10 meet this view offered amend
ment TO insert the words .'presding presDyterU be-
fore word bishop that II should "a presl-
ing Presbyter or bishop"
Ihe discussion took dw.de range, and lasted nearly
lour hours.
There shah bea standing committee Of the synod,
composed of three pesDytern aud laymen
sLali powers perform gener
ALLY apperain 70 standing committees under Episcopal
ri. .. luis constitution bo altered amended at
thirds vote at two successive regular meetings.
Those TWO articles called Tor very hle discussion !
Or amendment, and adopted SUBSTANTIALLY here
gwen During all the debate Bishop Followes
disturbed oy the pros and cons OF the episcopal
croachments.
CHENEY's SERMON
In the evening BtshoD Cheney, oi Chicago before |
q large congregation rcyiewvd the proceedings oi tho
late General Convention OF tue irote tant Episcopal
Church which IN Boston.
He selected his text Ahab's accusation against
Eliiah--'Is II ye that troubled Israel" Applying |
BiDca narrative as illustrative OF the history OF
Inc Reformed Protestant Episcopal movement, he
10 show that ITS four years history Justlcd
It's existence, anu also argued that Bisnop Cummings
brought with hun rom The Pro,esanl Lpscopa church
all OIL cial power 10 consecrate prcsOyter INTO
bishop. aud that thAt view had received the Indorsc
OF 50 hglI authority as Canon Lidde, OF Eng
land. In referring TO the reasons why Reformed
Church organized, bo saId thAt honest minded |
men bondage TO erroneous doctrine and prac-
tlcc. and u became solemn duty tor them