Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-10-26
P. E. CONVENTION.

A Spirited Report on Neglect of the Freed
men and Worldly Influences In Parish
Government..-Two Clergymsn Only Who
Want the Book of Common Prayer
Amended to Conform to the Coming
Empire.
New YORK. Oct. 2S.-In the Protestant
Episcopal convention the committee on the
state of the church presented through Rev.
DIR. Van Dusen their report to the house of
deputies. The committee says: While we
wouldn't diminish but rather increase all ap.
pliances and instrumentalities for carrying
the blessings of the gospel to the western States
and Territories; while the aborigines of this
land must find they are receiving onr sympa-
thies and aid, and arousing increasing zeal in
their civilization and evangelization--why is
it that the Southern dioceses, depressed and
Impoverished, receive no more OF church
benefactions, and are left to carry on
their mission work with little more assistance
than can be secured within their own limits!
Why is it that theAe 1000 600 of the colored
race, now clothed with the elective franchise,
eligible to all places of trust to our legisla-
lures, to seats in Congress-or acting in many
instances as teachers of the young, should
awake far less enthusiasm, and call forth not
moity of the liberality that it does? The COM
mittee in concluding their remarks on this sub
ject invoke the attention of the whole. church
to this inconsistency and inequality, in the in
terests, sympathy and charity of the church.
The committee further reported: ''We think
we see in some clergy disposition to conform
to interests, sentiments and opinions which
once were neither consistnte with ministerial
fidelity nor approved. Worldly minded places
are frequented, amusements are INDUCED in
and opinions are dvocated which make them
popular, perhaps, with those who gladly vel
fbav1 60 hao innc t,Yrfh houn NO
spect for institutions or admonitions. To es-
cape the imputation of being puritanic they
approach if they do not enter the realms of
worldly confrmity, levity and Indifference.
In the administration of the parishes and Sc
curing means for maintenance they permit
and countenance Just those things which the
natural man loves and which the young take
most delight Churches were once built by
lotteries, but the moral sense was at last offend
ed and they were prohibited. Now theatricals,
dances, suppers and whatever will draw money
from the throng who love excitement and
are presented as attractions for
securing means with which to carry on church
work. We believe these practices are destroy
ing public respect for many teachers of our
holy religion. They appeal to motives from
which men should not act in the Redeemer's
service. or make offerings for this holy work,
while they cause the enemies of God to bias
pheme.
The report was adopted and sent to the house
of bishops.
Rev. DR.. Schenck, from the joint committee
appointed to take measures for increasing the
fund for relief of families of sick or disabled
clergymen, presented a report asking the COM
mittee to be increased and have permission to
sit during the recess, and suggesting that each
clergyman reserve from the offertorJ in his
church not less than l per cent, nor more than
10 per cent. for the purpose.
H. g
bishops providing that the conviction of any
minister before civil court for any offense,
shall not preclude the church from taking ac-
tion in regard to such offense. 1t was referred.
Rev. DR.. Huntington's resolution suggest
ing certain alterations in the prayor book was
then taken mp. It reads as follows: "ResOLyed,
the house of bishops concurring, That joint
committee to consist of seven bishops, seven
p-esbyters and seven laymen be appointed to
consider and report to the next general con-
vention whether, in view of the fact that this
church is soon to enter upon the second GEN.
tury of its organized existence in this coun-
try, the changed conditions of nassonal life
60 not demand certain alteraticAs icsA5e book
of common prayer, in the direction of
l:turgical enrichment and increased fexibility
of use." In speaking to the resolution DR..
Huntington suggested adding the nunc denaitis
and nadgnifcdt. Rev. Mr.. johnson offered an
amendment which provided for the appoint
ment of a commission to sit during the recess
to consider the subject and report to the next
general convention such alterations as they
may deem desirable, and that the report shall
be either accepted or rejected as a whole withs
out amendments" The amendment, which
provoked hearty laugh throughout the house,
was laid on the table by unanimous vote,
The original resolution was then discussed but
is mover found no one except Mr..
Johnson to support it. Strong opposition was
met with from all quarters.
In the evening session discussion was pro-
tracted on the resolution of DIR. Hutchinson,
which was adopted by the following votes:
Clerical votes. ayes 32 noes. 9, one diocese di-
vided; lay, ayes, Is; noes, Is, four diocese di-
vided.