The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-09-10
Episcopal Church Congress.


New York Times.
The Episcopal Church Congress holds its
annual session this year in Providence,
K. l.. This Is the second time 1t has VEN
tured into New England. Its beginning
was in this city in the autumn of 1874, and
q somewhat notable beginning It was.
Bishop Potter refused to give his consent to
it as a gathering of Churchmen within the
diocese of New York, and the Broad
Churchmen, who were chiefly instrumental
in bringing few strong men together for
free platform discussion, were quite rs de-
cided in holding the congress. The session
was creditable to all who were concerned in
1t. Later on Bishop Potter saw the gather
ing in better light, and gave his consent
to 1T, and since then it has received the
almost unanimous sanction of the bishops
Of the Episcopal Church. The Provi-
dence congress will begin its sessions on
tuesday, October 25, and continue until
tho following Friday evening. Bishop
Clark, of Rhode Island will preside and
make the opening address, and DR.. George
ID. Wildes, the general secretary, will give
some account of deceased members. Bishop
Nicely, of Maine, will make an address APP
propriate to the Holy Communion, with
which act the proceedings of the congress
will begin. The subjects to be discussed
are" Civil-service Reform" methods of
Charity Organizations" "The Revision of
King James Version of the New Testament"
" The Relation of Parishes to the Diocese and
Of Dioceses to the General Convention in tho
Matter Of Jurisdiction and Representation, )"
"Liturgical Growth "The Education of
Divinity Students and Spiritual Cul.
ture; Its aims and Methods" This list is
much more limited than that of the English
Congress in points of topics presented, but
the range is quite as broad, and the SUBJ
jects have o vital interest for the public ut
large.
Among the cssayists and speakers many
names are conspicuous by their absence.
Three men who gave the Congress o strong
forward push ut the outset, DR.. Il. A. WASH
burn, DIR. Samuel Osgood and DIR. A. Ii. Vim
ton, have passed away. 1t is one of the
rules of the congress that those who have
taken part in the previous year shall be Off
duty in the year following. This gives a
new list Of names each year and brings out
new set of men. The Providence con-
gress will be notable for the largo number
of fresh men whom it will bring forward.
In the discussion of civil-service reform, in
which Charles Gibbons. of philadelphia:
Seth Low, of Brooklyn, and Joseph Pack
ard, jr., of Baltimore, will read papers and
in which Ex-Governor Bullock, of Massa-
chusetts, and Everett p. Wheeler and Fran
els Lynde Stetson, of this city, will be the
speakers, only Ex-Governor Bullock has
previously appeared upon the congress plat
form.
Among the new clergy who will take n
part are Rev. s. ii. Gurteen, of Buffalo :
Rev. Walter Mitchell, of Vermont; Rev. DR..
Beardsley, Of Connecticut; Rev. Dr. Richey,
0fthis city, and Rev. President Bodine, of
Kenyon College. Tho laymen come from
all parts of the country, the list including
Hon. Edward McCrady, of South Carolina
Judge III. W. Shelley, of Virginia Hon. IL.
X. Person. of Albany, and Robert Treat
Paine, of Boston. Rev. DIR. Smith, of this
city; Rev. DR.. Ever Rev. DIR. j. II. Hop.
kins, Rev. DR.. Phillips Brooks and Rev.
Dr. Goodwin, of Philadelphia, are among
the well-known clergy who will participate.
The congress, however, is never fully repre-
sented by its printed list of speakers.
Volunteers are always welcome, and prob.
ably many distinguished clergymen and
!aymcn not now announced will take part
in the proceedings. The object of such q
gathering in this country is considerably
wider than UNCONVENTIONAL ends. IL has
to do with the shaping of public
opinion on social and moral questions, and
helps to quicken the religious consciousness
of men The congress was omitted last year
on account of the holding of the Episcopal
General Convention in New York city in
October. ..s.. ,#r ~ r