Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-03
EPIsCOPALIANS IN COUNCIL.
THE MARYLAND DIOCESAN CONVENTION.
Closing Proccedingx-A Discussion on
the Subject of Ecclesiastical Cen.
sure.T

the Subject Of Ecclesiastical Cen.
sure.,,
After the report OF the proceedings of the Epis-
copal Convention Of the Maryland diocese closed
In THE STAR yesterday, Rev. Dr. Bacon moved that
the portion OF the bishops address which referred
TO the formation OF general clerical fund OF the
salaries OF the rectors for equitable distribution
among the clergy be referred to a special COM
mittee. The motion, after some discussion, was
withdrawn.
resolution, offered by Rev. DR.. Paret, was
adopted providing for the appointment OF special
salary at sum compatible with the honor and
dignity OF the diocese. DR.. Paret was made chair
man, and authorized to appoint the committee.
ECCLESIASTICAL CBNsURH" DISCUSSED
Several unimportant amendments to the con-
stltution, prepared by the committee on canons,
were adopted without debate. The last amend
ment OF the committee which reads, s.NO clergy
man under ecclesiastical censure shall be entitled
to seat in the convention" gave rise to consider
able debate. and was opposed by the liberal party
and Others, on the grounds that the words tee
cies1astical censure' were not sufficiently definite.
Rev. A. +. Steele said that the vestry Of st.
Marks church had authorized him to state that
they did dot agree with this amendment and
favored the amendment of Rev. DR.. Hodges, to
insist latter treatment by ecclesiastical courts"
Mr.. Thomas said that it was not important to
make the change at once, and he thought they
should wait until they could change the constitu-
ton in a more acceptable way He did not know
who this would affect, but he thought that
ALL LEGISLATION SHOULD BE CLEAR,
and no language used that was susceptible of two
constructions. He believed this was the case with
the words ecclesiastical censure." II it meant
something definite it ought to say so. If it has
technical meaning that meaning should be put
down. II 1t means under sentence of supervision
or censure let it say So
Rev. DR.. Kirkus spoke against the amendment,
nrSt on the ground that 1t was not the amend
ment OF the committee on canons. The words ssor
process was in the amendment OF the committee
but the chairman {Rev d. Lewin), OF his own wolf,
ton, cut these words out 1t had not received in
the present form the consideration of the commit
Tee ON canonS. Then the objection on the ground
or Its ambiguity, he thought, must be evident to
every mind He did not know what the words
ecclesiastical censure" meant The speaker con-
tinuefi TO argue against the amendment on the
ground OF It's ambiguous technical meaning. He
did nOt disapprove OF the principal involved in the
amendment, but simply was opposed to
ITS DOUBTFUL INTENTION.
Mr.. Randolph Barton then spoke on the amend
ment, and said that 1t must be remembered that
they were not legislating for any party, either
the ritualists or the conservatives, but for pos
terity. He thought from a study OF the canons
that reproof and cenSure were SYNONYMOUS terms
He SAIL that the adoption OF the amendment would
present the anomaly Of clergymen under sentence
Oh suspension taking seat In the convention,
While clergyman that had been oensured or re-
buked would be debarred There was no such
punishment in the case of the penalties author
lied in the canonS such as SUSPENSION degrade
ton and rebuke. He was OF the opinion that the
to be expressed.
Rev. DR.. Paret said that even If the amendment
meant AFTER sentence 10y an ecclesiastical cOurthe
would object to it. He thought that every one
would acknowledge that a suspended Or
DEGRADED CLERGYMAN
had no right to seat in the convention, but it was
not so clear that an adnOnished clergymen had no
right to seat. II this amendment referred to all
the sentences of a court he would vote against it.
Rev. Mr. Christian in rising to speak said: ''Mr.
President, am old, infirm, and perhaps, l ought
% z, add imbecile. uaughterl am lettering on
he edge OF the tomb and this will probably be the
asst convention shall attend" He said that
HE HATED RITUALIsN,
and believed that it was Satan's masterptece
LauShter.] But While he hated ritualism, he also
hated injustice and he believed that at this crisis
at the time when the two parties in the diocese
IRE in deadly contest IlaughterI-was not the
proper time to introduce a worse than Spanish in
QUESTION into this diocese ILaughterl He pro-
listed against this sacreligiOus act. fLaughterl
lie compared the amendment to a serpent and
i dagger In the hands OF an assassin. In order to
get ut the true meaning of the words "ecclesasti-
al censure," he went to Peabody Institute
and had the books piled high above
md around him. He searched the books of
ECCLESIASTICAL history for the past two centuries
and he could find no such words. He
lnked II the convention would put such power as
men who were filled with
A FANATICAL ZEAL
against the high church party. II once they got
he power he knew that they could not resist the
temptation to exert it TO the utmOSt-it would not
3e human nature to do otherwise In his opinion
he low church party was the representative OF
he Old Puritan element in this country. These
'eInarks created great merriment in the conve.-
Ion, ana OBJECTIONS were made by several to the
OF bis remarks. While these objections
we're being made, Rev. DIR. Addison called out
Let nm go on His speech can go along with
Rev. Mr.. Christian continued to speak. and when
ne had finished, Dean Levin, the chairman OF the
Committee on canonS, arose to reply to the Obiec-
ions made to the amendment through the debate.
Turning his attention to the remarks OF the
speaker that had just concluded, he said that but
or the gentleman's opening remarks, he would
nave made some reply. He would have enjoyed
The merriment caused by the speech, had he not
thought that he would
HAVE TO ANSWER BEFORE THE BAR OF GOD
or his actions here. He did not feel under these
like laughing at anything that was
nd In earnestnesS. He then went on to discuss
he amendment and denied that it was not ap-
proved by the entire committee on canons He
dismissed all insinuat!onS Of improper motives
the amendment by saying that an hon
ST man need not explain that he is not dishonest
tie maintained that ecclesiastical cenSure did not
mean reproOf, because with the administering of
he reproof 1t vanisheS from every eye and re-
e.
proved The ecclesiastical cenSure means sent
nee. He said that canon law, like common law
had terms which were we'll understood by those
'erSd IN the law. and the courts had the power to
interpret the meaning OF such terms. He then
thanked the church authorities for the use OF this
ERIN and the number OF diOceses that have
adopted it
Upon the conclusion Of his remarks there were
calls for vote DIR. Thorn was given the floor
lie stfd that this discussion was proof OF the am
Digulty OF its language. He characterized it as
eglSiating towards distractions He moved to in
definitely postpone the matter, but the chair de-
;ided that the convention must either accept or
reject the amendment.
THE AMENDMENT DEFEATED
The motion was made TO lay the amendment on
he table, anG it was lost by standing vote of IN
70 65. vote by orders was then taken on the
amendment, and 1t was lost by the following vote:
Clerical yeas %; nays, 76. Lay yeas, %; nays 20
CLOSING BUSINESS.
On motion OF Mr.. Stewart the convention decf-
led to meet next year In st. Peters church. Balti-
more. A vote OF thanks was rendered to the rec
or, vestry. and members of the parish of Epiphany
or their kindness. Also, one TO the churchnen OF
Washington. resolution was offered appointing
committee OF two laymen and one clergyman to
compile the diocesan canOnS and resolutions OF
permanent interest passed since the last cOmpia-
ion in 1874.
The chair announced the following committee