Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-01

Cnurcm-A Majority and Minority
Report Concerning the Diocesan
Building Fund-The Clerical Susten-
tatiOn Fund-COnfidential Relations
Between the Council and the Bishop
Contest Over the Standing Commit.
tee-Electing a New Committee.
After the report OF the Protestant Episcopal do
| cesar convention OF Maryland closed in THE STAR
yesterday, Rev. Mr. Colburn, from the committee on
| the state OF the church, reported that that COM
mittee had examined the statistics OF the churches
| which have been received from all but ten. The
list OF clergy, the report states, was smaller by
three than that of last year. The number OF COM
| municants was 20,853, an increase Of 800. The
| number OF baptized was 2,107, a decrease Of 500
was 1,441, decrease of 231 The number OF sun
day-school scholars was IA O61, decrease OF 800
Wmcn decrease was mostly In the District OF Co
lumDla, and the remainder in Baltimore. These
ngures the committee do not consider accurate
The sum OF the contributions for the conventional
@ a Mns e sanfs For for
sum OF $7,172 had been received, an increase Of
about $500 The committee on missions report
ciusion, the committee recommended the restora-
ton to the Journal Of the parochial reports, and
the e. bishop 81 said M that it would be done:
MI. ID. M. ThomaS, from the committee on
THE DIOCESAN BUILDING FUND,
appointed to consider the subject of general
| church building fund, reported in favor Of ap-
pointing board OF trustees, Of which the bishop
shall be president, and three laymen and two
clergymen of the church be members
Rev. DIR. Hodges presented report OF the ma
jority OF the committee that had in charge the
there was but little interest in the objects OF the
fund, and that but $S075 had been contributed to
the fund The report attributed this lack OF inter-
Ind
in the diocese, and also to the fact that large
number OF the clergy and laity have no assurance
that after the education of candidates was CON-
pleted the standing committee would admit them
to Eoly orders. From the same committee DR..
Randolph made a minority report, which agreed
With the first part OF the majority report, but dis
agreed with the latter portion. The policy
OF a committee criticising in such way
Sy the s as n 6se and
regular and the minority deprecated such q course
and believed that this opinion OF the standing
the members of the diocese Upon the conclusion
OF the reports an attempt was made to discuss the
merits of the question and, that failing, to tx a
time for its consideration; but all the motions were
defeated by motion to lay the entire matter on
the table, which was carried.
Rev Mr. Thomas. from the committee on the cleri-
cal sustentaton fund, reported that the collection
last year was "a, and the fund now was s67206.
They therefore, reported that 1t would be fnexpe-
charged.
Mr.. VIM. A. Stewart, from the special committee
on church canons reported that the ecclesiastical
committee had the same range OF duties and there
fore asked to be discharged. He also made re-
port In behalf OF the committee to which was re-
diocese relative to the education Of the Indians
The report favored the discharge of the committee
on the ground that the offices OF the government
were competent to attend to this matter.
The committee on records OF the diocese, report
ed that permanent rooms had been secured on the
third floor OF the Episcopal library building, Bal.
timOre.
THE COUNCIL AND THE BISHOP.
Mr.. Stewart. from the committee ON canons to
whom was referred the resolution stating ssthat it
is desirable whenever the standing committee
shall find 1t necessary to refuse consent to an
applicant for admission as a candidate for holy
orders, or for ordination to the priesthood, that
they should give reason or reasons for their
REFUSAL to the applicant and to the bishop" made
report The report states that the reasons which
on the records OF the committee and In accordance
with the custom in legislative bodies proceedings
before them are confidential: The standing COM
the report states that they have not learned
that the standing committee has withheld
from the bishop 3pr IN
or for ordination, and they are unwilling to be-
lieve that when such confidential relations exist
ton proper to be known is withheld. The report
states that feeling OF distrust should not be
fostered against the officers selected by this con-
vention, and that the candidates should be taught
that, though unpleasant, some good cause must
exist for their action. The report states that no
legislation is needed and the committee ask to be
discharged from further consideration CT the sub
Ject. The committee on the Stinecke Library re-
ported progress, and that many valuable additions
to the collection OF books had been made
CONTEST OVER THE REPORT OF THE STANDING CON-
MITTEE.
motion to lay the report OF the standing COM
mittee on the table lost by vote of Sc to 76.
committee consisting of Rev. DR.. Paret, Rev.
Mr. Highland, land Mr.. VIM. A. Stewart was ap-
pointed to consider the report OF the standing
committee A motion was made by Mr.. Hyatt in.
structing the committee to report at II o'clock to-
day. Mr.; Montgomery Blair objected to specify
ing time for the committee to report, as
he said the intention was to rake the
ss Goals % and tine :, Standing
an election of the committee. He concluded by
moving to lay the motion on the table, and the
by the following vote: Yea-clergy, 81, la1ty, Is;
nay-clergy: IS, !aity. s6. While this vote was
not regarded as test vote Of the strength OF the
opposition to the standing committee, as many
voted against the motion to lay on the table,
because they did favor any action which should
The vote then recurred on the motion to direct the
COMMITTEES to report at II O'Clock to-day. Mr..
lair called for vote by orders, but the motion
The convention then adjourned until the even
ing. The parliamentary sparring that consumed
sion among the members last evening It was
remarked that the election of the secretary about
Wnlcn q contest was expected, was uncOnteSted.
When the leader OF the conservative party, Rev.
DR.. Hodges, nominated Mr.. Packard, his election
was regarded 80 certain that the candidate which
the opposition had agreed upon was not nomi-
mated, and Mr.. Packard was elected without oppO-
sitiOn. The opposition is composed of the Ritual
lists and those dissatisfied with the standing COM
mttee and other matters OF church government
The division OF high and low church parties mas
practically disappeared. The high church in their
opposition to the extreme wing OF their party, the
Ritualists, have united with the low church, and
the party distinctions in the convention are be-
tween the conservative and liberal elements
Missionary Work.
The session OF the convention last evening was
devoted to the consideration OF the missionary
operations OF the diocese. The evening service
was read by Rev. Dr. Meads, OF Baltimore, after
which he read the report of the committee on mis-
sions. The report dwelt largely upon the work
among the colored people, and stated that the
committee had not been able to initiate any new
operations, nor had they any new measures
to recommend to the committee In consequence OF
the scanty funds devoted to this work. For lack
OF interest the cOlOred people In the counties
almost wholly given up to the Catholics The
missions In the principal cities Of the diocese are
however In prosperous condition. In the several
convOcatiOns all the stations are now filled.
In Southern Maryland no less than seven charges
have been vacated on account OF Inadequate sup
port OF the rectorSL In st. Mary's all the nine
no rfc hos h,1fn hov