National Republican., 1883-10-03
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
The Centennial Convention to Assemble To-Day
in Philadelphia,
a Sketch Of the History Of the Church
in the United States.
Where and When It's Conventions Have Been Held
The Eminent Churchmen Who Have Presided.
Tho Present Assembly Likely to BE Very
Important One.

The centennial convention of the Protest
ant Episcopal church of the United States of
America meets to-day in Philadelphia. This
is perhaps the most important convention of
that church ever held in this country, being
assembled on the one hundrodth anniversary
of its existence as a distinct LOCALLY organ
lied institution, and, secondly, because Of It's
wonderful growth. Prior to 1883 Episcopa-
lianism in this country was part of tho
Anglican church. OF course there had been
separations of the faithful in the colo
mics from tho mother church since
1776, for the great mass of Epscopa-
lians in America were wings, but there
had been and could be no legally instituted
and recognized separation until tho independ-
ence Of tho colonies was formally acknowl-
edged by the mother country. This was done
in 1888. Accordingly, in 1888 tho Episcopal
clergy in Connecticut took the initatory
step toward forming distinct organization
by holding convention and instructing Rev.
DIR. Seabury to seek for the Episcopal abroad.
This, therefore, was the first convention of
the church held in this country, and Dr.
Seabury the first American bishop, the Eps-
copate being given him by tho church i'll
Scotland.
The first general convention was held May
IL, 1884, at New Brunswick, N. j., wherein
clerical and lay delegates were present from
New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Oct. and Of the same year there was held
another convention, this time in the city of
New York, which was really the first general
convention, The actual birth of the Protest
ant Episcopal church Of the United
States. There were represented Massa-
chusetts. Connecticut, Rhode Island, Now
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Della
ware, and Maryland. Rov. Mr.. Griffith
of Virginia, was present by permission, as
the clergy Of that state, being restricted by
the laws yet In force there, were not at lib
erty to send delegates or consent to any al
terations in the order, government, doctrine,
or worship. 1t seems strange that all the
southern states except Delaware and Mary
land were unrepresented, since it is the pop
ular impression that the strength Of the
Episcopal church in this country lay in that
section. This is not the first popular impress
sion that has proved erroneous.
The work performed by the convention
was to tho last degree important few sue
ceeding ones SURPRISING it in influence. Rev.
William Smith, of Maryland, one of the
ablest members of that able and distinguished
Maryland family, was its president. Four of
the clergy present became consecrated bishops
VIM. White, of Pennsylvania; Samuel Pre-
vost and Benjamin Moore, of New York, and
Samuel Parker. of Massachusetts. There
were present fifteen clergyme and eleven Of
the laity.
In 17S5, Sept 81, the convention was held
in Philadelphia. There were sixteen clergy
and twenty-six laymen present. A commit
tee was appointed, consisting of one clerical
and one lay delegate from each state,
to alter the liturgy, as was made neces-
sary by the changed condition Of
things. The same committee was empowered
TO present to the convention form of eccle-
siastical constitution for the church, and to
prepare an address to the bishops of England
requesting the conservation of certain bish
ops for the church in America. The commit
tee in few days reported tho results of their
labors. On Friday, Oct. z, there was divine
service in Christ church in Philadelphia and
the liturgy as changed was read by Rev. DIR.
White. Rev. William Smith preached. In
this convention Virginia and South Carolina
were represented.
The convention of 1856 was held June 20
of that year in Philadelphia. There was not
as cordial feeling as on the last occasion,
there being some public doubling of the
validity of the Scottish episcopacy, and con-
sequently of the conservation of Bishop Sea-
bury. But the convention refused to enter
into the opposition to the Scottish succession.
A letter from the Anglican bishops was re-
ceived, making certain suggestions, which
were generally adopted, and n reply in
accordance Herewith, written by Rev. VIM.
Smith, of Maryland and amended by
John Jay, of New York, was made
To meet response to this reply, q conven-
tion was soon called at Wilmington, Del, and
the testimonials of White, as bishop of Penn
sylvania; Provost as bishop of New York,
and David Griffith, as bishop of Virginia,
were signed by the members. Nov 2, 1885,
Drs, White and Provost sailed for England
and were consecrated in Lambeth Palace
chapel, Sunday, Feb. 4, 1887 the archbishops
OF Canterbury and York and the bishops of
Baths Wells and Peterborough uniting in
the imposition of hands. The next day the
Americans sailed for homo and landed in
New York Easter Sunday, April Z. The sue
cession of the Episcopate was completed; ono
bishop being consecrated by the bishop of
Scotland and tho other two through the
Church of England.
The convention Of 1889 mot in Philadel-
phia, and adjurned to Sept. 90 of the same
year When, there being tho requisite num-
Der OF bishops present for the formation of o
separate house, it was organized, and thence
forth the two houses have been separate at
every convention. From that time tho con-
yentions have met trcnnially.
The convention of 1902 met at New York.
Rev. DR.. Thomas John Claggett was conse
Grated bishop of Maryland, and at the conse-
Grafton the succession as transmitted through
the Scottish and English lines was united, and
through the first bishop of Maryland every
subsequent American bishop can trace his
Episcopal lineage to the first American pre-
late. At this convention u committee was
appointed to prepare the [" Book of Common
Prayer" The clergy of tho church at this
time numbered 200.
Tho convention of l795 met in Philadel-
phia. That OF l70S was postponed because of
an epidemic and was held in 1903. In 1901,
the convention met at Trenton, n. j.; that of
1904 in New York, of 1905 at Baltimore, and
of 1911 at New Haven. At this and the pro-
ceding conventions the general outlook of the
church was not as encouraging as it could be
desired. The church in some of the southern
states, especially Maryland and Virginia, was
reported as in deplorablG condition and
that there was danger OF total ruin. Part of
this state of affairs was doubtless owing to
the vast and rapid growth of Mothodism at
this time, which found in the humber mem
bers Of the Episcopal church its richest field
of harvest.
Tho convention OF 1914 was held at Phila-
delphia, and that of 1917 Mt New York. At
this convention North Carolina for the first
time was represented. A theological seminary
was organized. The outlook was highly en-
couraging and the church from that time
onward has aourished. The number Of the
clergy at this time was 269.
The convention of 1920 was held at Phila-
delphia. Tho New England states were made
q separate diocese. A special convention to
discuss tho theological seminary was held in
Philadelphia in 1921, when a missionary
society of the church was perfected, the theo-
logical seminarios of Now Haven and New
York consolidated and n general theological
seminary established in Now York,