The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-25
THE PROTESTANT EPIsooPALIANs.
Preparing for Coming Centennial-The Ex-
penses of the Church

Preparing for "A Coming Centennial-The Ex-
penses of the Church.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 24-This is the nine
tenth days session OF the General Conyen-
tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church. In
the House of Deputies, the committee on the
state of the church made report upon the
preamble and resolution of James H. Fisher,
lay deputy o. the diocese of Western New
York, concerning the common rumor that
certain ministers of this church have, during
long periods in time past, introduced during
the celebration of the holy communion cere-
monies not authorized in the Book of Com
mon Prayer and symbolizing erroneous and
doubtful doctrines. The committee reached
the unanimous conclusion that this subject
was beyond the competency of this commit
tee, and further, that the case is amply pro-
vided for by canon %, title l, entitled "Of
the use of the Book OF Common Prayer" to
which they earnestly call the at
tention of the church. The COM
mittee's request to be discharged from
further consideration of the subject was
granted. The final report of the committee
stated that there was now in the Protestant
Episcopal Church of the United States forty
eight dioceses and fifteen missionary iuris-
dictions, sixty-seven bishops and $500 other
clergymen, 300 organized parishes, and more
than 1853, 600 communicates. The report re-
ferred to the inadequate number of candi-
dates for holy orders, and called special at
tention to the work of the church temper
ance society. Church music, it saws, has
made progress. The enriched Book of Com
mon Prayer was hailed with delight The
report concluded with resolution that the
view of the state of the church there pre-
scented be transmitted to the House of Bish-
ops with request that they prepare a pas
toral letter for publication. The resolution
was adopted.
The committee on expenses presented res
olutons that in the future each diocese
should provide for the expenses OF its bish-
OPP and clerical deputies attending conven-
tons, and also that no portion of personal
expenses should be borne by parishes or the
people of the city at which sessions are held
There was very general discussion OF the
best methods of meeting the expenses of the
Convention. Rev. DR.. Locke of Illinois
said no doubt it seemed ungracious to many
deputies that Chicago did not offer to take
the convention, but they wished to save all
the money possible for the celebration of
their semi-centennial, year after next The
report of the committee was finally adopted,
Rev. DIR. Beatty of Kansas, from the COM
mittee on unfinished business reported, rec
ommending, the House of Bishops concur
ring with the House of Deputies, to adjourn
the evening of the Goth inst After reading the
Pastoral letter it was unanimously agreed to-
The trustees of the several theological
seminaries were named.
Rev. DR.. Gray, of Tennessee, addressed
the convention relative to the Sewanee con-
ference He moved to amend the report of
the committee on canons as follows:
"That the board of managers be urged TO an
propriate $50, 900 for work among colored ppo-
pie and that the amount be distributed among
the dioeeses in proportion to the colored popu-
lation."
1t was defeated and the resolutions of the
committee were adopted.
The report of the JOINT committee on the
prayer-book was taken up. Rev. P. G.
Robert, of Missouri, said the proposition of
his colleague Rev. Dr. Fulton was that
there should be an amendment to the con-
stitution allowing the use of the book
for three years. His colleague had
acted in good faith, but the action taken by
the convention few days ago adopting the