National Republican., 1883-10-18
THE COUNCIL OF TEE CHURCH.
Yesterdays Sessions Of the Protestant EpiscO-
pal Convention.
The Proposed Change in the Title Of
the Prayer Book Discussed
Several Of the Suggested Amendments Of the Prayer
Book Rejected.
Detailed Report OF tho Work OF the
House OF bishops.


morning prayer was read by Rev. William
Allen Fiske, d. D., of Maine and Rev. James
J. Vaulx, of Arkansas. The benodiction was
pronounced by the Right Rev. Bishop White
head, of Pittsburg. The house of deputies
was then called to order.
Rev. DIR. Benedict, of southern Ohio, from
the committee on amendments to the consti-
tuition, reported that the committee consd-
cred the tentative use of proposed alterations
and addition to the prayer book as unwise.
The report was placed on the calendar.
The same committee reported on the me-
MORALS asking for such legislation as will
allow the establishment of n court of appeals
that they deemed it inexpedient. Placed on
the calendar.
Another report from the same committee
was to the effect that they deem inexpedient
the proposed canon for the trial of presbyters
and deacons. The committees request to be
discharged from the further consideration of
the matter was granted
The committee on Christian education re-
ported adversely relative to the resolution of
Rev. Mr.. Haslsins for the raising of a fund of
$10O000,00 for tho establishment of church
schools. Placed on the calendar.
Rev. DIR. Abercrombie, of northern New
Jersey, presented the report of the committee
on the memorials of deceased members, which
WAS adopted.
The committee on expenses reported that
the cost of the convention of 1877 was $11 400,
and that of 1880, $4,000.
The present convention started with $500
in the treasury. The report contained reso-
lutions that the salary of the secretary of the
house of bishops be 5000 for the first year
and 500 for each of the succeeding years;
that the salary of the secretary Of the house
of deputies be 81 200 for the first year and
$500 for each of the two succeeding years.
The report was adopted.
Rev. Dr. Hail. of Long Island. moved that
all reports of amendments to the constitution
be made tho order of the day for Saturday
at IL o'clock and discussed continuously until
disposed Of. Adopted.
Rev. DR.. harrington, of northern New
Jersey, from the committee ON the general
theological seminary, reported, recommend
ing that the house of deputies concur in the
action of the house of bishops relative to the
amendments of the constitution. A minority
report was also presented, the ground taken
being that at the meeting at which the amend
ments were adopted there were not more than
thirty trustees present; that the changes were
of radical and sweeping nature; that the
amended constitution was imperfect in many
particulars.
On motion the whole subject was made the
order of the day for IL o'clock tomorrow.
The calendar was then taken up and report
1
relative to q change in the title Of the prayer
book and of the ordnal by striking out the
words Protestant Episcopal" was consid-
cred.
Rev. DIR. Thrall, of the diocese ofspringfeld,
in the first place objected to Protestant
Episcopal" " because it is distinctly Romish.
, laughter If we have authority to judge
we do not protest---we act When this word
was first used it was precisely in this manner
If the papacv at that time had given respect
Z 1ful consideratio to the protest their suprem-
acy would have continued in Germany TO
this day. The words Protestant Episcopal Z"
arc Romish and wholly Romish. There is no
reason why the church should call itself
Episcopal because some others have called
themselves Presbyterian. The second OBJ
lection was that the title Protestant
Episcopal is false. When did the church
of England ever protest? When the
question arose in England the mother church
did not protest. She turned the intruder out
of doors. much greater objection to the
title is its inexpedency During the last
year and half he had been laboring in
little mission, the diocese of Springfield. The
peonle there are tired of sectarianism, of
ponuar reliCiOnism. Who is gathering them
in? Not the church, but Rome.
Rov. DIR. Thrall was at this point inter-
ruptcd by motion of DIR. Huntington, of
Massachusetts. that the house should go into
committee of the whole.
This was agreed to, and Judge Sheffey took
the chair.
The committee resumed consideration of
clause P, in the report of the committee on
the prayer hook.
Mr.. Judd, Of Illinois moved to amend by
striking out the proposed rubric, and insert
ing the one in the standard book of common
prayer. The change consisted principally in
leaving out all reference to the Nicene creed
Mr.. Judd hoped that this church will not
undertake TO place bar by inserting the
Nicene creed.
Rev. Dr. Ahercrombie, of northern New
JERSEY, had intended Offering the motion sub
mittcd by Mr.. Judd. He stated that through
out the eastern church the Ncene creed is the
great bond of faith. 1t is recited by the czar
at his coronation 1t is as dear to 100. 900, 900
Christians as the apple of their eye. There is
often rebound from the attacks of error
which are fatal to truth. The American
church did not originate the schism, and
should not endeavor to perpetuate it. The
Yicene council thought it enough to place in
the creed, ~ believe in the Holy Ghost" The
words, the Lord and giver of life," were
subsequently added, and the church of Rome
was the first to protest against it. Let us not
place in the communion office that which will
be stigma to the church.
The chair ruled Mr.. Judd's motion out of
order.
Mr.. George Fl. Bates, of Delaware, moved
that the committee report favorably clause P.
Rev. DIR. Adams, of Wisconsin, moved to
amend hv restorin" the punctuation as it was
n the standard prayer book of 1871.
DR.. Adams thought the Romish the ablest
of all churches in the way of organization.
He did not want the convention to give a
punctuation marked by stupidity to the creed.
The matter of dividing it into twelve articles
simply cOnfnses the whole thing,
Rev. DR.. Richards, OF Rhode Island, rose to
a point Of order that the committee was dis.
cussing the rubric and not the creed.
The chair ruled against the point of order
on the ground that the rubric under discus
sion stated how the creed was to be said.
Mr.. Malcolm Hay, Of Pittsburg said the
discussion had been mainly doctrinal in char
acter. ana this discussion would have been
avoided If the committee had allowed the
rubric to remain as tits in the standard prayer
book,
The chair stated that the proposition in Mr..
Judds motion was to adopt that which is at
present the prayer book, and il would, there
fore not be an amendment. The chair would
entertain the motion at the present time.
Rev, DIR. Knight, of central Pennsylvania,
maintained that the punctuation adopted by
tho committee was one admirably adapted for
the purpose.
Rev. DIR. Huntington said it seemed to him
that they were mixing things up, and that the
matter ofthe punctuation of the creed should
come up afterward.
The amendment of Rev. DIR. Adams was
sdonted.
Mr. Henderson. Of North Carolina, moved
TO amend, by striking out the words Com