Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-10-25
THE EPISCOPALIANS
Report of the Committee on the State Of
the Chureh-The Inadequate
Number of
Candidates for Holy Orders-The Work
Ameng the Colored Peopie-Pray-
or Book Revision.

PHILADELPHIA, October 24-Nineteenth |
days session of the General Convention
OF the Protestant Episcopal Church.
In the House of Deputies the Commit
tee on the State of the church made a re-
port upon the preamble and resolution of
James II. Fisher, lay deputy from the
Diocese of Western New York, concern
ing the common remark that certain min
listers OF this church have during long
periods periods past introduced during
the celebration of the holy communion
ceremonies not authorized in the Book OF
Common Prayer and symbolizing erro-
neous or doubtful doctrines. The COM
mittee reached the unanimous conclusion
that this subject is beyond the competency
OF this committee; and further, that it is
amply provided for by canon %, title /,
entitled "Of the use of the Book of Com
mon Prayer" to which they earnestly call
the attention of the clergy. The commit
| tee request to be discharged from further
| consideration OF the subject, which was
granted.
The Committee on the State OF the
| Church stated that there are now in the
| Episcopal Church in the United States
! forty-eight dioceses, fifteen missionary
| Jurisdictions, sixty-seven bishops, 250O
other clergy, 5000 organized parishes, and
more than $4,000 communicates. The
! report records too inadequate number of
candidates for holy orders, and called spe-
cial attention to the work of the Church
| Temperance Society. Church music, it
says, has made progress. The enriched
Book OF Common Prayer was hailed with
| delight. The report concluded with a res
olution that the view of the state of the
Church there presented be transmitted to
the House OF Bishops, with the request
that they prepare pastoral letter ior pub
! lIpatIOD The rpgOlutiou maS a1opta6
The Committee ON Expenses presented
resolutions that in future each diocese
| should provide for the expenses of its
bishop and clerical deputies attending the
! convention, and also that no portion of
personal expenses should be borne by the
parishes or people of the city in which the
sessions were held.
There was very general discussion of
the best methods of meeting the expenses
OF the convention. The Rev. DIR. Locke,
OF Illinois, said no doubt it seemed ungra-
cious 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-centenniaI
year after next. The report of the COM
mittee was finally adopted.
The Rev. DR.. Beatty, of Kansas, from
the Committee on Unfinished Business,
reported recommending that, the House
| VI DlSllOilS lllC IlOuSc duJOuTu
on the evening of the 26th, after the read
ing of the pastoral letter. Unanimously
agreed to-
The trustees of the several theological
seminaries were named.
The Rev. DIR. Gray, of Tennessee, adj
dressed the convention relative to the
Sewanee Conference. He moved to amend
the report OF the Committee ON Canons as
follows: That the Board of Managers be
| 10, TO- ha L
among the colored people, and that the
amount be distributed among the dioceses
in proportion to the colored population.
Defeated, and the resolution of the COM
mittee adopted.
The report of the Joint Committee on
the Prayer Book was taken up, and the
Rev. p. G.. Robert of Missouri, said the
proposition of his colleague, the Rev. DIR.
; Fulton, was that there should be an
amendment TO the constitution allowing
the use of the book for three years. His
colleague had acted in good faith, but the
action taken by the convention a few days
, ago in adopting the amendments and re-
, port had thrown him and others out.
, Recess.
EVENING SESSION.
On reassembIing the committee ap-
pointed to recommend plans for the due
? observance OF the centennial period of the
American tnurcH reported, recommending
that members OF the Church be called
upon to commemorate with fitting and
solemn observance the centennial of the
2 conservation OF Samuel Se2bury by the
bishops of the Church in Scotland, in
1884. The committee called upon the
! Church to note as days of solemn OBJ
servance noted days in ecclesiastical an
nails, and show their gratitude to God by
liberal gifts to all the great charities OF the
Church. The report was adopted
= In Committee OF the Whole the House
consuused much time in considering the
report of the Joint Committee on the
: Prayer Book. When the committee rose
n the Rev. DIR. McVicker, of Pennsylvania
. reported that the committee unanimously
3 agreed to recommend Chicago as the place
. for the next meeting OF the convention.
: The Rev. DIR. Locke, of Illinois, stated
/ that his diocese would be pleased to wei
; come the convention Report adopted.