National Republican., 1883-10-23
PULPIT PROBLEMS.
Interesting Discussions in the Episcopal Con-
ventOn.
Educational Matters Debatod--The Prayer
Book Alterations.

of the general convention of the Protestant
Episcopal church was opened with morning
prayer by Rev. Daniel Henshawe S. T. d., OF
Rhode Island, and Rev. r. +. Sweet, of Illi-
nois. The benediction was pronounced by
the Right Rev. Bishop Lyman, of North
Carolina. The house of deputies was called
to order by Rev. DR.. Beardsley.
Judge Wilder, of Minnesota, from the COM
mittee on amendments to the constitution, to
whom had been referred tho question of the
right of a bishop of missionary jurisdiction
to become the bishop of new diocese erected
out of his iurisdiction reported, recommend
ing that TO accomplish that end it would be
expedient to amend article of the constitu
tion. 1t was placed on the calendar
DIR. Chaplin of western Michigan, from the
joint committee ON education, presented q
report which stated that the number o
schools for both sexes should be increased
resolution in the report was to the effect
that the feast for the conversion of st. Paul
or some other day be set apart as a day OF
special intercession for schools and colleges
Rev. DIR. Anstice, one of the secretaries, said
that the house had already concurred with
the house of bishops in setting apart for that
purpose the second Sunday after Epiphany.
The report was placed on tho calendar.
The report of the committee on canons
recommending to diocesan conventions the
Importance OF recurring that none but COM
municants shall be church wardens, and that
vestrymen shall conform to the discipline OF
this church was then taken up.
Mr.. Fisher, of western New York, said this
was q matter Of great interest to the church
These matters should be intrusted to those
whose hearts are in them. The church knows
hxva ,bnA ., 80 4
other interests than those of the church. 1t
is legal question as to whether it is compe-
tent for the general convention to enact this
rule by general canon. The effect of incor-
poration of a church is this: That it is an as
sistance to the church in carrying on its work.
He had examined the laws of seventeen states
of the union, from Maine to California, from
Minnesota to Louisiana, and in not one of
them is there word or suggestion of an idea
that 1t is necessary for the state to fix any
qualification on church officers 1t devolves
on the church to determine what this qualifi-
cation shall be- He moved that the canon bc
amended so as to read that all wardens shall be
COMMITMENTS and that all vestrymen shall
subscribe in writing promise to conform to
the doctrine discipline, and worship of the
Protestant Episcopal church.
Mr.. Nelson, Of Alabama, moved to lay the
amendment on the table. Not agreed to.
Mr.. Mcconnell, of Louisiana, raised the
point that the constitutonality of the pro-
posed action belongs to each diocese.
The amendment Of Mr.. Fisher was not
agreed to-
Mr.. Fisher moved that the report be
recommitted.
Rev. DIR. Harrison, of Albany, said the
committee had no doubt as to the expediency
of canon on the subject, but they doubted
whether it was competent for the convention
to regulate the corporations of the different
states by canon.
The resolution in the report of the commit
tee was adopted.
A resolution providing for the holding of
evening sessions was adopted by a vote Of 101
yeas to "A nays.
Resolution No. Ia of the committee on
canons, relating to amending title of canon
10 of ministers ordained for foreign coun-
tries" was then considered and adopted.
Report No. of the committee on education,
on the resolution of Rev. Mr. Haskins, of
Quincy, relating to the establishment of u
school board with capital Of S100,000,000,
was taken up. The committee had reported
adversely. The report was adopted.
The order of the day was taken up, viz,
the consideration of the resolutions offered by
Rev. DIR. Huntington, Of Massachusetts, as
follows:
Resolved, That there shall be and are hereby
proposed in this general convention for adoption
or rejection by the next general convention the
ultefhuOub ana auultlOnS III the book OF common
prayer In the said report and the book annexed
as amended severally, and severally and sep
arately set forth, and each of the sections therein
noted Is hereby proposed q distinct and inde-
pendent alteration or addition in the said book of
common prayer and TO be acted upon separately
by the next general convention;
Resotued, That the said alterations and additions
be seyerally nude known to the convention of
every diocese of the church, to the end that each
ana every one OF them may be acted upon for
adoption or rejection, as the said convention shall
determine.
Judge SheATey, of Virginia, offered the fol-
lowing as an amendment.
ResoiUed (the house of bishops concurrlng), That
in the report of the joint committee the book of
common prayer and the book annexed, returned
Herewith, substantial and in general satisfactory
provision has been made in the direction of lturgi-
cal enrichment and Increased fexibility of use of
the book OF common prayer, and for the needs of
the church III the exigencies of the present time.
But. in view OF the very grave Importance of the
measure proposed, involving as it does many
tion in II book which is very dear
to the ,IP people, and ID which has for nearly
shadow OF n great rock in II weary land" 1t is
deemed proper TO allow further time for the con-
sideration Of the subject so that when the amend
ance they may be as free from defects and errors
as practicable, and, therefore, both houses CON
curing such report, including the parts thereof
which have been considered by the respective
houses, be recommitled 10 said joint committee
with the request that they make further report
tue'coh ~ te hoAt scsslOl ol Tue general COnNen-
uon; aud the two houses trust that at that time
the general convention will be clothed with the
power as 10 any alterations or additions TO the
book OF common prayer which may then be pro-
posed to authorize the use thereof for three years
prior TO final action thereon.
R-Sotped Uhe house of bishops concurring), That
nrHcle Of the constitution be amended by adding
thereto the following words: "And provided
iurther That the general convention ut lis session
~ he holden in October 1886 may authorize the
use tor the period of three years thereafter such
alterations and additions to the look of common
prayer as II may propose for adoption al such ses
sion"
Res0lUed, That the foregoing amendment pro-
posed ior adoption AT the next general convention
DC made known 10 the council or convention OF
every diocese.
Rev DR.. Huntington said that the effect of
the proposed action would be to throw the
whole matter into solution and leave it as it
was, except that II portion has been consid.
cred Ii amounted to referring the whole
matter to the next general convention,
Tear up the report, said DIR. Huntington.
burn, trample on 1t, but, in the name of ali
that is merciful, refrain from referring il To
the next general convention. laughter,
There is such thing as indecent haste. but
there is also such thing as indecent pro-
crastInation. lie did not expect standard
prayer book until 1889
Judge Wilder, of Minnesota. proposed an
intermediate line of action, aud offered as a
substitute that such parts Of the report as
have been considered in detail in the house
be adopted rs several and independent propo-
sitions, and that they be seVerally made
known to the several dioccses, with view to
their being adopted by the next general con