The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-17
THE CHURCH CONVENTIONS.
The Episcopalians Still Struggling
with Prayer-Book Revision.
A Disposition to Repress Certain High
Church Practices Proceedings of
the House of Bishops.
THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
A Memorial from the Diocese of Indiana o
Evangelical Work.

A Memorial from the Diocese of Indiana on
Evangelical Work
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 16.-At the general
convention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, the committee on the state of the
church reported relative to a memorial from
the diocese of Indiana to revise the work of
the evangelists and authorize their employ
ment in the church in America, that the
committee did not deem it expedient to make
at this time, any recommendations on so
grave a subject. DIR. Weller, of Florida, Of
fered resolution that the work among the
colorei people of the South does not require
extraordinary ecclesiastical machinery, and
that $4,000 be annually appropriated for
work among the colored people, which was
referred.
Hamilton Fish offered resolution, that if
the committee of the whole did not conclude
the work of considering the report of the re-
vision OF the prayer-book by certain time
during the present convention, any amend
ments proposed may be sent in writing to
the joint committee on or before Jan. l,
1885.
A resolution for the repression of the So
called high church" practices was referred
to the committee on the state of the church.
Cured with the House of Bishops, who
adopted the report of the committee on lee
tlonary, after amending it by restoring the
story of Balaam and his ass, in the twenty
second chapter of Numbers.
James N. Fisher, of western New York.
offered the following:
"Whereas, The potency and progress of the
church against error, ignorance and supersti-
tion are commensurate with her preservation,
her faith and her doctrines in their primitive
purity; and,
"Whereas. 1t is commonly rumored and
charged to be true that certain ministers Of this
church, in care of churches or parishes, in COM
munion Herewith, have, during long periods of
time past, introduced during the celebration of
the holy communion, and still continue the
same, ceremonies and practices not ordained or
authorized in the book of common prayer, and
setting forth or syInbolizing erroneous or doubt
ful doctrines, and also holding and teaching
= bl1cly and advisedly doctrines contrary TO
those held by the Protestant Episcopal church
IN the United States of America, and in violation
Of the canons OF the general conventions; there
fore, be it -saC. ...
tee on the state of the church, with Instructions
to ascertain and report to this house with all
convenient speed, as to the truth of such
charges, and if they shall be found to be true.
then that the ecclesiastical authority of such
diocese or diOceses within whose jurisdiction the
same may have originated, be requested to in
form this house why such minister of the church
or parish is permitted to remain in unquestlOnod
communion with the church, and why such
rumors and charges have not been 1nvesti gated.
as the eanOns require, IN order that sucn further
action may be taken as may be deemed neces-
sary and expedient in the premises"
Mr. Fisher said that in presenting this
resolution, as an humble representative of
this church. he washed his hands of what
ever consequences may grow out of it. 1t is
the cornerstone of that faith that the triune
God is the only object of its worship. He
characterized the practices he denounces as
idolatry and an abomination in the sight of
God. These things are not done in obscure
corners, and the boast is made that the
churches which hold to these practices are
increasing in strength in a ratio far In adj
vance of any Others. He called upon the
houses of Deputies and Bishops to check the
tendency of that which might call down on
the church the displeasure of God.
Rev. DIR. Abercrombie, of California, moved
to lay the resolution on the table.
The chair stated that it had understood
there was no objection to referring it to the
committee on the state of the church, and it
was so referred.
The house then went into committee of
the whole on the joint report of the commit
tee on prayer-book. Considerable progress
was made with the report. The nicene creed.
the "hlioque," and He descended into hell"
bringing up discussion, but without affecting
the report of the committee, all the material
amendments being rejected. They adjourned
until tomorrow.
HOUSE OF BISHOPS.
In the House of Bishops, to-day, Bishop
Garrison, of Nebraska, rendered his resigna-
ton as bishop of the jurisdiction of Dakota.
His reason for this action was, that Dakota
\ as yesterday divided into North and South,
Il title of Bishop Hare being, now. that of
South Dakota 80.
The house refused to adopt the report OF
the joint committee on rules OF order, and
asked for another conference. The house
then went into committe of the whole en-
the revision of the Prayer Book, and finished
the litany.
LOCAL uREA CuERs, CONuENrroN