National Republican., 1883-10-11
EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
Proceedings at Yesterdays Gathering in Phil
adelphia.
A Number OF Interesting Matters Passed
Upon-ResoIutions and Motions.


the United States reassembled this morning
in the church of the Holy Trinity. Morning
prayer was read by Rev. Louis p. Tschiffely,
of Kentucky, and Rev. Edward II. Randall, of
Vermont. The benediction was pronounced
by the Right Rev. Bishop Huntington, Of con-
tral New York. The convention was then
called to order by the president, Rev. DR..
Beardsley. A message was received from tho
house Of bishops, stating that they had
adopted resolution that the standing COM
mittee Of each house be authorized to meet
with those of the other as joint committees.
The message was concurred in. The commit
tee on amendments TO the constitution, to
whom was referred the matter of striking out
the words protestant episcopal" reported
that in their op inion IL was inexpedient. 1t
was placed on the calendar.
The committee on amendments to the con-
stitution, to whom was referred the matter Of
changing the words general convention" to
"tNennial council" reported that they
deemed it inexpedient. The report was
adopted. Rev. DIR. Payne, of Albany, from
the committee on the prayer book, reported
that in their opinion it was deemed inadvisa-
BILE to introduce the proposed canon on mar
riage and divorce. Tho committees request
to be discharged was granted.
Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix, of New York, pre-
sented the fourth trienual report of the board
of trustees of the fund for the relief of the
widow and orphans of deceased clergymen,
and of aged, infrm, and disabled clergymen.
Rev. Dr. Giesy, of Connecticut. presented
paper on the uniformity of usage in the matter
of the enumeration and removal of communi-
cants.
memorial from the Church of the Trans
figuration of New York, asking that the feast
of the TRANSPORTATION be not assigned to any
other day than the sixth of August, was on
motion referred to tho committee Of the
whole on the prayer book.
Rev. DIR. Peterkin, of Virginia, offered
resolution requesting the committee on lee
tionary to considerable propriety of emitting
from the calendar the apochryphal lesson,
and substituting the canonical lessons from
scripture. Referred TO tho committee on
dictionary.
MIA, the resolution making the report of the
committee on dictionary the order of the day
for 12 o'clock was rescinded.
Mr.. James II. Fisher, of western New York,
offered o resolution providing for an amend
ment to the canons, as follows: That no per-
son shall be eligible as warden of any par
ish who is not communicate, nor shall any
one be qualified to act rs vestryman until
he has first filed a declaration that he will
conform to the doctrine, discipline, and wor
ship of the church. Referred to the COM
mittee on cauons.
Rev. DIR. Knight, from the diocese OF con-
tral Pennsylvania, announced the arrival Of
the city of delegation from Canada.
Rev. Thomas w. Haskins. from the diocese
of Quincy, rose to question of privilege, and
gtatod he was sorry the impression had gone
forth that his resolution relative to Christian
education was intended as o burlesque. He
was not joking but seriously in earnest.
- l. Il
presented resolution that during the consid-
Grafton of the report of the joint committee
on the prayer book no one shall make more
than one speech on one subject, nor for a
longer timo than ten minutes. Referred to
the committee on rules.
The house then went into committee of
the whole, Judge Shelley in the chair.
On reassembling after recess q communion
tion was received from Mr.. T. Clyde offering
to place at the disposal of the members of the
convention and their families, either Friday
afternoon, twelfth instant, or nineteenth in
slant, the steamer Columbia for sail around
the harbor. The invitation was accepted for
the nineteenth instant, with vote of thanks.
On motion Of Rev. DR.. Huntington the resi-
due of the report of the joint committee on
prayer book was referred to the committee of
the whole.
The convention then went into committee
of the whole and the amendment of Mr.. Hay,
of the selections of psalms after the table for
the proper day was discussed.
Rev. w. Nelson McVickar, d. D., of Penn
sylvania, maintained that, taking away lib
erty is not in the interest of increased tlexi-
bility.
Rev. R. Addison Cobbs, of West Virginia,
and Rev. j. Il. Girault, of Louisiana, were un-
able to see that there was any restriction of
liberty.
vote was taken. and Mr.. Hays amend
ment was lost.
Rev. DIR. Benedict, of southern Ohio, offered
resolution that the ten selections of psalms
rs in the standard prayer book be retained.
The chair stated that that subject would come
up in u later portion of the report.
Rev. Dr. Harrison, of Albany, moved an
amendment to the second clause page 10,
OF the book, annexed by striking out the
words "feasts and fasts" in the third line of
the order how the rest of tho holy scriptures
is appointed to be read, and substitute the
words holy day"
The amendment was agreed to by vote OF,
ayes, ITO; nays T5.
Rev. DIR. w. X. Huntington said it was in
evitabe that the principles of fexibility and
enrichment would occasionally come into con-
flict This was the case relative to hymns
and anthems There is u restricted clause
that. in the opinion of some, has never ex-
listed. 1t was that only such hymns shall be
used as are authorized by the church. He
ooutended that there was no more potent
means of religious instruction than the hymn
Rev. DIR. Fulton, of Missouri, stated that he
was as little disposed as any one to introduce
Calvinistic or quasi Roman hymns. While it
is true that heresy has been adroitly pro-
NOTED by hymns that led men astray, yet
religion comes by the heart. The question is
not how to stop heresy but how to enrich the
church and to reach mems souls by hymnol-
ogy or otherwise. He had never used ex-
temporaneous prayer in public worship, but
there are men who possess that gift. He did
not believe that the church had been wise in
denying to her clergymen the use of extern
poraneous prayer. 1t was not question of
vestments or of mems opinions but of deyo-
tion. Why should we leave the devil all good
music2 In the order of Gods providence he
has appointed sweet singers to praise the
beauty of holiness.
Mr.. Henry Meigs, of northern New Jersey,
said there was danger in opening the door to
alterations. The committee had promised to
give what they could in the form of enrich
ment aud Aexibility The restrictions in the
report of the committee would be virtually
opening the hoodgate for false doctrine.
Rev. Frederick w. Taylor, of the diocese
of Springfield, moved as a further amend
ment the following: But only such hymns
shall bo used in tho church as are or may be
duly set forth or allowed by tine authority of
the same"
A vote was taken, which resulted in the de-
feat of both amendments. Section O in tho
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