National Republican., 1883-10-12
REVERENDS In COUNCIL.
The Episcopal Convention Still Considering
Important Church Matters.
Condition eS Churches in Canada and tho
United States.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct 1.-THE general con-
vention of the Protestant Episcopal church
in the United States reassembled this morn
ing in Holy Trinity church. Morning prayer
was read by Rev. William H. Van Antwerp,
of Iowa, and Rev. T. Stafford Droune, ID. r.,
of Long Island. The benediction was pro-
nounced by the Right Rev. Bishop Burgess,
of Quincy. The convention was called to
order by Rev DIR. Beardsley.
Messages were received from tho house OF
bishops, stating that they had concurred with
the house of deputies, rea tive to the transfer
of the county Of Manitou from the diocese of
Michigan to Western Michigan, and to tho
proposed change of name of the diocese of
Illinois Rev. DIR. Benedict, of southern
Ohio, presented a report from the committee
on the constitution, relative TO reducing the
representatives from different dioceses to
three clergymen and three laymen instead of
four, rs at present The committee did not
deem such change expodient.
Tho report was placed on the calendar
Rov. Dr. Payne, from the committee on
prayer book, reported that they could not
recommend at this time the restoration of the
prayer of humble access between the
conservation and the distribution. The
committee asked leave to be discharged, and
their request was granted
Rev. Mr.. Dafter, of the diocese of Fond du
Lac. offered q resolution, which was referred
to the committee on canons, that any prosby-
ter feeling himself wronged by his bishop
should have right to demand an inquiry.
Rev. j. N. Stansbury, of northern New Jer-
sey, offered a resolution which was referred
to the joint committee on prayer book, pro-
Viding for proper prefaces in the office of the
holy communion for all those days, except
Good Friday, for which there is no provision,
and also for use on All Saints day not already
provided for.
OF canada were then presented to the con-
vention
The Right Rev. John Medley, d. D., lord
bishop OF Fredericton and Metropolitan, of
Canada, then addressed the convention. He
said it was not the first time he had attended
the convention. We are all one church, said
he, and it is q comfort to know that those
ties by which we are joined can never be
broken. lie looked back to the time when
Bishop Seabury was elected by some twelve
clergymen, and an effort was made to over
come the scepticism Of England. All honor
to the part played at that time by the Scottish
church. We see in the history of Bishop
Seabury another example of the small grain
OF mustard seed There were men ut that
time full of evaporation at the great
struggle between the colonies and the
mother country. There were those
at that time who wished no bishop
God raised up, however, two men
to bring the church to the desired haven.
The lord bishop then referred to the great
love in Canada for the sister church. The
convention is engaged, said he in more
important work-the enrichment Of the
liturgy. He asked the deputies to give heed
to the counsels Of an old man. and to proceed
with the utmost conservatism. The moment
the prayer book is put forth as the future
mr. nrnn hnnl Af lao. oh,
keener criticism than may be expected. Let
us all, despite our different schools of thought,
unite i'll the work for the church. Schools
of thought there will always be. In the
present state of public feeling we must bear
with each other in the same church with diff
ferent schools of thought, and embrace each
other as common brothers.
The lord bishop implored the blessing of
God ON the deliberations of the convention,
and hoped that when they separated they
would have nothing to regret.
The Rev. Dean Baldwin, of Montreal, ad-
dressed the convention, and said the'fraternal
tie which bound the church in Canada to the
great church in the United States was because
deeper, stronger, mightier than all they
recognize the unity of a common faith-one
shepherd and one flock. Political distinc-
tlons, however great, can never separate u.s.
Two living churches are like two living vines
planted on each side of q wall. There was a
States for her princely liberality, which has
infused mightier life into the church in
Canada. The church in Canada rejoiced that
the American church was celebrating its one
hundredth anniversary as church.
The Rev. Canon Brightstock, rector of
Trinity church, st. Johns, N. b., addressed
the convention, and in the course of his re-
marks said that the revision of the prayer
book was burning question throughout the
Anglican communion, and q misPiyinR was
telt as to any change
Hon. j. B. Plumb, senator of the Domin-
ion OF Canada, also addressed the convention
conveying the fraternal greetings of the pro-
vincial synod.
MIR. James A. Henderson, of Kingston, and
chancellor of the diocese of Ontario, addressed
the convention, and referred to the great in
crease in the church in Ontario which, how
ever, could not compare with that of tho
church in this country. He felt that .he
church OF Canada and of the United States
We're one The number of representatives
present in the convention showed tho great
interest taken in church doctrine.
Mr. Il. w. Henneker, of Sherbrook, in the
diocese of Quebec, the next speaker, said that
the church in Canada numbered only 6OOOOO
souls we are sometimes on this continent,
SAID he, apt to look on the old country as
worn out and efiete, but tho progress there is
quite as great as here. In the past thirty
years England has increased her clergy to the
Number of 1000 and of her churches to 6OOO,
She has raised $250,000.000 for the building
and repairing of churches and cathedrals, and
$500, 100000 for endowments. He referred To
the high conservative spirit of the American
church in the election of bishops, and he was
sorry he could not say the same thing about
the church in Canada The convention at
1l:3O o'clock Went into secret session on the
conservation of bishops.