National Republican., 1883-10-19
DEBATES OF THE DIvINEs.
The General Convention Of the Episcopal
Churches.
Interesting Points OF Yesterdays Proceed
ings at Philadelphia.

L
of the diocese of Easton. The benediction
was pronounced by the Rt. Rev. DIR. Thomp-
son, assistant bishop of Mississippi.
The house of deputies was then called to
order. Rev. DIR. Schenck, of Long Island,
presented the report of the special committee
on the disabled clergy fund. 1t stated that
the increase in contribution during the past
three years was over $4,000. The report
was placed on the journal.
Rev. John Wilkinson, of the diocese of
Quincy, offered a resolution that committee
be appointed to consider and report as soon
as may be, what portion of the report of the
joint committee on the prayer book. ought to
be Immediately adopted.
Mr.. Wilkinson stated that what is wanted
now is fexiblity. Enrichment can follow.
There being an objection, it was placed on
the calendar.
Report No. 2 of the committee on the
prayer book, declining to recommend the
passage of the resolution proposed by the Rev.
DIR. Fulton, relative to amending the consti-
tuition by striking out the words Protestant
Episcopal" was then taken up.
Rev. DIR. Fulton, of Missouri, had heard
that the portion of tho report of the COM
lnllIto Oh DdpJlsm auu buo uOly COhnuuiOh
would go over to the next general conven-
tion. He considered the use of thing the
best test.
Rev. DR.. Fulton asked that the report of
the committee relative to his resolution
should be postponed, to be taken up at future
time. The request was granted.
Report No. of the committee on the prayer
book, not approving of the proposed setting
forth of a Sunday school hymnal by tho gen.
prnl COnyentiOn w naYt pOnsidnrpd
Rev. Mr.. Buford said the priest has charge
of all the souls in his parish, and the Sunday
school system takes away the responsibility
from the rector and places it in the hands of
irresponsible persons. The rector of the par
ish should be the superintendent of the Sun
day school. He contended that the house
ought by no means to acquiesce in the resolu-
tion. If the convention should say that they
would put forth Sunday school hymnal
and require its use, it would take away the
beautiful Christmas and Easter carols. The
church has never in her legislative capacity,
Endorsed the Sunday school system
Rev. S. NJ. Bird, of Texas claimed that the
hope of the church in the future largely de-
pended on the Sunday school. He cited the
case of hymn, which had been sung in q
Sunday school, and the chorus was, Let u
away, let us away" The children took it in
literal sense, and left the school.
Rev. DR.. Phillips Brooks, of Massachusetts,,
stated that hitherto the Sunday schools had
worked with absolute freedom, and he hoped
the matter would be left whore it is now.
Rev. DIR. Gibson, of Virginia, meved as o
substitute that a joint committee be appointed,
consisting of two bishops. two clergymen,
and two laymen, to prepare hymnal.
The motion was not agreed to, and the con-
vention also declined to adopt the report of
the committee.
The order of the day was then taken up,
VIZ, the report of the committee on amend
lnent6 to the tut IN ha ram 4 hoo
logical seminary.
Rev. DR.. Thomas T.. Davies, Of Pennsyl-
vania, said the question before them was not
tho whole constitution, but only concurrence
with the house of bishops in articles and 6.
Tho board of trustees now consists of the
bishops and nearly 400 trustees scattered all
over the church. The suggestion now is that
the board shall consist of the bishops
of the church, who shall signify their accept
ance in writing, and that the house of depu-
ties shall elect twenty-five persons. The
minority report suggested that it might re-
suit that these twenty-five persons might
either be all clergymen or all laymen, but
there was every safeguard against such a
contingency. The proposed amendments to
the constitution had been adopted at regular
meeting of the board of trustees after most
full and thorough discussion. All those who
desire the future welfare of the seminary will
give their hearty support to the resolutions
Rev. G.. A. Christensen, of the diocese OF
Pittsburg, said the minority Of the committee
fully recognized the necessity of reduction
in the number of the board, but claimed that
there should be proper representation from
the different dioceses. The board of trustees
never intend and never will interfere with
the management of the funds of the semi
nary. The management IL in the hands of 9
standing committee and not one dollar can be
dsappropriated. 1t is not question of re
d ducing the board, hut all that was wanted
xun from, dinpaGe "a
pealed as Iowa son of the seminary not n
inlict severe wound on her and destroy hel
identity altogether; not to set her aside auf
put up stepmother in her place. and Tins
virtually change the name Of the institution
to that of the Pm Episcopal Divinity Schoo
of the diocese of New York
DIR. Shsttuck, of Massachusetts, contended
that tho more we can reduce the board o
trustees the better Having one trustee from
each diocese would do no good primarily o.
otherwise.
Rev. DIR. Dix Of New York, thought Il
proper to say something as a member of tht
standing committee. At the meeting of tht
board in 1899 very important amendment t,
the constitution was made. The amended
constitution has been agreed to by the hous
of bishops. 1t is impossible for any permancn
relief to come to the institnton-viZ, Tn,
trustees house of bishops, and house of dep
uties-until three bodies concur. The boart
is now larger than the entire clerical and In,
members Of the house of deputies, plus all th
bishops The board of trustees never meot
and never can meet; it is utterly ire
sponsible, and the management falls int
the hands of very few men
When the present dean Of the seminary wa
invited to New York he was warned by hi
friends not to take the office. The triennia
report speaks Of the great prosperity of tn
seminary, but DIR. Dix wished to call atten
tion to the fact that of the S15O.0OO contribu
ted during the past year, fully 100000 wa
contributed by the dean REV DIR. Hoffman
and members of his family. When tn
business men of New York arc asked for con
tributions to the seminary thev say, "Not on
dollar so long as you have this prepOsteron
board" The aim of the proposed amendmen
is to preserve all the rights that now exist
and preserve the general character of tn
seminary. He believed that the bishops woult
wisely exercise their powers. The diocese
are all represented in the house of deputies
and are competent to elect the trustees.
Rev. DIR. Langford of New Jersey said h
was not an alumuus or a trustee of the semi
nary and never had any special interest in II
n He thought it time that men should throw
away all shades of opinion, and mako the in
stitution in fact, what it is in name, tn
general theological seminary Of the Protestan
Episcopal church. He had been told that tn
trustees would not legslate themselves out o
office. In that event the very large number il