National Republican., 1883-10-13
CONFERENCE OF DIVINES.
Addresses by Number Of Distinguished
Prelates.
Pfoccedings OF the House OF Bishops
Feast OF tho TRANSPORTATION.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 12.-The Protestant
Episcopal general convention resumed its ses-
sion this morning.
Morning prayer was read by Rev. Walter
Scott of Indiana, and Rev. NJ. NJ. Marshall.
ID. d., of North Carolina. The benedction
was pronounced by tho Right Rev. John
Adams Paddock, d. d., bishop of Washington
territory. The house of deputies was then
called to order by the president, Rev. Mr..
Beardsey
Rev. DIR. Thrall, of the diocese of Spring
field, rose to q question of privilege, and
stated that yesterday permission was refused
by the presidept to explain his vote. He now
desired to appeal from the decision of the
chair.
The president stated that he understood
that Mr.. Thrall wished to explain u vote
about to be given, and that was not in order.
Rev. Dr. Brown said If the appeal was con-
sidered it must be with closed doors.
The house proceeded with the regular bust
ness.
The committee on new dioceses reported,
recommending that the consent of the house
of deputies to the creation of the new dioceses
to be known as western Tennessee be not
granted, as it does not appear that tho article
in the constitution relative to the support of
Rev. DIR. Gray, of Tennessee, said his diocese
was disposed to bow to the decision OF the
convention.
Mr.. James Forsyth, of tho diocese of Albany
from the committee on the treasurer's report
of the bishops missionary fund, reported that
the account was correct.
Rev. DIR. Dix, from the special committee of
the diocese of New York ON the proposed
change in the ratification of the book on COM
mon prayer presented tho report of tho COM
mittee, which was referred to the committee
on prayer book.
The committee on canons reported that
they do not deem it expedient to adopt any
legislation at tho present time on the subject
of organized religious bodies. On motion of
Rev. DIR. Watson, from the committee on
canons, the proposed canon relative to making
the missionary bishop the diocesan of the
diocese former from his jurisdiction, was re-
ferred to the committee on amendments to
the diocese.
The committee on canons reported relative
to the resolution referred to them to the effect
that a warden of church should be COM
municant and that the members of the rec
tory should conform to the doctrine, dsci-
pline, and worship of the church, that it be
referred to the diocesan convention. 1t was
placed on the calendar.
Rev. DIR. Schenck, of Long Island, pro-
sented the report of the joint commission on
ecclesiastical relations.
Mr.. S. Corning Judd, of Illinois, offered an
amendment to article vi of the constitution,
relative to court of appeals, which was re-
ferred to the committee on amendments to
the constitution.
message was received from tho house of
bishops informing the house of deputies of an
amendment adopted by them relative to the
conservation of a bishop during the recess of
the general convention. 1t was referred to
committee of canons. Hon. l.. Bradford
Prince, of New Mexico, offered resolution
that the words, "The Lord is in His holy
temple let all the earth keep silent before
Him." be restored to the opening sentences in
the order for evening prayer. 1t was re-
1erred to the committee of the whole on the
report of the committee on revision of the
prayer book.
MIR. Stephen p Nash, of New York. offered
resolutions that the alterations and addition
in the thirty-third resolutions of the report
OF the Joint committee ON prayer book be
proposed and made known to tho different
diocesan conventions for action by the next
general conventions; also that the committee
be continued until the next convention, with
power to meet during tho recess and make
any alterations and amendments. In answer
to u question whether this would include en-
richment, Mr.. Nash said he supposed it would
include enrichment and impoverishment
At his request tho resolutions were laid on
the table for the present.
The house then went into committee of tho
whole on the report of the committee on the
revision of the prayer book, Judge Shetfey in
the chair
Rev, DIR. Egar of central New York, ven
tured the assertion that never at any time in
the history of the church has the feast of the
transfguration been celebrated between tho
first of January and the beginning of Lent
CallXtus Ill simply arranged the dignity of
the feast for his communion, and appointed IL
certain office to be said ON that day.
Rev. DIR. Egar contendcd that the feast had
nj alllN tfa.l l.N.,s
Lent.
Rev. DIR. Harwood, of Connecticut, said the
festival had been an uncertain quantity in
the Christian year. Because it was minor
festival it was celebrated at different times
The convention is entitled to go back to the
rationale of the feast and say it should be
celebrated between the Epiphany and Lent
Rev. DIR. Egar said chat, III IA calendar at
tributed to the fifth century and cited as the
calendar of st. Jerome the festival of the |
TRANSPORTATION Is entered as to be celebrated |
on Aug. 6. The festival was a minor one un- |
til Pope Calixtus raised it to what was called |
double feast. In the Greek church it was |
legal as well as ecclesiastical holiday.
Rev. Dr. Cyrus Il. Knight, of central Penn |
sylvania. thought the historical question had |
been settled, and that there was nothing TO |
show that the festival had ever been celc- |
brated on any other day than the sixth of |
August. There will be doubt always as to
the precise origin of this festival. The glory |
which our Lord manifested on the transiig- |
uration was the uncreoted glory. The An |
glician church is one going back into vast |
antiquity, and it would be loss to us for |
reasons of our own to alter the time for keep
ing the festival.
Rev. Dr. X. NJ Abercrombie, of northern
New Jersey, denied that anything could be
trivial which could help us to be in accord
with the other branch of the Catholic church.
The church has not yet ceased to offer her
prayer for spiritual victory over Jews,
Turks, and infdels lie referred to the in
consistency of an English church in Europe
and an American church by its side celobrat.
ing the feast ON different days. IIo trusted
the American church would place herself in
harmony with the rest of Christendom.
Mr.. A. Mills, of northern New Jersey, did
not think the church should take a vacation
from all religious duties ON the sixth of
August. Where there are churchmen there
should be q church. Tho universal custom
should be observed, and he believed the sixth
of August was the proper day.
Mr.. Nash, Of New York, offered the follow
ing as u substitute: "Or 10 tho sixth OF Au-
gust, as may be hereafter determined" Tho
chair ruled that the substitute was not in
order.
Rev. DIR. Huntington, of Massachusetts,,
said the committee proposed to recognize and
establish feast OF Our Lord never before
estahisnnd