The daily gazette., 1883-10-24
rnE mrxIoAN muDDLE.
Bishop Riley's Resignation Demanded
Report OF fIIe COmmissiOn,

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 23.-At to days
session Of the Episcopal Convention memo
rials Of Rev. John Cotton Smith, D. D., Of
New York; Rev. William Shelton, d. D., for
over half a century rector of a church al
Buffalo, N. Y, and others were read and
adopted.
The report of the Committee on Amend
ment TO the Constitution relative to altera.
tions In the book of common prayer was
taken up. The committee reported ad-
versely 10 the tentative use OF any portion
of the book and the report was adopted.
The report from the same committee con-
curing with the house of Bishops In substi-
tuting tfe words House of Deputies" for
"Convention" in certain places in the con-
stituton was adopted.
The repo t of the Committee on Canons
relative to the work among the colored pop
ulation In the South was then taken up.
The committee reported that In their opin-
ion legislation intended for coed might op.
crate for evil. The Church cannot too care
fully avoid drawing lines of distinction be-
tween different classes. The special COM
mittee on the sane subject had reported
recommending the adoption Of a canon for
the establishment OF separate missionary
organizations in the different dioceses under
the direction of the bishops. The report of
the special committee was not agreed to.
The two houses met In the afternoon as
the Board of Missions and Mr.. James NJ.
Brown was reelected Treasurer of the Do
mestic and Foreign Missionary Society.
The Right Rev. Bishop Doane, of Albany,
presented the report of the Mexican Com
mission, which stated that during 1881 in
creased dlssa atisiaction was felt as to the con-
duct OF affairs In Mexico. In 1882 the COM
mission expressed to Bishop Riley In strong
terms their opinion that the Chur should
be called on 70 support the Church Ia
Mexico until all the terms Of the covenant
had teen met, and his presence was re-
quested In New York. A communication
was subsequently sent to Bishop Riley by
Bishop Lee, in which he stated that it ap
peared to the commission that there had
been an apparent want of open dealing In
regard to the liturgy, and that actually its
completion was being hindered. There had
been also an apparent misappropriation of
funds aud several congregations In Mexico
have never received an episcopal visitation.
No answer was received to this communi-
cation. A telegram was subsequently sent
requesting the presence OF Bishop Riley IN
this city on the 18th inst. On the 10Th
an answer was received that Bishop
Riley could not leave his work on such
short notice. At q meeting of the Mexican
Commission 1t was concluded that the work
could lot be carried on under Bishop Riley
and on the 10Th inst, he was requested 10
resign the work. An answer has since been
received which seemed to imply that Bishop
Riley had resigned. The report stated that
the mission had for years been supported IL
a great measure from the Bishops own
funds. There was no question with the COM
mission as to the duty of continuing the re-
form movement in Mexico, but the commits
sion was not prepared to state what the
method should be.
A communication from The House of
Bishops was read, stating that by an unani-
nous vote they had approved of the action
of the commission in requesting the resigna.
tion of the Bishop Of the Valley of Mexico,
and also recommending that mission work
In Mexico be carried on.
Rev. DR.. Fulton, or Missouri, said state
ments had been made that a convent had
been entered into with the Church of Jesus
In Mexico. 1t was impoi tant to know with
whom that covenant had been made. The
general convention was the only body that
could authorize such covenant. The
Mexican Commission, having the unanimous
appreciation of the House of Bishops, has
requested the Bishop of the Valley of
Mexico to resign his commission. Now, In
whose hands is 1t TO be placed! Bishop
Riley is not within the jurisdiction of this
church. He is the head of synod of his
own church. If he resigns, what thens We
will have adrift In the world another de-
tachcd bishop responsible to no church on
earth and liable to establish schsmatic co.
cieties.
After a discussion as to what disposition
should be made OF the report it was laid on
the table.
The House of Bishops met this morning
and the resignation of the Right Rev.
BiBhop Potter as Secretary of the House was
accepted and Re-. DIR. William Tatlock was
elected to ill the position.