The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-21
The Episcopal Convention.

CHICAGO, Oct 20.-In the Episcopal conven-
ton, to-day, the committee On the state of the
church presented q report recommending the
appointment of a committee, to consist of five
bishops, five clergymen and five iaymen, to open
the various religious bodies, to ascertain if dds
position existed among them to promote organic
unity upon the basis of the Apostles Creed, the
breaking of bread and prayer, and asking them
for their opinion of what benefit they could
communicate to one another, and what advan-
tage would accrue to Christendom from such or
eanic union, and report to the general conven-
ton of 1885.
The same committee also presented another
report, In which they stated that they had had
under consideration the resolution offered by
Rev. DR.. Hopkins, of central Pennsylvania. rel
alive to the basis of church unity, and in their
opinion the same was inexpedient at the present
time.
Rev. DR.. Hopkins presented a minority report.
which stated that the plan which the committee
considered it inexpedient to consider was the
only plan submitted to bring about the object
aimed at. Until some plan was furnished a gem
eral expression of opinion would amount to
nothing. Not one of the Christian bodies had
said that it was willing to enter upon any plan
to bring about this organic unity. 1t was the
duty of this church to lead the way and to say
how far it was willing to 60. The outcome of
the Evangelical Alliance had demonstrated
that the great bulk of the great
Protestant denominations were already
prepared to surrender the insisting upon their
own peculiar practices. Tn report stated that
the things which must be secured by this church
in any union which might be accomplished we're
for the integrity of the catholic faith, as declared
by the undisputed general councils: episcopal
ordination. either alphabetically or absolutely.
the apostolic ordinance of confirmation. and
49, g -
eucharist. All the reports were placed on the
calendar.
The report of the special committee appeinted
to select a place for holding the General Conyen-
ton of 1889 was presented. 1t recommended
that the next General Convention be held in
New York city. Rev. DIR. Beardsley, in present
ing the report, said the centennial Of the revis-
ion of the book Of common prayer would occur
Oct. l6. 1889, and, while it might have been
deemed expedient that the next General Conven-
ton should meet in Philadelphia that wear,
where the revision OF the prayer book haa been
made, still the bishops of PENNSYLVANIA and the
deputies, both clerical and lay, of that diocese,
were perfectly willing that New York should be
the next place of meeting, and if it was deemed
advisable to celebrate the centenniala anniversary
of that revision, the convention could accept an
invitation from the diocese of PENNSYLVANIA and
adjourn for that purpose. The report was
adopted.
A resolution was adopted for the appointment
OF a committee of five clergymen and FIVE Law
mon to take into consideration the whole sub
ject of change of the judicial system of the
church, and report to the next General Conven-
ton
A message was read from the House of Bish-
ops setting forth what the bishops had done in
1S50-l683 toward promoting the restoration of
Christian unity. The message affirmed that
Christian unity could only be restored bv the re-
turn of all Christian communions to the princi-
Piles of unity in the faith. which is declared to be
IA follows: The HOLY ScriDtures IN thu infalli-
hle rule of faith and practice, the Nicene creed
lisa sufficient statement Of truth. the two sacra-
msnts of baptism and the supper. the historic
episcopate lOealY adapted to tho neSds of the