Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-27
THE DIOCESAN CONVENTION.
The Proceedings at Epiphany Church
To-day.

THE DIOCESAN CONVENTION.
The Proceedings at Epiphany Church
To-day.
REvIsIoN OF THE PRAYER BooK-ELECTIoN
OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES.
The second days session of the 1osd annual
convention Of the diocese of Maryland, COM
posed OF parishes IL the District of Columbia
and the state of Maryland, with the excep-
ton OF the Eastern Shore, was begun this
morning with morning prayer, which was said
oy the oisnop, assisted by Rev. G. F. Williams
and Rev. Osborne Ingle. The convention was
then called to order by the bishop, and the sec
rotary read the minutes of yesterdays session,
In which 1t was stated that 100 clerical dele
gates and 50 lay delegates had responded to
the roll call.
The bishop read Q dispatch Of greeting from
committee of the East Carolina diocese, which
was organized in 1854 message from the
youngest to the oldest diocese, the Maryland
olocese being organized in 1888. The bishop
appointed Rev. DR.. Grammar and Mr.. ]. c. Ban
The bishop stated that he had communion
uon from the chancellor Of the EastOn diocese,
which stated that it was the intention to ask
&C. I'll. tnac Vestry may at any time change the
parish church In cases where there is more than
one one. cnmrcn IN diocese. The communication
Was referred 10 the committee canOnS.
PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE PRAYER BOOK
The order of the day was then called, and
ReY. Mr.. Gibson, from the committee on the
proposed changes in the prayer book and the
DOCK annexed, made report This report was
printed and copies distributed, and SO the
chairman read only the following recommends
tions:
Whereas the book annexed, Notwithstanding
the care which has been bestowed upon its
preparation, is in its present form an imperfect
work; therefore, be it
,Resotued, That this convention does not favor
ha ION Of
proposed alterations and additions in the
prayer book, as given in the official notifica-
ton aud in the book annexed modified, with
out an entire revision of them.
But whereas, there seems to be q general de-
sire for some immediate enrichment OF the
hexibility in its use; therefore,
BE hesotued, That this convention would
favor the adoption 10y the general convention
of O few permissive rubrical notes. which could
be printed upon fly leaf. if thought desirable,
for certain number of years, and be inserted
In our present book without in pairing the ex-
listing copies thereof these rubrical notes to be
such as the following:
l. This note is to be added to the rubric be-
lore the morning prayer:
"But note, that in the order for daily.kaorn-
Ing prayer. and In the order for daily evening
prayer, the minister may omit so much OF that
which precedes the Lords Prayer, and of that
which follows the third Collect, as In his dis
cretion he may think convenient, provided
lhere De no such omission on Sunday mornings
when the molly communion does not imme-
dlately follow the morning prayer
given In Psalm Kew, from the Psalter.
3. The Benedictus may be said or sung entire.
as given in Hymnai.
A. The Masnltlcat and Nunc Dimittis, las given
IN thehymnal, may be said or sung in the even
Ing service, after the first and second lesson
respectively.
3. This note is to be added to the rubric before
the communion service:
but note, that upon Sundays provided the
once on that day., and on week days the priest,
at ms discretion, may begin the communion
serraeg at the the Collect for the day first pro
tiny spirit Let us pray. Lord, have mercy
upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. LORD,
nave mercy upon US. Our Father-irom evil.
=. These words. "once at least in every month
upon Sunday" are to be added to the rubric
b1o Inc long exnortaton, beginning Clearly
RESOLVED, That the deputies from this diocese
De requested to present the above preamble and
resolutions TO the next general convention.
Inc report Is signed by all the members of the
COMMITTEES, as follows: Frederick Gibson, chair
r; Hale, r. G. William, N. D.; Daniel NJ
Thomas, s. G. Chew, NJ ID.
The chairman said that the members were
action could be taken without debate and he
would therefore move the adoption OF the first
resolution.
REV. DIR. ELLIOT ON THE REPORT.
AS the bishop was about 10 put the resolution
to vote, Rev. DR.. Elliot arose and said that in
his opinion the committee had transcribed the
powers entrusted to them by the resolution
which merely authorized them TO consider the
changes which had been reported from the gen.
eral convention, and not 10 suggest changes of
their own. He regarded it as u Very important
statement made by this committee of one OF the
most conservative diOceSes, that "there seems
to be general desire for some immediate en-
rlchment OF the Book of Common Prayer and
an authorized fiexibility in its use." He then
reviewed the changes proposed by the COM
m1ttee, and questioned the cOnSttutionality
OF the recommendation of the adoption "of
several plans OF this kind had been rejected by
the general convention. While the committee
has recommended plan, they have with ref
erence to the plan adopted after much consider
alton by the general convention, advised that
not single feature be adopted. He said that
tor years past there has been a constant effort
to crafty this desire referred to by the COM
mlttee, and at last these recommendations
were adopted with great unanlmity by the gen.
eral convention. While there might be objec-
lions urged to their plan, yet it had fewer tuan
any other. 1t should be remembered also that
while the changes might be made, yet it would
not disturb the service OF any particular
church. They had been made to meet the
needs of churches in remote localities, and it
had been we'll said that in meeting the REQUIRE
ments of the church in all localities it did not
take away what particular churches wanted TO
retain. The criticisms OF the new book had
been very diverse. In some quarters it had
been said to favor mariolotry, In others latitu-
dinarianism, and in still others puritanism.
DIR. ELLIorT's SUBSTITUTE.
In conclusion DR.. Elliott offered the following
substitutes:
Whereas the book annexed modified, not.
withstanding the care which has been be-
slowed upon Its preparation, is in its present
form an Imperfect work; therefore
Be 1t resolved, That this convention does not
favor the adoption by the general convention
of all the proposed alterations and additions in
the Book OF Common Prayer as given in the
official notification and in the book annexed
modified, and that 1t recommends that the
general convention in its action on this subject
will keep the happy mean between too much
stiffness In refusing and TOO much easiness in
admitting variations in things once advisedIy
established"
Rev. Mr. Purcell next SPOKE, and expressed
himself as not being in favor OF any revision
at all.
The debate was cut off at IL o'clock by the
regular order, which was
THE ELECTION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE
Rev. Mr.. Todd nominated the members of
the present standing committee, as follows:
Revs. Meyer Levin, ID D., Augustus p. Stryker
John H. Elliott, S. T. D., Orlando Hutton, ID. D.,
Walter w. w Villains, u. D., Arthur j. Rich NJ
D., j. =. b. Hodges, D. ID. Rev. Drs. Giesey,
Leonard, Addison and Ecc!eston were nomi-
mated, but the two latter withdrew. There
being no further nominations, the balloting
was begun, the roll vi the clergy being tirSL
called, and then that of the laity.
While the vote was being counted the con-
ventiOn proceeded with the debate on the re-
port upon PROPOSED changes in the Dra YER hook