Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-15
NEGRO EPIsCOPALIANs.
st. Marks Church's Demand for AID
mission TO the Convention.

st. Marks Church's Demand for Ad-
mission to the Convention.
CHARLESTON May 14.-The interest of
very large number of people in South
Carolina is Just now centered in
the proceedings of the Diocesan
( Convention of the Protestant Eps-
copal Church Of this State, which is now
in session in this city. The pending
question is, as it has been for the last fit
| teen years, one of color. The thorn in the
side Of the church Is represented in the
now historic st. NJ rk's Church. st.
/ Marks congregation, in Charleston, is
composed OF the creme de la creme
OF the creamy population Of the
city-the lairest OF fair mulattoes,
quaGrOons and octOroOns, the aris-
lOcracy OF colOred society. 1t has been
knocking at the doors of the convention
for nearly twenty years without success.
The contest derives peculiar interest
from the fact that the two orders in the
convention are divided-he clergy,
headed by the Bishop, being in favor of
the admission of ST. Marks, and the laity
opposing Thence the ecclesiastical dead
lock. The question first arose upon the
admission OF cOlOred delegates from ST..
Marks. The fight lasted about six or
seven years, and finally was declared
drawn, the delegates, however, falling to
gain admlttance. In the meantime, the
Rev. A. TOOmeT PortOr, of one of the most
progressive of the Episcopal clergymen
here, ana the apostle Of nigh churchism,
conducted the spiritual affairs OF st,
Marks IN connection with his own
charge, the church of the Holy COmmun-
ion. While this fight was in progress a
young muatto named Saltus was edu-
Gated for the priesthood, went through
the various stages and was finally oTdain-
cd mis- N Oh nf -
All this was done with the sanction of
the Bishop. After his ordination the
character of the fight in the convention
was changed. 1t had been formerly a
fight for the admission of lay delegates,
whose credentials and qualifications had
to be passed upon by lay delegates.
1t now became 4 fight tor the admiss on
OF a clerical delegate, and upon this
very important decision occurred. The
Bishop attempted to cut the Gordian knot
by simply submitting the name of the
rector of st. Marks among the list of
clerical delegates entitled to seats In the
convention. The laymen, however, OBJ
jected, claiming to have a voice in de-
termining the qualifications OF clerical
as well as lay delegates. The Bishop was
firm, and last year an appeal was made
from his decision. 1t is this question
that now ahsOrbs the attention OF the con-
ventiOn. The debate has thus far pro-
crossed two days without reaching a con-
clusiOn. 1t is doubtful if any conclusion
can be reached, as the two orders will, as
they have been doing for the last fifteen
years, decide. the clergy men voting with
the Bishop and the majority OF the laymen
against him.
The Diocesan Convention has been in
session for three DAYS now and has made
little progress outside the discussion of
the question as to whether the convention
is organized or not. The fight, which in
wolves the admission of cOlOred priests
into the convention, has become pitched
battle between the lawyers aud the
clergymen, the former being headed by
the venerable Edward McCrady and the
latter by the Bishop. The subject matter
of the debate which has been going
on three DAYS is narrowed down TO "A
discussion of the prerOgative OF the Bishop
in very essential bearing. Those in the
| convention who deny that the convention
can be organized on the declaration of the
secretary that a quorum is present from
both orders, which quorum is made up of
clericals from a list furnished by the
Bishop and the list of lay delegates,
evidently hold that the convention has
supervisory control of these lists, and
! that these lists should be referred to the
1 Committee on Credentials, who shall re-
! port TO the convention before il can be
! lawfully organized.
The Bishop on the contrary maintains
! that clerical members on his lust. being
Qualined as ministers in his diocese. are
de juIe and de tacto members of the con-
venuon under the authority of the con-
stitution of the church, and that the con-
| Yention, or It's committees, has no right
to question their right to sit in that body.
The Bishops position IN this matter was
brought out very strongly, when, in yes
! terday's proceedings, he objected to
confirmation by the convention OF
the reports of the committees on
credentials. His ruling out OF order a
motion to have them so confirmed was
evidently to remove the possible implica-
tiOu that such combination by vote Of
the convention was necessary to add
weight TO their right TO cit as members.
This question has not been settled, but,
in the meantime, the Bishop has been
called upon TO make these rulings, from ali
OF which appeals have been taken. The
fight is watched with interest by those in
aud out Of the church.
The convention, by a non-cOncurrent
vote today, failed TO sustain Bishop
Haines' ruling that the adoption Of the
report OF the committee on the clerical
list was out of order. A motion to con-
slider was lost by tue nOn-concurrent vote
subsequently a resolution was passed
tbat clergymen whose name was referred
10 the committee on clergy list be declared
entitled 20 all the privileges OF the conyen-
ton according TO the classification OF the
committee.
In toe United states Circuit Court to-
day CX.Uniteu states Marshal Absalom
Blythe was tried for presenting false
claims and ulisapprOpriating government
funds and acquitted by instructions from
Judge Bond, the ohenees being merely
technical and without criminal intent.
Guief Justice W aits gnpd an order for