Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-05
THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
AN EARLY REVISION OF THE PRAYER-BooK
NOT PRoBABLE-PRoPosED UNION WITH
OTHER PROTESTANT BoDIEs-THE COLOR
LINE-CHURCH TRIALS


AN EARLY REVISION OF THE PRAYER-BooK
NOT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. UNION WITH
OTHER PROTESTANT BoDIEs-THE COLOR
LINE-CHURCH TRIALS.
A telegram to the New York Tribune from
Chicago, in reference to the general convention
OF the Episcopal church. which is to open its
sessions in that city tomorrow, says: "A glance
at the list OF lay deputies to the general con-
NeDtion reveals many well-known names.
Among them may be mentioned Prof. Henry
Coppee, of Pennsylvania; Postmaster S. Cor
ming Judd of Chicago; J. c. Bancroft Davis, of
Mari H. Robert c. Winthrop and Dr. George
[. Sdtck, of Boston; II. $. Conover James
Parker and Courtlandt Parker of New Jersey;
stephen p. Nash. Hamilton Fish. j. Pierrepont
Morgan and William Bayard Cutting, of New
York; Columbus Delano aud ID. l.. King, OF
Ohio; j. 5. Biddle, of Philadelphia; Hill Burg
win, OF Plttsburg: Senator George r. Edmunds,
OF Vermont Judge Hugh w. Sheffey, OF Nir-
ginia, and Angus Cameron, OF W isconsin. The
various standing committees appointed by the
last general convention are holding their final
meetings ana preparing their reports. The
Clerical deputies are also a notable body of
men. In previous years the church people OF
the city in which the convention was held en-
tertalned the members during the sessions,
either at their own houses or at hotels, but the
membership is now SO large-upward of 300
has become too great for even a large city, how
ever hospitabe il might Toe. So this wear the
0SbutleS pay tbeif own and Dr0babiy
reimbursed by the local dioceses.
1t isquiteevident that the uppermost thought
In the minds OF the deputies both clerical and
lay, Is the coming discussion on the proposed
revision OF the Prayer book. Many of the dep
uties appear To have already made up their
MINDS on the question one way or the other,
whine others who are personally undecided On
the question Will be largely Influenced by the
known views OF their dioceses judging from
' mnat Is known OF the views OF the deputies, it
looks as though majority OF the lower house
VIII vote against revision. 1t is probable that
the house OF bishops will be iuly as conserva-
tive as the lower house. 1t seems likely, indeed,
that the question of a thorough revision VIII be
postponed indefinitely, " nile some steps will be
taken TO make the present book more flexible.
Neither one OF the three great parties in the
church a: present feels strong enough TO control
the revision doctrinaly. while each hopes TO be
strong enough i'll the future To do SO. Under
these circumstances ii is likely that liturgic;l
com mission " ill he appointed To confer vii n a
similar commission OF he Church OF England
In regard To the whole subject of liturgic zeal re-
vision Tor the Anglican church in general.
This will satisfy great many who think that
such an important step should not be taken by
the Episcopal church alone, and will at the
same time let the reyisionists down easy.
Sucn a commission could not get to work in less
more years TO think the matter over. And by
that time a great many Thugs may have
happened TO change the face OF affairs. Not
wiIhsiauding all this. however, the revisionists
are hopeful. They Will make gallant fight on
the floor OF the convention, ana may possibly
win IA substantial victory. But IL not, they hope
90 tNssSe W hSeASae Az Sooo ohoIt anu Save kuckE
baggage.
\ numerously signed petition is to be pre-
sented to the convention asking II TO take some
steps toward effecting union with the other
Protestant bodies. This petition will undoubt-
eddy be treated with great respect, although d.
reeiIy counter to the old traditions OF Episco-
palianism.
In the first place. not only have evangelical or
low church men signed it, but also many pro-
nouneed high church men whose loyalty 10 the
'Churchly' idea OF the church cannot be doubt
ed. Then also /. has been treated with great
Kindness by the denominational papers. nota-
Oily Ihe ChuTcItntdn. 1t would seem, indeed.
that many oI the deputies 10 this convention
will be found ready 10 do something in the mat
ter: but it is almost impossible to tell what that
something viii be. I'VE are heartily sick OF
Catholic isolation Says one deputy, and
would like a little Catholic unity now. Up To
the present time We have been philandering
with the Greek and the Roman Churches ana
have been uniformly snubt,ed by them; then
to to get even we have uniformly snuboed the
Christian bodies around u.s. 1t is about time
that We applied the idea OF cathoicity ut home
among the people OF our own blood and race
1t Is the general impression that the Committee
on Ecclesiastical Relations will bring forward
some tangible scheme for The further considera-
tlon OF the matter; possibly committee VIII
tees IA the other Protestant bodies. Aud this,
IN the opinion OF many, would be great step
in advance.
The important subject of missions will doubt.
less claim a good share OF The conventions
time. In fact, the general convention is now
the supreme missionary body of the church
1t is likely that the subject OF missionary work
among the colored people will be fully dis
cussed and possibly some more efficient plan
for the prosecution of this work will be
adopted. In connection with this work a great
many unsettled questions Will come up-such
as whether colored clergymen or white clergy
men should lie placed over cOiOred churches.
whether coiured churches should be organized
separately and whether folored clerg y men
have right to a seat IN their diocesan conven-
tiOns.
Another question to be discussed is the al
legged necessity OF a cour: OF appeals. A num-
Der of veXaiious church trials have taken place
during the past few years, and in many cases
the accused clergymen have loudly proclaimed
that injustice has been done them in the dio-
cesar courts. But As there is appellate court,
the decision in such cases is final and irrevoca-
BILE. 1t is probable that special commission
VIII he appointed to consider the matter.
Party spirit is not likely TO run high in this
convention, but great deal OF earnestpess will
characterize the proceedings. The advanced
high church men really form the only well or
ganiZed party in the church now, and i'm the
convention they Will vote a unit on all i'm
the name OF the church from Protestant Episco-
pal TO American Catholic will be brought up
again. In the last convention ii was simply
buried IL won't be buried this time, but it will
be defeated.
Altogether the present session of the general
convention promises TO be "A fruitful and practi-
cal one, and its deliberations will be watched
with great interest, not only by Episcopalians,
but by other denominations as well"
ALMOST Riot OVER TRACK LAYING-A
Philadelphia dispatch says the neighporhood
OF Delaware avenue and Laurel street ter
rorized by mob OF men employed by the Penn
sy iyania railroad from O'Clock Sunday morn |
until after 10 am. The Baltimore and Ohio
company attempted to make an outlet in Della
ware avenue from their new freight depot to
the tracks OF the Reading railroad, which is also
used by the Pennsylvania. The latter COM
pauy has had watchers at the place for over a
month, and when work was begun a messenger
was dispatched to the management OF the COM
pany and three OF the largest locomotives were
sent with orders to remain directly over the !
spot where the frog was to be laid. In the
meantime the street had been torn up and the |
greatest excitement prevailed. The commits |
sioner OF highways was compelled TO send Tor
police, whose presence restored order. The
then ordered the street to be re-
paved aud the Baltimore and Ohio men refus- |
lug 10 do the work the Pennsylvania employees
did the work.
THE MEDICAL CONVENTION OF PITTSBURG.-I
The annual meeting OF the American Acade-
my OF Medicine viii be held in PIttsburg, z a.,
October IL and 13. About 200 delegates from
all parts OF the country are expected TO be pres
eEt. One object OF the association at its Pitts
burg convention will be TO endeavor 10 have
passed laws, either by states or the National
Congress, tor tile regulation OF the admission
OF candidates TO study medicine and the de-
barring OF physicians who have not graduated
from nrst-class medical cOileges-sucn are
first class by the academy. They
also want the appointment OF State or
boards, composed OIL sktllful surgeons
aud learned physicians TO examine candidates 1
tor the study OF medicine. A movement will |
also be made against third or fourth class col |
leyeS. which this college saws must go. else Il