Morning journal and courier., 1889-10-12
THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.

An Adverse Report ON the Question OF
Proportionate Representation -
Lively Debate ON the Hevlsl0n of the
HYmnal.
NEW YORK, Oct. 11.-Upon the opening
of the general Episcopal convention this
morning the first business transacted was
the hearing of the report of the committee
on constitutional amendments presented by
Mr.. Benedict, its chairman, on the subject of
proportionate representation at the general
convention. It was known beforehand that
Chief Justice Fuller of Chicago was leading
member of this committee and his executive
report. Some time ago memorial was re-
ceived from the dioceses of Pennsylvania,
central Pennsylvania, Pittsburg, Long Island
and Rhode leland asking that change be
made in article of the constitution 80 that
the number of deputies from each diocese
shall be proportionate with the number of
communicates in the diocese. The commit
tee decided that the memorial meant that the
dioceses desired larger representation and
that such o change was opposed to the fun
damental precepts of the constitution.
Southern delegates were given the privilege
of the floor. At noon no decision had been
reached and the council adjourned to 2:30
o'clock.
It was resolved first that 1t was inexpendi-
emit to make any change on the basis of dep
utation in the house of deputies or in the
manner of voting. Second, that the com.
mittee be discharged from the further con-
sideration of the subject.
The resolution thus put forward was car
ried by the convention, and then the com.
70 yinx the raoo1ufi0u
offered by DR.. Huntington, of New York, re-
gardipg the setting forth of the Episcopal
service in other than the English tongue
provided such conform with the doctrines Of
the book of common prayer. They found
that such was in accordance with the consti
tuition and 1t was SO agreed.
The subject of an appellate court came ul
again to day, but nothing was accomplished
The house then went into committee OF
the whole on the revision of the hymnal,
Mr.. Burgwin, of Pittsburg, In the chair.
Copies of the hymnal with proposed amend.
ments and expurgations were circulated
throughout the house and as each hymn was
read by the secretary vote to amend or re-
tain was called for. There are nearly seven
hundred hymns to be voted upon. but in the
first half hour only five were disposed Of
A large number of deputies protested strong
| ly against the humiliation of the verses which
they had known from childhood.
A warm debate occurred on the evening
hymn commencing: "The shadows of the
evening hours fall from the darkening sky, u
No. 1877. The committee desired to strike
out stanzas 1, 4, 8 and as being sentiment
al merely and not strictly scriptural. Par
ticular exception was taken to the stanza
which declares that "The brightness of the
| coming night upon the darkness roll" DIR.
Lawrence, of Massachusetts, hoped that one
of the most beautiful hymns in the service
would not be mutilated. DR.. Dix, of New
York, agreed with the speaker. A motion
was then made to lay the committee motion
| on the table and carried by a majority
| vote.
It was decided that the committee of the
| whole was incompetent to revise the hymna
| aud the matter was referred to the house
After recess DR.. Eyer, of Central New York
| moved that the matter of the hymnal revis
| ison be referred to committee authorized tt
report to the next general convention as te
| the omission, addition and revision OF hymns
and that hymns In the hymnal reported b.
authorized for use in this church until thu
| next convention. Adopted.
the prayer book until the next general con
vention was carried. Before the adjourn
ment of the house of delegates was an
| nounced messages from the house of bishop
were read, declining to adopt the proposed
alterations in the TIE Deum and other SINH
lar matters, failing to concur in the conse
| Grafton of the bishops from California ant
Missouri on account of an inef6ciency of tim
for the consideration of the subject, but con
curing in the amendment touching the cleo
ton of bishop within three months of tn
meeting of the general convention.
At o'clock the house adjourned.