New-York tribune., 1889-10-19
SLOW WORK AT REVISION.
THE DEPUTIES BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS
OF WEAKNESS.
ALTERATIONS IN THE PRAYER BOOK ADOPTED
BY THE EPISCOPAL GENERAL

HlIEiATlONS IN THE PRAYER-BOOH ADOPTED
BY THE EPISCOPAL GENERAL
CONVENTION.
The proceedings in the Episcopal General Con-
vention yesterday were for the most part tedious
ana undressing The nineteen resolutions
recommending changes in the Prayer-Booll which
nave been adopted by the Committee of the
Whole, came before the House for formal adoption.
Inc fact that these resolutions were exhaustvely
debated in the Committee of the Whole did not
prevent debate yesterday although that was the
OBJECT of going into q Committee Of the Whole.
Ihere was considerable wrangling over the ques-
non whether deputy who so desired it might
have his vote recorded in the journal of the
House. Progress was still further delayed by the
diocese OF Iowa asking to have the vote on every
resolution taken by docescs and orders to the
evident disgust of many deputies, who regarded
this procedure, under the circumstances as sheer
waste of time
1t is an interesting question how it will be
feasible to take vote by dioceses and orders
when, as is possible, there will be two or three
hundred dioceses in the Church The enforce
ment of such rule would NEST eifectually block
all legislation, and even now it very
seriously delays it. ia few deputies,
for any reason, desired to flibuster, they could
easily DO SO, under the rules, by calling for vote
by dioceSeS and orders on every question.
Most of the resolutions considered Yesterday
were adopted, but there was a general air of
hstlessness apparent, which indicated that
the deputies are getting little tired They NAV
soon reach point when they will cut the whole
matter of short, out of sheer WEAKNESS. But even
If that be not the case, there is little prospect
that the whole Of the report of the Liturgcal
Revision Committee will be considered.
Prayer-BOok revision is slow work in the Epis
oopal Church. The changes now being considered,
TO become operative, must be adopted by the House
sitting as a committee of the whole ald then sit
ting as the House. Such changes as successfully
pass this ordeal will be made known TO every
diocese Of the Church during the next three years
Then they will have to be considered By the Gen
eral Convention OF S02, which may, if IL chooses
discuss them de novo. And finally, such
OF the proposed changes may be ratified by that
General Convention will he incorporated in the
Prayer-BOOk. Under these circumstances there is
little danger that the Prayer-Book will be very
radically altered
The short Office for Sundry occasions, compiled
by DR. Huntington, will il finally adopted by the
Church, be in many respects the most important
result Of the whole rev iSiOn movement. IL ap-
pears TO be admirably adapted for the purposes
for which il is intended, and will prove both
popular and helpful when the regular morning
and evening service OF th, Prayer-Book would
not be feasible. It's insertion in the Prayer
Book as proposed would materially enrich that
venerable book and would meet the needs OF
o. great many people in the Church.
The Convention is very much behind in its
work and If as is expected il shnll adjourn next
Thursday it will leave large amount of un-
finished business for the next Convention.