Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-21
THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
The Important Trisnnial Meeting In New
York Next Month.
DisrSsurszxD BsDY OF cLEReY AND bArYY-
TIE DELEGATES from NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ANT QUESTIONS TO BE ooxsrpERRp-wrLL THE
NAME OF THE cHunoH BE- eHAyexD.

IH1 DELk0ATEs from NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ANT QUESTIONS TO BE ooxsrpERRp-wuL THE
NAME OF THE cHUnoA Be eHASeHD.
While Washington will have a trienniai gath
ering In the second week in October the frs;
week OF the same month will witness a notable
assembiage in New York city At that time the
general convention of the Protestant Episcopal
church in the United States will hold its trien-
NAL meeting. This is the highest body in the
Episcopal church. and from that fact as well
as that OF the Importance of the matters to be
considered and the distinguished character of
the lay and clerical delegates the meetings will
De the center of interest for Episcopalians in all
parts OF the country. Rev. DIR. John
II. Elliott and Hon. j. c. Bancroft
Davis are the delegates from this city. chosen
at the last session of the diocesan convention
OF maryland. These gentlemen have occupied
seats III former general conventions and are
familiar with the methods of business. As is
well known the general convention is consti-
tuted on model very similar to that of the
Legislative body OF the United States in that il
mas an upper and lower house. The bishops
constitute one house and the clerical and lay
deputies the other body. Each house has the
power OF originating measures and of amend
ing ana nulllfying the acts of the other. The
acts OF either must be approved by the other
10 become operative. There are seventy
Dlshops IN the upper house and the lower has
4oo members as 1t is composed of four clerical
and four lay delegates from each diocese With
them set, but do not vote, one clerical and-one
lay delegate from each missionary jurisdiction.
DOUBLE CENTENNIAL.
The meeting occurs in year of special i'm
portance in the history of the Episcopal church,
as 1t Is the centennial of two events-the one
being the union Of the church in several Of the
then newly created states and the other the
ratincation OF the Book of Common PRAYER
Inc nrst general convention met in Philadel-
phia IN lIS5. 1t was attended by deputies from
MARYLAND, New York. Pennsylvania. New Jer-
sey, delaware and Virginia-the members of
New England churches, particularly Connecti-
cut, not attending, as there was opposition
there to the participation of the laity
IN church government, and Connecticut
had Bishop Samuel Seabury, who had
received conservation November IA, 17S4. at
tne hands of non-juring bishops in Scotland
The general convention in 1855 and at subse-
quent sessions in June and October 1886 pre-
pared liturgy based upon the English PRAYER
book. adopted constitution and arranged by
correspondence with the English archbishops
ana bishops Tor the conservation on February
4. 1857. of Bishops William White for Penn
sylvania and Samuel Provost for New York.
who went to England for that purpose. Upon
their return steps were taken toward union
OF the church. which was finally effected at the
next meeting Of the general conven-
tion, lOo years ago. Then was made the
chan2e in the constitution providing for a
separate house of bishops and the final ratifi-
cation of the PRAYER book. At that time the
general convention was a small BODY with a
small constituency. In 1889 the Episcopal
church in the United States had seven
dioceses three bishops, one hundred and
ninety ciergvmen and about 1900 commune
cants. The number of communicates in 1900
was 11.978 and the ratio of increase has been
about 20 per cent each triennial period The
convention to assemble October represents
nifty dloceses fourteen missionary Jurisdictions.
seventy bishops, including four who have re-
signed their jurisdictions. fourteen missionary
bishops and four assistant bishops, two
blshops-elect. $500 clergy and 100000 COM
municants, in round numbers
THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS
is presided over by the senior bisnop by con-
secration. The present presiding officer is Bishop
John Williams of Connecticut, who is seventy
two wears of age, but who is vigorous in action
and clear in mind. Rev. DR.. Morgan Dix the
rector OF Trinity church, New York city, was
the presiding officer Of the lower house three
years ago. The other delegates from the diocese
OF Maryland to the convention are Rev. Drs.
J. Houston Fccleston. Orlando Hutton and
Walter w. Williams. Mr.. Jas. Packard, jr.,
Judge William A. Stewart and Mr.. Skipwith
Wilmer.
WHERE THE MEETING WILL BE HELD.
The meeting will be held in st. Georges
church, East 10th street. New York. Three
years ago the convention was held in Chicago.
1t has met seventeen times in Philadelphia,
eleven times in New York. twice in Baltimore
and once in Wilmington. Del. Trenton N. j.,
New Haven. Conn. Cincinnati Ohio, Rich
mond. Va, Boston, Mass, and Chicago. Ill.
There are several questions of Importance
which are likely to be considered bv the con-
ventlon. Among these may be mentioned the
basis OF representation and the title Of the
church. Under the present rules the vote is
taken by dioceses and each diocese small or
great in territory or in the number of its COM
municants, has an equal voice in the legislation
of the general convention.
THERE IS A MOVEMENT TO
make the basis Of representation in the lower
house. as the house of deputies is known. so
that the dioceses shall be represented in pro-
portion to the number Of the clergy. their
parishes or their communicates. The question
was debated in the convention held in Philadel-
phia in 1888 but no action was reached II did
not come up at the last convention. Anumber of
the diocesan conventions have. howeve taken
action since the meeting of the last convention
and their resolutions will be considered bv the
convention. The diocesan convention Of Mary
ianu lalu over reSOlutlon OF this kind until
next year. Those who oppose any change of
this character assert. among other rea-
sons, that 1t would break the compact
by which certain dioceses entered the con-
vention-that the diocesan unit ought
not to be broken; that it is contrary to the
practices and principles of the church, as in
nearly all the older dioceses there is no at
tempt made at proportional representation.
and that IL the change was made narrow views
would be likely TO sway legislation. Those in
favor of such change maintain the present
representation is not equitable and that it
places on the minority the responsibility for
legislation without comforting proportional
powers of administration and that it is also I'M
just to the majority; that the unit of the do
cese is preserved in the bishops, and that the
smaller dioceses could be protected by the
constitutional right to call for vote by the
dioceses.
THE NAME OF THE CHURCH.
At the last convention . resolution was in
troduced and debated to change the name of
the church to the American Catholic church or
the American church or the Church in the
United States, as the name the Protestant
Episcopal church it was agreed does not cor
rectly represent the true character of the
church. A vote was taken on two resolutions
one to expurge the words Protestant Episcopal
from the title and the Other to adopt the name
of the American Catholic church. OF the
clergy forty-nine dioceses were represented-
ayes II, nays %, divided TO- OF the laity
fOrty-fOur diOcasas wara rapraaapfa1 49,. AZ