Wichita eagle., 1889-11-17

The history of the general convention has
been so thoroughly discussed in the news
papers of late in connection with the present
session o. that body that only word need be
said on that subject. The first general con-
vention was held in 1889, and ever since then
the convention has met once in three
years, the present convention being the CEN
tennial body. The constitution of the con-
ventior was framed at the time when the
constitution of the United States was in pro-
cess of crystalization, and its trainers uncon-
sciously or consciously adopted and adapted
the provisions of that great instrument in
relation to the central legislative body In
the ecclesiastical counterpart of our national
congress there are two coordinate bodies, a
house of bishops and house of deputies, each
OF which has the power of originating legisla-
ton As in the case Of congress, however,
joint action is indispensable for the enact
ment of any measure. All the bishops as
Sistant bishops and missionary bishops of the
Protestant Episcopal church in the United
States are eI-officio members of the house of
bishops, and in the house of deputies each of
the fifty-one dioceses in the church are repre-
ssnted by four clergymen and four laymen.
Thus there are about seventy members of the
upper house and 800 members of the house of
deputies.
The sessions of the upper house are secret,
and none but members and officers of the
house are admitted. The sessions of the lower
house, the house of deputies are open to the
public, and it is this branch of the general
convention which is popularity, though incor-
rectly, spoken of as ''the general convention"
The house of deputies of the convention of
1889 meets in St. Georges church, which is
situated on Rutherford place, on the east side
of the city, near Fourteenth street. The
church structure is a large one. capable of
accommodating, say, 1890 to 1900 people.
There have been few sessions of the conven-
ton at which more than mere handful of
seats were unoccupied. The main floor of the
church is reserved for the deputies, who are
seated by dioceseS. The members of each
delegation sit together, and at the back of
the pews in which they sit are wooden up
rights, about SIX feet high, bearing cross
pieces on which is distinctly lettered the
names of the dioceSes whose members are
grouped about the respective standards.
Thus, at glance, the presiding officer and
spectators in the galleries can tell from what
diocese each speaker comes.
Over the floor of the chancel a platform ex
tending almost to the front row Of pews has
been built, and on this platform sit the pre-
siding officer, secretaries and honored guests
of the house of deputies. AT the foot of the
platform is long row of tables occupied by
the dozen or more reporters for the secular
and denominauonal papers who are con-
Stantly in attendance The galleries are open
TO the public, and, as g rule, are tenanted by
ladies, who ontnumber the male spectators
ten to one Most of the ladies who occupy
the galleries are of middle or advanced age,
though quite a number of young ladies like
wise frequent them Perhaps a majority of
those to he seen there at any particular ses-
sion are regular attendants.
Many of the delegates to the convention
are accompanied by their wives and daugh
tiers, and scores Of New York ladies of the
Episcopslian faith attend each session OF tie
lower house. A good many are ON hand in
the morning long before the doors are opened
IN order TO secure good positions for seeing
and hearing, and many remain in their seats
throughout the noon recess OF an hour and a
half in order TO retain their places. These are
slight indications Of the absorbing interest
taken in the sessions OF the convention. and
the fact that half Of these in the galleries
stand throughout the session IN order to see
over the front OF the gallery and note what
is going on below is an additional evidence Of
their zeal. In order 10 reduce the atmospheric
capacity of the big church and decrease the
effort necessary on the part OF the speakers,
great crimson curtains are stretched across
the church in the rear of the chancel. behind
the presiding officers seats and also at point
midway between the platform and the door,
this latter provision rendering some OF the
seats in the gallery worthless for seeing or
hearing. Each days session is opened at
o'clock with devotional exercises. 1t hap
pens that ST. Georges church is inclined to-
ward high church ceremonies, and the reh-
gious exercises are begun and ended with the
singing Of the professional and recesslonai
HYMNS respectively the supplied boy
choristers OF the church as they march
in and march out. Some ciericaI
member Of the house conducts the
morning service. and usually one OF the
bishops pronounoes the benediction. The au-
dieDce, both on the &c ana IN the galleries,
take en- active part in the responses and sing
ing As a rule, the attendance at the devo-
tiona. exercises is poor.
Th service usually ends shortly before 10
O'Clock and is followed by short recess, and
during that recess both floor and galleries be
gin to fill up AT about 10 O'Clock the presi-
dent of the house, the Rev DR.. Morgan Dix,
of New York, calls the house 20 order, and
the business session begins. Secretary Charles
L. Hutchins. OF Massachusetts, reads the nm