New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-28
THE PROVINCE or NEW YORK.
ITS ORGANIZATION COMPLETED.
THE EPISCOPAL FEDERATE COUNCIL ADOPTS
CONSTITUTION FOR THE NEW BODY.


BY the action of the Federate Council Of the Epis
copal Church, at the see House, No. 20 Lafayette
Place yesterday the five dioccses of NewYork were
organized into province under a written constitu-
ton. Bishop Doane presided The morning and
afternoon sessions were devoted 10 forming con-
sttution. The constitution, adopted. consists OF
five articles Article provides that tho council shall
consist of the Bishop and assistant Bishops OF the
State, together with deputies Of the clergy and
iaty, not exceeding eight in number of each
order from each diocese. Article two makes t-e
Bishop OF New-Yorll ex-ofico president Of the coun
ell. Article three provides that the council shall
meet annually In this city at least fourteen days
lcfore Ash-Wcdncsday. The Bishops, clergy and
laity VIII SIT together one house. and tho pres
cncc Of the Bishops, clergy and lay deputies Of three
dicceses is necessary to transact business. Article
four states that the of the Bishops, clergy
and la!ty shall be necessary to constitute vote Of
the council, and tho vote may be taken either by
dIoccscs orders. Article five refers to the method
Of amendment
Bishop Potter made motion that the senior Bishop
Of the province of New-York should be president Of
the council. The motion lost.
The discussion Of the proposed law in regard to the
organization of parishes and the election of vesries
was then taken up. 1t decided that the wardens
should hold office for two years The wardcns shall
to be divided into two classes class retiring each
year. The vesrymen are to hold Office for three
years, and be divided into three classes, ono
class retiring each year. The object Of this provision
Is TO prevent the sudden change Of vestrcs which Is
possible under the present law. The date Of election
was also changed from the Monday after Easter 10 the
first Monday after the first sunday in Advent. The
third alteration provides that to be qualified voter
person must be baptized member of the church. over
twenty-one years of age and must have been a
regular contributor to the support of the church for
year previous 10 the election The following
committee was appointed to attend to the technical
drawing up Of the bill. Professor Egleston. Judge
Calvin. c. L. Patterson, william s Cogswell and
Judge Sawyer
After the I'LL has been drawn up 1t will be sent 70
the secretaries Of the different doceses and submitted
TO the annual diocesan conventions before being
introduced into the Legislature.
The clause providing for the moro permanent
ganlzaton Of vcstrcs IS especially important since
1-5S several attempts have been made 1t was said,
to capture the vestIy Of Trinity Church, in this city.
Professor EgcsiOn, In speaking on this point said /:
Every chuWh holding property should be protected
against the danger of having It's property at the
merry OF iactiOudl changes. We have managed to
get along for about century the Onc-ycar system
of vc-tres but no bank or business corporation would
be willing 10 organize under such system The
question IS Of great importance on account Of the
large amount OF property held by many OF our
Chunhcs.n