The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-09
THE CHURCHMEN'S WORK
DIVISION OF THE DIOCESE OF
CALIFORNIA AGREED TO.


Proposed Changes IN the judicial
System of the Church
NEW YoRK, Oct S.-When the house Of
deputies Of the Protestant Episcopal con-
vention was called to order by its presi-
dent. Rev. DR.. Morgan Dix, ne announced
that the following clerical and lay delegates
had been appointed TO attend the funeral of
Bishop Vail. which is co take place in Pnila-
delphia tomorrow: Rev. Dr. &. Elwa rds
Beardsisy of Connecticut, Rev DIR. William
N. McVicker of Pennsylvania, Rev. DR.. A.
Beatty of Kansas, r. NJ. Nelson of Ala
bama, and Alexander Il. Rice of Massa-
chusetts.
NEW DIoCEsEs
The COMMITTEES on the admission of new
dioceseS, through its chairman, Rev. Dr.
Hanckel presented report rscomme ldlng
that the house give It's consent to division
of the diocese of California, and the erection
of a new diocese in the southern portion of
the state. The desired consent was unani-
mously givel.
The committee on consecralon Of bishops
reported in favor of giving the consent of
the h use to the consecration Of Rev. Will
lam Lsonard, d. D., as assistant bishop of
Ohio and Of Rev. Thomas Frederick Davies
ID. D., as bishopof Michigan, and asked that
the rep rt be made the order Of the day at
2:30 O'clock this afternoon. This was
agreed to.
Among the resolutions introduced aud re-
ferred was one providing for the appoint
mept of deaconesses.
THE CoLoRED PEOPLE.
Another provides that a short service be
prepared for the use of the colored people,
and tn at tine requirements for admission 20
orders be modified in the case of colored
deacons and presbyters, and that sutfragan
b shops of the African race may
be appointed in dioceses where
it may be deemed advisable and
the bishop of the diocese consents.
This solution was referred to the special
committee OF memorials relating to the
colored people.
Messag yes from the house of bishops were
received announcing concur ence in the
action of the house OF deputies on the report
on the colored people and on tue admission
of the new dioceses of Colorado and Oregon.
JUDICIAL SYSTEM OF THE CHURCH.
The house of deputies then took up the
order of the day. which was the report of
the committee ON the judicial system of
the church. In this report a majority of
the committee, consisting Of j. s. B.
| ii odges, chairman; @. Stuart Patterson,
| Stringfellow, Alfred Mills, and Hill b lrg-
| win, state that only two modes exist for
obtaining the relief of which all seem to
admit the necessity. One is that the gen.
| eral convention recommend to the dioceses
for adoption by them a canon for the trial
| OF clergymen, making provision bota for
| courts OF first instance aud for courts Of
| appeal. The other is that the general con-
ventlon change article of the consti-
tuition and then enact uniform canon for
the whole church.
THE SECOND PLAN ALONE ACCEPTABLE.
The commi tee decided that the first plan
would be unbecoming and undigniled in
the convention, and warrantable inter-
ference with diocesan indepe de zee and
practically fruitless. The second plan pro-
posed is pronounced the only regular, direct
aud reasonable mode of providing a remedy
for he admittedly deplorable condition Of
the present system. As to the form which
this change should take, two plans have
been advocated. One was that the general
convention have the power establish only
courts of appeal, without interfering with
the present mode of trial in courts of first
instance instituted by the respective do
ceses.
AN UNREsrRICTING CHANGE.
The other is that the change be unre-
strictive, sc that the general convention
may either establish courts OF appeal only.
or, il that be found impracticable or inef-
hcient, IL may establish a uniform and com
Dlete system throughout all the dioceses.
The committee, of these two plans, finds
the second the o0Iy practicable one The
committee recommended that commission
be formed to draft two canons for consider
alton in the next general cOnventiOn--one
providing for a system of appellate courts
only, aud the other for a Uniform system
of trial In all dioce .es, including courts Of
appeal.
A CANON PRESENTED.
The committee formulated aud presented
the canon covering the entire procedure in
the trial of clergymea, accompanying it
with an exp 'auation that the canon is
merely offered to show the lines upon which
such ca ION might be constructed. The
committee also presented the following
resolutions:
Resotued, The house of bishops concur
ring: /. That the third clause of article Of
the constitution be altered that it read as
follows: In every diocese the mode of trying
tue preSbyters and deacons may be INSTRUCTED
by the convention of the diocese until the gen
erai convention shall otherwise provide"
= That this proposed alteration be made
known TO the dioceSss and be laid before the
ensuing general convention for final ratilca-
ton.
A MINORITY REPORT.
Auo HltuOrlby report was SlBuSd Dy James
@. Smith, of Western New York, and
Frank ii. Miller, of Georgia. They concur
in the opiniOn that cha ge in the judicial
system is desirable TO the extent OF pro-
viding reviewing tribunal, but they are
not of the opinion that 'the proper and
only practicable method Of effecting
such a change is by legislative
act of this body" or that an
alteration of article of the constitution
is necessary. They express a belief that
each diocese is Competent TO provide for
itself complete system of judicature, in
GLIDING a suitable court of revision, and
that ''the practical difficulties in the way of
establishing courts of appeal by the general
convention are so serious that they cannot
be overcome"
Hill Burgwin, lay delegate from Pitts
burg, and member of the committee, spoke
in favor Of the majority report. Mr. Burg
win had not conclud ID his address when the
hour fixed for the recess mad come.
The result of the executive session was
the i'm ediate confirmati IN Of Rev. Drs.
w. A. Leonard Of Washington and Thomas
+. Davies of Philadelphia as bishops Of the
Southern Ohio and Michigan dioceses,
respectively.
DIR. NELSON INDIGNANT.
The house then listened to q Continuation
OF the discussion on the Judicial systems
relative TO the institution OF al appellate
court The minority report was submitted
by ). ID. Harrison of Georgia, which ex-