Wichita eagle., 1889-11-17
yhe adGithita naiIu Eagle: snnday morning, y

uCeS, and then follows the call Tor rePo1U
from the several standing committees These
reports are usually presented by the chairmen
Of the committees, who read them from the
platform The next business in order Is the
presentation Of reports Of special committees
After that comes the time for the presenta-
ton of petitions and memorials, and then an
opportunity is given for the Introduction OF
motions and resolutions.
Much of this preliminary business is for
NAL, but oftentimes the reference to some
delicate subject of church polity or procedure
arouses no little debate 1t is not until the
order of the day or the matters on tn calen-
dar are taken up, though, that the sharp and
eloquent discussions of the day begin. All
resolutions, memorials and committee reports
touching upon subjects on which there is any
difference of opinion, are invariably placed
upon the calendar, and inversely, it might
almost be said that all matters on the calen-
dar are matters about which there is more or
less dispute. Except in the case of debates
where special rules are made, each speaker is
limited to fifteen minutes. 1t is fortunate
that such is the case, for it rarely happens
that a vote is taken on any important mat
ter without shutting OFF several claimants for
the floor
A better presiding officer than the Rev.
DR.. Morgan Dix, the rector of Trinity church,
in this city, could not, by the way, be de-
sired. He is a man Of stately presence and
rules the house in courteous, though bust
ness like, way that pleases members and spec
tators alike. DR.. Dix is tall in person, has
grayish hair, wears no facial adornment and
has distingue cast Of countenance which all
but borders on the melancholy.
The constitution of the general convention
preScribes that any member of the house of
deputies may call for vote by orders and
dioceses on any question. So, whenever the
question at issue is particularly important,
and, also, as matter of necessity, on ques-
lions of revision of the Prayer Book, amend
ment of the Constitution, ETC., a vote by Or
ders and dioceses is always called for. The
secretary calls the name of the dioceses in
alphabetical order, and at the call for the
first on the list one of the four clergymen of
that diocese calls out that the clerical vote of
that diocese is yea" or mo" as the case may
be, on the strength of whispered consulta-
ton with his colleagues. The delegation votes
as the ma jority elect. If one Of the clergy
men is not satisfied with the announcement
of the vote, or wishes to go on record against
the vote, he calls out: "Call the roll" The
roll of the four clergymen from his diocese is
then called, the diocese recorded as the ma
jority vote, and each of the clerical quartette
goes on record on the question at issue. II
two clergymen are on each side the diocese is
recorded as being divided. The same process
is gone through with the list Of lay delega-
lions, and the secretary announces the result
by dioceses and orders. A majority Of both
the lay and clerical delegations must approve
the measure at issue or it is lost
On the first Monday of each session of the
general convention, at such times thereafter
as may be fixed the house Of bishops and
house of deputies sit in joint session as board
Of missions. In the present case, the bishops
join the deputies in the church, the latter
suspending the order of business and taking
a brief recess. The bishops enter the church
one by one during this recess and take seats
upon the platform. At the meetings Of the
board of missions, the presiding bishop, or
one of the bishops named by him, presides,
and the greater part of the time is devoted to
addresses by the missionary bishops and mis-
siOnaries.
The house Of bishops, of the present con-
vention, meets in the handsome memorial
building directly in the rear of st. Georges
church. The chapel Of the building is fitted
up with desks, chairs, etc, for their use,
each bishop having his own seat with his
name pasted upon it.
Adjoining the council chamber is the Office
of the secretary of the house of bishops, The
Rev. DR.. William Tatlock, of Stamford,
Conn, and elsewhere in the memorial build
ing are committee rooms, branch postoffice,
telegraph Office and lunch rooms. All the
members of the convention are provided with
luncheon tickets, and at recess each day the
deputies and bishops are served with lunch
con in rooms set apart for that purpose. Fol-
lowing the recess the delegates saunter about
the memorial building, chatting, smoking
and reading, and stroll about the adjacent
streets, which, by the way, are covered with
tan bark in order to deaden the sound of pass
ing wheels, and thus prevent interruption
after the speaking within the church