The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-10-30
episcopal. CONVENTION.
IT'S Work Adapting the Church 4"
the Needs of the Age
Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record.
While the general convention OF the
Episcopal church at its recent session DID
not attempt much important legislation,
still i'm what was done there is evidence
that it recognizes the necessity OF adapt
inc il self to the needs of the age, and that
the way is being prepared for the advent
of an important epoch III the history OF
the church.
The proposal for new canon on mar
riape and divorce was warmly discussed;
but, unfortunately, the subject was post
uoued until the meeting of the next con-
yention. not because of any hesitation
which the church might have had on the
question of making the marriage tie
more binding-as its Positioh on 'hat
question is unassaiable-but because the
canon was encumbered with matter
of a questionable character, such as the
degrees of affinity" The ventilation OF
the subject, however WI douhtedly
have an eff ct in making clergymen more
cautious in marrying people compara-
| tivelv unknown tOthem, and more anxious
to use their influence in an ettort'to resist
the tendency of the age to relax the obll-
cations of the matrimonial tie.
The question of changing the system OF
represcntation in the convention was
sent back to the committee TOR another
report three years hence; but the Drift OF
the debate suggested that when action
shall be taken the proposed end VIII be
reached bv the division OF the dioceseS
into Provinces, with Archblshops at their
head and with less frequent meetings OF
the general convention. This would be
the entering wedge of the reconstruction
of church poity; and the readjustment
determined upon would be likely to bring
the convention into closer touch with
the people by giving them more adequate
representation and recognition.
The changes adopted in the prayer
book NAV not at first sight be supposed
to have an interest to the secular mind !;
vet they are significant of the trend OF
modern religious thought. While the
service books in use in the Anglican Com
munion before the Reformation, or those
of Rome that have been compiled since
that time, have an almost lneXhaustlbIe
variety, the American prayer book makes
li,tle nrovision for the demand of human
nature for variety and change, When 1t
was first adopted the intellectual con-
ditions of society were i'll their infancy
There were no newspapers, and Dut ieW
, books. This state of affairs has been al
=. changed, and only by yliturgCalc elasticity
: and bv giving greater opportunity tol
p the exercise of pulpit vigor, can it be eX
pected to hold the attention OF restless
, nervous people, and make the church al
adjunct of intellectual progress ant
p Christian advancement.
After all however, the most hopetu
characteristic of the convention was IT.
r evident easerness to use every legitimate
p method that might strengthen eacl
{ principle of good, and make the laws o
p Justice, of honesty and of fair dealing th
: laws of every day life. The force OF ira
dition and of ecclesiastical precedent Ions
r kept the Anglican church from identity
. ing il self with moral and social reforms
c Now, however, it has its guilds, 1t
# brotherhoods, its temperance and tricndl
societies, and its social attractions; a
r. of these agencies aiming to elevate hu
l. manitv. So, also, the Episcopal churc
,fI is beginning to speak out boldly an
tearlesslv on questions which relate t
, the political lite of the Commonwealth
.. The much-criticised sermon OF BiSho
: Potter on the occasion of the Ccntennlt
celebration in New York showed that til
leaders of the church had at length com
to realize that, without waging the wal
fare of the partisan, they could proteS
Il against vicious and corrupt conduct an
low standards Of political morallt!,
tt And so the bishops in their pastoral Ie
IL ter were careful to point out that othcli
le place in morals and in politics is not Il
s prize won by vulgar selfshness, nor Il
a refuge of patronized incompetence, ne
c. vet the barter price promised and pa
H. for political influence, but the place
in which a righteous man may serve h
" ellow-men and advance the reputable |
m tercsts OF his country. When chur'
he thus identifies Itself with the aims OF tr
20 citizenship, and pleads also for the
IL cocnition of the influence of kidnes
Ell Justice and loving manliness, it is pc
d. forming functions which must otnecessi
mt help to bring about the benefcent idri
in of life and action.