Telegram-herald., 1889-11-01

been 80 thoroughly discussed in the news
papers OF late in connection with the present
session OF that body that only word need be
said on that subject The first general con-
ventiOn was held IN :zS9 and ever since then
the convention has met once In three
years, the present convention being the cen
IenniGl body. The constitution OF the con-
ventiOn was framed at the time when the
constitution Of the United States was IN pro-
sess OF crystahzaSion, and its trainers uncOn-
sciously or consciously adopted and adapted
the provisions of that great instrument IN
relation 10 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
IF which has the power of originating legisla-
ton As in the ease Of congress, however,
Joint action is Indispensable for the enact
ment OF any measure. Al the bishops, as
sistant bishops and missionary bishops of the
Protestant Episcopal church in the United
States are ex-ofiicio members Of the house of
bishops, ard in the house Of deputies each Of
the fifty-oBe dioceses in the church are repre-
sented by four clergymen and four laymen.
Thus there are abouo seventy members of the
upper house and 400 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, ere 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 large one, capable OF
accommodating, say, 1,50O 20 1000 people.
There have been few sessions of the conven-.
lion at which more than a mere handful Of
sats were unoccupied. The main floor Of the
hurch is reserved for the deputies, who are
,ated by dioceses. The members of each
delegation sit together, and at the back OF
lhe pews in which they sit are wooden up
tights, about SIX feet high, bearing cross
pieces On which is distinctly lettsTed the
lauc5 Of the dioceses whose members are
Touped about the respective standards.
fhus, at glance, the presiding officer and
Pectators in the galleries can tell from what
hocese each SPEAKER comes.
Over tho Gfor of the chancel platform ex
ending almost to the front row Of pews has
teen built, and on this platform sit the pre-
iding officer, secretaries and hOnOred guests
VI the house Of deputies. At the foot Of the
tiatform is a long row of tables occupied by
'ho dozen or more reporters for the secular
md denominational papers who are con-
tantly in attendance. Ihe galleries are open
% the public, and as n rule are tenanted by
aides, who outnumber the male spectators
en- to one. Most Of the ladies who occupy
he galleries aro Of middle or advanced age,
hough quite number Of young ladies like
wise frequent them. Perhaps a majority Of
hose TO be seen there at any particular ses-
ion are regular attendants.
lJcny Of the delegates 70 the convention
re accompanied by their wives and da9gh-
PTS. and scores q New York ladies Of the
5piscopslisn faith attend each session Of the
over house. A good many are on hand IN
she morning long before the doors are opened
y order 10 secure good positions FOR seeing
lnd hearing, and many remain IN tneir seats
throughout the noon recess of an hour and
ialf in ori.er 10 retain their places These are
light indications Of the absorbing interest
AIKEN in the sessions Of the convention, and
he fact that half OF those ia the galleries
Nlnl throughout INC session IN order 70 see
tver the front II the gallery and note what
Is going on below 81 81 additional evidence q
their zeal. il orllog g. reduce the atm ospher'c
capacity 4 tho hg church and decrease tho
effort necessary oa TIC part n tie speakers,
sreat crimson curtains ere gtrs;ched across
the chur j in tae reaf ~ the chaUccl. erfnnd
the residing oflcers sest7 end also al point
milaay cen the fas .Qrm and the door.
taS latter provision rca3e snZ come ~ the
salts be tho gallery wsrtbie-a Tor seelng or
bearrr EacA days .essi1n is oIened ~ 2
O'Clock wth devotional sxaf-.sr, u hap
Ter tht st oecr~ea church s incla@d 20
eari hE4 casrch cer-mpniss. and tbo r-li
T.aus exercises are begun anl eatei with ibo
aaciag ~ tto rr4rasiagal and OCCASIONAL
Ifuns "gr-.FriY hr tue fnfl flN0od by
rn1c.aiers ~ tho eaarsh 81 u0y mar b
IN aa4 march eat fpnie e.ffilsl
mr ~ tas leua eandA p tho
momisg ssfsioa. ard usfaif ons Il tEa
aislass ff ncanrss fhe lsae'iiets'n h~ "a
isnfs. hrh fa ths e af ani ia ihe galleries.
ta4e eH ae1vs laff iA fa= reslFf~H "n4 tthz
iaE AZ ruie tha hIt~naan' 81 t4l7 aaFar
fie1al exercises 10 peaf
Ths s-fVits usaaIig os..is s'aa 'if fefifs *
er.afs aaf is followed iY sifff Z. s4s 81
dnfina tnat f-s~ss t,th n.sf af.d 4iiaiias ir
sia ta na af AZ alssi ie afisfs ths ffssi
dsaf ~ fas fessa. the Tee u h.fssh iHs
~ hs4 tafs eeis ~. heiss 80 afiri ahf
F tls E.isislass seaslaa hss1az ae t7ta - "a
F q Hsf.alas z Masss rtlissfts fea 's 81 taia
efes saa fEss fsiiaes the faA - feF
. ffaas tte sfsI staa.iias efaH' ittes- Ties
feaarfs ere as,ssllF i.f s-ea. .fi a iie ieir ife
~ are e..ulla,teass. <aa isaa tAssa fila %.
Ftarf TIE aest fasiasss o. sfsle is 80
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