Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-21
THE NEW RITUAL.
Exciting Debate Saturday in the Episco-
pal Convention.

Many churches yesterday adopted the changes
In the ritual which the Episcopal convention,
now in session in New York, has ordered The
changes are: After repeating the opening sem
fences of the prayer book the confession and
absolution of the morning service is omitted
and Lords Prayer Immediately follows these
sentences. psalm may be selected where the
Psalter for the day is long. This materially
shortens the long service where the holy COM
munion is administered. The confession and
absolution thus omitted is read at the evening
service, as they are the same in both services
These changes are optional with the rector of
the church.
In the convention Saturday quite a commo-
ton was caused over DR.. Huntington's resolu-
ton for a short Office Of prayer for sundry &C.
casions. The subject was reopened by DR.
E2ar OF central New York. Dr. Burgwin of
Plttsburg hoped the matter would not again be
discussed and said he had voted in favor of the
resolution and believed thoroughly i'll the ex-
ceilence OF the proposed short Office Judge
Wilder opposed the procrastination which ami
mated certain small minority. Dr. Egar
moved to postpone the resolution, but the mo-
ton was lost, first in a viva voce vote and then
by orders and dioceses. At ten minutes past
the set hour Of adjournment DIR. Huntington's
resolution was put and carried Clerical vote
ayes, Is; nays, IA; divided. 2. Lay vote-ayes,
"a; nays, If; divided, 3.
This finally disposes of an important matter
already proposed and rejected by two previous
conventions SO far as the house of deputies is
concerned.
RoMIsH PROPOSAL.
The next resolution was a great surprise to
the majority of the delegates. it having passed
the bishops on the evening preceding, and it
was not believed that it would be acted upon
before Monday at least. The change was in the
communion service and read thus
There shall be no celebration of the Lords
supper except there be some to commune with
the priest"
DR.. Huntington at once took the floor and
moved that the house non-concur. :sThe pro-
posed rubric is thoroughly pernicious" he said
1t Is bringing In under the cloak of liturgical
revision matters which should not come up be-
fore the house. 1t is precisely in line with the
doctrine of the church OF Rome. and il pro-
posed by those who are seeking to introduce
the dogma Of the eucharist I have no charge
OF ldolatry to bring against the devout Roman
lst, but many of the pretexes attempted to be
brought into this convention are the very es-
sence of idolatry"
DIR. Jibson of central New York, took issue
with the speaker. He thought it one of the
most desirable things that the holy communion
should be restored to its primitive condition as
the Christian passover. The same rubric had
been covered in the book Of common prayer
for ages and was still in the Anglican book. No
good reason had ever been assigned for its
omission by the revsors Of 1889.
The proposed rubric was defeated by cleri-
cal vote, majority of the lay deputies being
clearly in favor of adopting the change. The
balloting stood: Clerical-Ayes. %; nay. 25;
divided, /. Lay-Ayes, 10; nays, 10; divided, 80.
ADJOURNMENT.
motion was made that the rules be sus-
pended to allow the house to vote on the aues-
ton Of adjourning on Thursday, October "a.
The question was put without discussion and
carried unanimously. The house will therefore
adjourn on Thursday Of this week at IL noon.