The National tribune., 1891-11-26
EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONGRESS.
The Most fmportant Eysnt in the History OF that
Body ives Held IN America.


Body ives Held In America.
The most important event in the history OF +
the Protestant Episcopal Church Of America I
was the converting OF the Congress ia Wash /
iugton OF the digu taries Of that body on Tues
day, Nov. n. 10 brought together churehmen
from all over the country to discuss the live
topics Of the day. The Congress has no lcgi5-
Iativc power. Bat its discussions were inter
estiue a. showing the trend Of thought in the
Episcopal Church on several secular aud re-
lgious subjects.
No delegates are elected TO this Congress, but
ali cbu.chWsu who desire TO do so are wei
coined and can take a hand in any discussion
wG.Ed comes ~. None OgJ members Of the
Episcopal Church Were allowed 10 speak. The
Secretary Of lbs Congress Rev q. D. Wilderl
says The 0Ijce,i % tHc congress are " not TO
seek party ends. l- claims only its Tightful
place among beneficial and IN that wise and
tIgs CIR sUccg--'a. agencies for the wider eX-
tension Of Che kingdom Of Christ. 10 is no
debating socic g.. &c furnishes no occasion for
anything other tbau the reverend discussion By
men Of whatever name within the Protestant
Episcopal Church and those IN communion with
the saHic Of themes OK thou lhtlul selection by
a committee ON topics seeking in the particu-
lars Of themes anu apPa,ntec8 alike TO illus
trate healJH.g.ly the catholic spirit Of that
church
The Couqres, was under the direction Of the
AtiE a-Gfs l tJ4tAlAYf ~ Us Lie ASt At7llDp
o: Kentucky. who conducted all devotional
I exercises. Members were allowed 20 discuss
\ topics which came before the Congress for 10
minutes and papers were allowed 10 be read
I that would consume only 20 minutes Of time.
! a number Of papers were read, aud then COM
meuced a discussion OF various topics Of IN
| tcrest 10 the Episcopal Church.
/ Tho Congress drew vast audience, every
/ pew in the Epiphany Church being crowded.
/ Mrs. Harrison, Mrs. Russell Harrison, Mrs.
l Dimmick, and Secretary HalfOrd we're among
/ the audience When the time for Communion
| service came Bishop Phillips Brooks delivered
/ the sermon, which was an eloquent one. At
I the close Of the sermon many Of the audience
/ left the church, but the majority remained and
/ partO0k Of the Sacrament Of the Lords supper,
which was administered by Bishops Dudley,
Brooks and Huntington to several hundred
/ communicates.
| In the afternoon ex Senator Edmund5 Of
/ Vermont, took the chair Of the presiding OH
GER. and conducted the meeting. lie made a
short speech, saying that the topics proposed
/ for discussion involved some Of the deepest and
most difficult problems Of social and political
philosophy and science. as well as the art OF
/ applying them TO existing social conditions.
Only n few speeches were made, owing to the
lateness Of the hour.
At the evening session Mr.. Edmunds an
nOunced the topic for discussion as "Theism
and Evolution" Rev. Edward Harwood, Of
New Haven, Conn; DIR. ;. ID. Mcconnell, OF
Philadelphia, and Archdeacon Ziegenfuss, Of
POughkeepsie, y. Y, were the speakers, and
all delivered excellent addresses under the
limited rule.
At the meeting on Wednesday sociaIistic and
anti-sociali5tic theories Of every known kind
were discussed by the members Of the Congress-
All agreed that discomfort did exist, but very
few had any remedy 70 offer. A majority could
point to nothing but the Bible, to which closer
application 70 its teachings were suggested
The survival Of the iittest in old suits with
new cuL and trimmings Of late ideas were given
on every hand. Socialism was discussed in al
its phases, and some remedies suggested. The
memper- were OutspOlen in their beliefs; saiC
that evils existed which the laws OF the land
did not cOntsmp plate, and that something mus
be done 10 quiet the masses; that the laborins
classes were Disconnected, based on the belle
that they did not receive their share Of III
worlds wealth.
At the evening session the subject Of thi
relation Of 5he clergy to politics was discussed
from all stardpoints. The consensus Of opinion
70 Pe 55hqz miPstsG ct me &c g %as a 5
lower Of the meek and lowly Jesus and that
! in his capacity the leader Of a flock of Christ
: ians he could put in a word which be though
would be to the interest Of humanity aud goo,
: citizenship he would be derelict in duty no
TO DO IT, no matter which Of the great partie
he would injure.
On Thursday the Congress discussed th
theme Catholic tendencies in the Episeopa
Church " before enormous audience; Rev
Carl Granmer, Rev. Stewart Means, Dr. Satter
lee, DR.. Huntington Rev. Arthur Brooks and
Rev. Hall Harrison taking part in the debate
On Friday the Congress closed its session
with an earnest discussion on Personal Re
ligion-Liberty Of thought" The Congress ha
fulfilled all that had been predicted for 10, anC
the views expressed by the eloquent clergymeT
have been absorbed by hundreds Of attendants
Most OF the members left the city during tht
day, but few prominent preachers remained
and filed pulpits Of some Of the EpiscOpa
churches on Sunday.