Morning journal and courier., 1892-10-31
THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
Rev. Mr.. Lines speaks of the GeneraA
Convention OF the Episcopal Church
Recently Held.

Rev. Mr.. Lines speaks of the General
Convention OF the Episcopal Church
Recently Held.
A large part of the sermon by Rev. Mr..
Lines at st. Paul's church yesterday morn
ing was given to an account of the pro-
ceedings of the general convention of the
Episcopal church, which closed its three |
weeks session at Baltimore last week. |
This triennial convention is the legislative
body of the church. There are two houses.
The twenty-five bishops sit by themselves.
The house of deputies consists of four
clerical and four lay delegates from each
of the ffty-two organized dioceses with
one clerical and one lay representatives
with voice and no vote from sixteen
missionary jurisdictions. The convention
brought together dignified and learned
body of men, and tho proceedings were
very harmonious and business-like. The
proposed changes in the prayer book were
acted upon, and the whole matter is now
settled. The revised prayer book will be
published in few months, and the book
is not likely to be changed for many years.
MOI 66 uCu was uOuo d6 AAdAJ Ano oSohfSNS
but what has been done is felt generally
to enrich the prayer book and to make 1t
more flexible in use. Many changes were
adopted three and six years ago, and have
become well-known to the people. They
have had the Magnificent and Munc Dimit-
tbs in the evening service and
makes evening prayer unlike morning
prayer. For some time new opening SEN
fences, greater choice among the Psalms
for holy days, the shortening of morning
prayer when the holy communion follows,
the festival of the TRANSPORTATION, new
prayers have been familiar to the worship
pers. Of changes now determined, the
| most noticeable will be the new versicles
after tho creed in evening prayer, from the
English prayer book, "God save the state,
| etc. ;" prayers for unity, for missions, for
l fruitful seasons, new prayers in the burial
service, especially for the funeral of a
child, collects, epistles and gospels for
a first communion on Christmas and Easter
day. The ffty-frst psalm will be found
in the service for Ash Wednesday.
Very many minor changes are made, but
taken altogether they do not interfere with
the use of the old prayer books. The re-,
vised book will be bought and gradually
| come into the hands of all the people. But
the old books will be used until they are
worn out. ALL editions of the prayer
book are to be PACED alike, 30 that the
minister can easily direct all worshipperf
to special services or parts. The changes
do not make new prayer book. but make
the old prayer book richer and more
useful.
A new hymnal has been authorized anc
will be published shortly. The committee
proposed collection of nearly 700 hymns
About $50 of the old hymns had beer
omitted. The convention voted to pu
back about forty of the old, familia
hymns, and to omit about the same numbe
of the less desirable new hymns proposed
by the committee. In this form the new
hymnal was adopted, and it will be found
much better book than the old hymnal
The use of the old hymnal for three year
is permitted.
Five new missionary jurisdictions wer
formed and bishops were chosen for them
Western Colorado, Rev. Mr.. Barker o
Duluth; Oklahoma and Indian Territory
Rev. Mr.. Brooke of Kansas; southern Flor
ida, Rev. DR.. Gray of Nashville; northern
Michigan, Rev. DEW R. Thomas of High
land Falls, N: Y; Spokane, Rev. Mr.
Bishops were also chosen for Japan and China.
The reports of offerings for missions were en-
were in money 81 sns
the value Of missionary boxes S1s7, 7a9 In tween
| ty-one years the Woman's auxiliary has raise
board Of missions last year were, for domesti
missions, $2s9, 1854: foreign, $275, 800. The Amer
600, and the enrolment fund.- the income to b
used for new and aggressive church work. t
| about S165, 00O
New canons Of ordination have been adopted
not lowering the standard of preparation for tn
| ministry but making the course more easily III
of thirty five years Of age Of full collegiate an
theological training, and large experience in pull
e. e Re e
he must remain full year. 1t is a mereiful pre-
| vision for some persons who have families d.
Church statistics for three years are collecte
ana s'ns' sso b lsss
has been esery swe
+ There are 4s,s2s Sunday school teachers an
400 900 scholars The ordinations during the Ia
| cent. over the preceding three years. The nun
{ Der of candidates for holy orders is 5S2, an il
There has been similar increase in church hi i
: | situations, schools asylums and hospitals and
offerings for the last three years were $40 $3.50 So
! or 81 per cent more than in the preceding thre
! | years.
Church people will find in the action of tt
q ! general convention, and in the reports mad
cause for thankfulness and courage, none fl
! | heart Of the church Is sound and that her face
: | turned forward full of hope. Extreme and u
I | wise men do not rule in her great council. Tt
= right-mnded, generous conservative men
q substantial agreement upon all essential point
q | The American people would appear to be givir
| to this church an increasing measure of the
confidence. There was in the convention tor
of confidence, of strength, of hope, of couras
+ their work with new spirit. Iuto that spirit q
: the children of the church in every parish oug]
to enter. Conscious of Gods blessing, the churl
Q calls upon us in the Masters name to pray ar