Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-26
EPISCOPAL PROGRESS.
The Convention Concludes With a
Strong Pastoral Letter.
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE CANONS
Are Finally Laid Over Until the Two
Houses Meet Next Year.
NEW BISHOPS FOR CHINA AND MICHIGAN

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE pIsPATCH.1
BALTIMORE, Oct. 25-With the reading
of the pastoral letter, the Episcopal Con-
vention concluded its work tonight Much
routine business was disposed of to-day, but
one very important question and one with
which the House of Bishops has struggled
for with weeks was not acted upon by the
House of Deputies, because of lack of time
This was the marriage and divorce canon.
No further action will be taken in the mat
ter until the convention meets
An interesting report was submitted by
the Committee on Church Unity, which,
after referring to the action of the last
Presbyterian Assembly, concludes that the
church had reason to feel encouraged at the
progress made, and asked to be continued.
The President of the House of Deputies
was directed to send, on behalf of the con-
vention, message of coincidence to the
President OF the United States. Rev. Dr.
Graves was elected Bishop of China, vice
DIR. Samuel r. III. Boyt, declined. Rev.
William R. Thomas, of Highland Valley,
n Y, was elected Bishop Of Michigan,
vice DR. Joseph Ii. johnson, declined
The Pastoral Letters Comments.
The pastoral letter, read tonight before
an audience that filled every part of Eman-
uel Church, was long and interesting docu-
ment 1t began by congratulating the
church on the adoption of the revised
PRAYER book, which all the clergy are called
upon to use strictly according to its rubrics.
Then follows reference to the progress made
by the church in behalf of Christian unity
and commencing the work DONE Care is
advised in opening the door of priesthood,
so that only those properly fitted to per-
form the duties are allowed to enter
Then comes q rap at the emotional
preacher, who is asked to preach the Gospel
and teach definite, positive doctrine The
pulpit is sent to teach, not alone to move or
excite emotion, least of all to win mems ad-
miration of eloquent periods, beautiful die
tion and graceful delivery. 1t goes on to
say if preachers have no positive doctrine,
but only guesses and speculations-the
froth of the common surface, thoughtless
thinking-then their place o. utterance may
be anywhere in all the world save in the
pulpit of the church. Then follows q pro-
test against the growing tendency toward
q short and uncertain tenure of the pastoral
Office. The church contemplates long pas
torates, and the laity is appealed to to carry
out the church's desire.
The Marriage and Divorce Question.
The marriage and divorce question is
commented upon at length. The letter
SAYS in part: ''It is with sad forboding
that all Christian people must see how the
sanctitv and permanencv of the marriage
bond mas been outraged and broken by the
lawless legislation of so many of our States.
The church of God can have no regard for
such legislation; it has no more respect or
validity in her consciousness than the
legislation on the same subject of
Turkey, or the Customs of Dahomev.'
Indeed, she must consider it not. only an
outrage upon the Christian consciousness,
but upon the inherited race and consciousness
of our people Therefore she has set herself
in her own legislation to record her solemn ,
protest against tendency which in our
judgment, enlightened by the word of God
and the guidance of his holy spirit can lead |
only to the ruin of tue civil state and the
destruction of all religion and purity among
men.
"We are convinced that much, if not all,
of the looseness with which the marriage
bond is treated in legislation and practice |
is due to the first falsehood, which consid- |
ers the individual as the unit OF human |
society, and demands, therefore, that the |
motive of all civil arrangements shall |
be the pleasure and contentment of |
the individual As matter of histori- |
cal fact as we'll as of scientific determine |
tion, the family is the unit and the we'll
being of the individual can be rightly |
sought only in and through the well-being |
of the family"
The remainder of the letter ia devoted to |
mission work, and congratulations are ex-
tended that the field has so widened as to
necessitate additional missionary districts
The convention finally adjourned tonight