New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-06
THE EPISCOPAL COUNCIL.
OPENING OF THE tTRIENNIAL CONVENTION
IN BALTIMORE.
pnr1ArEs OF DISTINCTION ,AND NOTABLE LAY
DEPUTIES WHO WE'RE PREsENT-BIsHor
winners CONSERVATIVE SERMON
REVISION OF THE
PRAYER-BOoK.


REVISION OF THE
PRAYER-BooK
fly TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE'J
baltimore Oct 5-Dlgnity, simplicity ana linz
pressyeness marked the opening OF the Episcopal uen'
eral Convention In this city To-Day Ahe .da'
hundreds Of bishops presbyters ana lay oepu.ie' "i
every State and Territory In the Union. WHO aohe
almost filed Emmanuel Church, bore striking witness
To the homogenity Of the church. Many cHlreih'e",
indeed point to the National u1ity OF the hpiscopa'
rnurcb "a signfcal fact In American Chrtstianits'
II Il the only great Protestant body they say when
has had the good fortune to remain mus uhi'ea'
Whatever may be its diversities OF pracuce OF oii'
ferences Of opinion 1t redes the same creed uses inc
same formuaries and meets tosether III one supreme
National Council Even civil war did not permanently
d,d. a. and In this semi Southern city the sons OF
tho North and the sons OF the South, however wloey
thew NAV differ on all other questions, JON as orethh
in the breaking OF bread" and In the prayers su
praises of the Church , .,.,
Long before IL O'Clock Emmanuel Church. admssioh
N which WA only by ticket. was hiied' IL was .
congregation that eminently renec'eu s'o $50 80
character OF the Episcopal Church. Inc sa'ei' PRIV
onss.op NJ bishops that slowly moved up the aisle
,vbue the choir sang a noble professional 'h'oi'
Va portals Everlasting from Gounods oratono WAS
typical Of the Anglican pomp touche" ny
amnlicity that marks the American fpi'o'Paos'
Viewed simply as religious pageant peih"p'' '"'
service left something to be desired lot
Is not happy In It's attempts az pase''' ,,s ~.
Epsoopal Church Is essentially Protes'aht VI " ne,
,oyar Catholic Il may be In its creedS. but wna'
,h o.r,ce lacked when viewed as draplauc fahe''oh'
q more than made up In sincerity 'a,n'
ostness and fevor. Tie Peop" w
,oor mart in It. both clergy and laty, were not
snectaors but worshlppers. All types %
were present, but every type had sone'nns ~ ''",
ascetic r,tualst devout High Churohh'a, oe ~,
% renroduce ideals of the past that have out h"e
,o-co to-day but the balance was preserved oS
ooodlv number Of essentially modern enuiohiheh ~
full sympathy with present-day theoiogs al" p'se
dav methods Of work and both the cnurchfan oi 'ne
mast and the churchman Of the present nave 'hs III
common that they believe the church has mission
IN the world today and how best that mission sha
no carried out IS the great question to when tney
both address themselves. While there Is 'esS uis
position than formerly among Episcopahahs 10 '"iA
about their Incompatible liturgy, there Is muoh
higher appreciation OF It's value ana possio2ies'
Nearly every bishop was present, and many o 'nen
wore the academic hoods appropriate to their degree,
a practice which is becoming so common ae EPis'op"'
gatherings that IL Is ceasing TO be an Innovation
Bishop Whipple. who read the Commandments, Is
venerable and striking figure In his robe ana Skull
cap Bishop Potter looked as he always LOOKS
handsome and courtly man OF the world VINO Is also
m
Bishop Brooks Of Massachusetts,, was easily seen by
all though no man takes pains to sink himself
in the common mass. Quite striking In another
way was Bishop Davis Sessums, OF Louisiana, VINO
might fairly sit for portrait OF boy bishop so YOUTH
full does he to be. The latest recruit on me
Episcopal bench, DR. Hail. tocuary called The BISHOP
sufragan OF Cairo" appeared at the tail end Of The
procession. Tie tall and erect form OF Bishop
Williams OF Connecticut, made one almost doubt the
record OF his age. Bishop Nicholson OF Milwaukee,,
gorgeously appareed In beautiful and expensive
robes, while rugged simplicity would best describe
the appearance OF bishop Hugh Miller Thompson. wha
sat near him. Bishop Seymour, who wrote the recent
open letter Bishop DOane about the ecclesiastical
sins Of Bishop Brooks Is there, and Bishop Doane Is
also there the perfect type OF a handsome we'll
poised Amylo- American Bishop, with heavy accent
on the word American The handsome and salwait
Young bishop Talbot, OF Wyoming Is there and shows
no sirl that thousands OF admirers are trying their
best to spoil him by iattery and praise Bishop
Paret OF Maryland Is, in a sense, the host OF the
convention and he performs the du'ies of that oace
with gracious courtesy.
But the chance even though extended by pat
FORM by no means contains all the interesting per-
sonaliues. Drs. Morgan Dix and W. Il. Hunting
ton and Dean Hoffman, OF New-York, are notable
figures, and are among the mos, influential depu-
ties In the lower house. DR.. HARDWOOD, OF Connecu-
cut, is a stanch and able broad churchman, but IN
grace OF speech and courtliness OF manner yields 10
no believers In form. Professor Samuel Hart OF
Trinity College, Conn, IS one of the best lurgicai
scholars In the Church. and is the author of the ad-
mrable repor the proposed standard prayer book,
which has Just been issued. DIR. Batershall OF st.
Peters Albany looks like the solid American church
man he IS. Ex-Governor Baldwin. of Michigan, takes
keen interest in all questions relating
to the church and IS very influential lay deputy.
Nr stenius. of Cincinnati Is another influential lay
deputy who Is always ready to oppose the re"''as
Of the AngloCatholicS Two other prominent lay
deputies are J. rerpont Morgan and stephen P. Nash
Of New York. the former Of whom is entertaining
Bishops Potter. Doane and number OF others In
hardso house. the use Of which Is given by
munlhcent resident OF Baltimore
Among those who took part I'm the service were
Bishops Williams. OF Connecticut: Wmpple, OF Mime
sofa Psret OF Maryland. and the Lord Bishop oil
Fredericton. Canada. Dr. Tatlock, the secretary OK
the House II Bishops acted master Of ceremonies
The sermon preached by Bishop Wilmer, OF Ala
bsma, who took for his text the words; Lord, to
whom shall GOT Thou hast the words OF eternal
life The sermon an able one, and exceedingly
conservative In tone. The preacher insisted strongly
OF the Importance OF mbibing the spirit OF Christ oy
formulating our beliefs every question by HIS
words. lie most strongly condemned the theory OK
eternal hope after death, widely held, declaring
that few will be saved The whole sermon, indeed
was redolent Of the old time Episcopalisnisin thai
still may be found In out OF the way dloceses NOT
disturbed by contentious OF hostile church parties
Bishop Wilmer Is much beloved In the souch, ana ~
highly esteemed eloquent preacher aud brilliant
con ersationast. and all tho southern deputies were
delighted with his sermon a Few oroad cnlren nns
from the North however, while admitting It's ability
thought that there little too much OF the Old
time favor about It to be suitable for the present DAY
After communion had been administered 10
about zoo people collation. was served 70 the meni'
bers OF the convention and distinguished visitors IN
the basement of the church. The occasion turned
into a delightful reunion Of old friends and party
opponents Old battles were fought over again ana
The new questions about b come before the convcn-
ton were either settled or put in the way OF settle
ment. -,
Ii ia not anticipated than the sessions OF the conven'
ton win be exciting Stil less acrimonious III l. tho
almost universal belief that the revision OF tho prayer
IN, cnmnetrd hut a few Distressed oNor