Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-08
Episcopalian General Convention.

Episcopalian General Convention.
The general convention of the Episco-
pal church, says the New York Sun, is
the highest legislative body of the Epis-
copalians, and as il meets only once in
the three years its assembling is of the
more i'm Importance. So long an interval
however, serves TO bring about the settle
ment of the many questions of difference
by the healing operation Of time alone,
and this convention. accordingly, is not
likely to be disturbed by. any heated con-
troversies. No great question
Of doctrine, however, will come up for
se,l, e, 1t by this general convention at
Baltimore. Even the controversy over
DIR. Newton seems to have ceased. He
has dropped out of sight end out of
thought. Mr.. McQueary has been driven
from the church and is forgotten. 1t
may be that the subject of prayers fer the
dead will come up again during the dis
changes, which will be the most imports
ant business before the body. The ques-
ton would once have sgitated the EpIs-
copelians profoundly and stirred up bitter
controversy as Remaining suggestion,
but is now looked upon very
calmly on all hands. At the
last general convention it was made
manifest that large part Of the deputies
longed TO break down the wall separation
between the living and the dead, and to
include them all in the prayers of the
church.
The old controversies between the
high church, the low church and the
broad church parties are. no longer &C.
tive. The parties themselves have lost
their Distinguishing marks to q great ex
tent. The lowest psBish in New York
nov would have been accounted az dam
erously high by the low churchmen
generation ago. The service in all OF
them has been enriched steadily as time
has gone on. Candlesicks on the altar,
once denounced as an odious Roman i'm
itation, now attract little attention. They
are no more q novelty, Supplied choirs
are general. Sisterhoods are encouraged
by Bishop Potter and the clergy and
laity. Confession is a frequent prac-
tice. Bishop Phillips Brooks, of Msssa-
chusetts, has been accused or suspected
of distate for these tendencies before his
sievation to the bishopric, but he seems
how to be treating them as desirable
expression and provocation Of religious
faith and zeal.
This general convention will decide
finally the matter of liturgical revision,
which has been before the episcopal
church for many years. These changes
give to in the minister a great
er degree of discretion in the conduct OF
public worship under certain circum-
stances, and they tend to the enrichment
OF the service in accordance with de-
mand which has grown strong among
both clergy and laity. A new hymnal
will also be submitted for adoption. The
Encouragement OF dioceses and the in
crease of the episcopals and the election
of q bishop for Japan will be other i'm
portant subjects for consideration. 1t
will be seen, then, that the Episcopalian
convention will not be disturbed by the
controversies over fundamental Q uestions
of doctrine which have agitated the Pres
byterians of late years. It. will give its
attention rather to matters pertaining
purely to worship or to the organization
of the machinery of the church.