St. Paul daily globe., 1893-09-20
THE CHURCH IN CANADA.

tHolC 10 ltiUFcIn6nb OH IOOt In the
Episcopal church of Canada that prom
lses results of great Importance to ad-
herentS of that faith, and may have Its
effect elsewhere. Some time ago the
provincial SynOds called a general synod,
including representatives from every
part OF the dominion, to meet at Toron-
TO. Ihe object was announced TO be the
unlficatlon OF the church in British
America, with governing council
similar in purpose 10 the general con-
vention of the Episcopal church of the
United States. The plan was promoted
by the more liberal element of the
church, clerical aud lay. and had the ap-
proyal of few members of the episco-
pate. But the great majority of the lat
ter class looked with suspicion on the
movement, regarding it as a covert at
tack upon their authority. Or at least
calculated to infringe upon their dig
nifty, and resolved TO throttle 1t in its in
clpiency. To that end they were present
In force at Toronto. At the outset of the
proceedings a disagreement arose be-
tween the bishops and the iaIty. the
latter being supported by a considerable
number OF the lower clergy. The bisil-
ops undertook the direction Of the de-
iiberations, but their right 20 do so was
disputed by the others. At this the
bishops withdrew in high dudgeon The
others asked conference upon the
questions involved, which was at first
refused, the bishops insisting upon their
prerogatlve as governors of the church,
and Tor time it looked as if all at
tempts at agreement would be futile
Finally the bishops, finding the laity
and lower clergy determined, consented
to discuss the issues. As the mountain
would not go to Mohammed, Mohammed
concluded to go to the mountain. and,
although there are yet evidences of con-
siderable friction, there is a prospect
that substantial progress will be made
before long.
The Canadian episcop acy will do well
to heed the signs Of the times. For
years the church in the United States
was rent with the same controversy.
The clergy. and especially the bishops,
arrogated to themselves the supreme
almost the sole-governing power. The
house of bishops alone had a voice in
the acceptance or rejection of church
canons, and might choose ruler of a
see without regard to the wishes Of the
laity. The latter became restive, and,
after obtaining representation in the
conventions of the church, demanded
an equal voice in choosing their bishops.
This demand was fought long aud bit
terly, but the spirit of democracy was
abroad and could not be subdued. Lay
representation was followed by other
encroachments upon the traditional pre-
rogatlYes Of the clergy, and more espe-
cially Of the bishops, until the existing
system was adopted-a system in which
there is much of democracy, with only
enough of the form of a hierarchy to
attract the aristocratically inclined
to the church. And the change
has been for the better. At
no time in its history has the
Episcopal church in the United
States been as strong as it is today; at
no time has it manifested such signs of
vitality, of aggressiveness allied to
wise conservatism. 1t was in danger of
becoming refuge for the indolent nd
the Journalist; today its forms and cere-
monies give expression to the spirit of
progress and aggressiveness that should
characterize the living church. While
sufficiently conservative to adhere to
the essential doctrines that distinguish
it from other creeds, it is part of the
church universal, leading instead of
following in the onward march of the
race to that civil and religious liberty
that is the destiny of mankind
The Canadian spiscopacy would do
well to ponder the history of the strug-
gle in the United States. The tendency
in the church, as in the state, is toward
| democracy. The people, as they grow
more Intelligent, become restive under
| despotism of any sort, civil or religious.
If the church does not bend to the pop
ular will, it must break.