The herald., 1894-10-24
A QUESTION OF DIVISION
The Proceedings of the Episco-
pal COnvOcatiOn.
Right Reverend Bishop Nichols on
Dividing the Diocese.
Reports Regarding Work Done In the
Foreign, Domestic and Diocesan
Fields-How to Reach the
Uncultured Foreigners.

fornia attended holy communion at st.
PauPs yesterday morning, when Rt.
Rev. Bishop Nichols was the celebrant.
The sermon, delivered also by the bish-
OPP of the diocese, dealt almost exclu-
sively with the subject of the creation of
new diocese in the southern part OF
the state.
The question is very largely affected
by financial considerations, but Bishop
Nichols by statistical references showed
that the proposed diocese would exceed
in strength several organized dioceses ex
listing at the present time. In his
opinion the time is ripe for the new
departure to be made, and he advocated
it very strongly. Ia concluding the
bishop urged that while financial condi-
tions must receive careful confederation.
the spirit permeating the clergy and
laity of the church in Southern Califor-
MIA is not to be measured by financial
considerations and on that most truly
does the success OF the proposed meas-
ure depend.
Before the adjournment for luncheon
the following delegates answered opon
the roll being called: Geo. Eley, Glen
dale; S. P. Owsley, S. Irwin Scott and
Will Pridham, Los Angelee county
Samuel Mansfield. M. D., l.. B. Ludlow,
H. A. Bond, o. Pooley. J. E. Cowles, M.
D., j. F. lowell, ]. Wigmore, Arthur
Brookmsn, Gregory Perkins, jr., II. T.
Leo, John Sherman and w. s. Hansen,
San Diego.
A committee of three CDR. M. O. Do
ten. Baird and Trew) was appointed to
memorializs the annual convention 90
that other laymen besides those appoint
ed as heretofore may be present to take
part in the proceedings of the convoca.
tion.
Upon ressaembling in the guild hall
for the afternoon session, Biahop Nichols
presiding, Dean Restraick of San Diego
made the customary report. which was
very brief, he referring particularly to
the erection of st. Peters church at Cor
onado.
Several OF the clergy and laity spoke
of the missionary work being done, and
Rev. DR.. Freer alluded to considerable
class of people in Santa Barbara who
afford opportunity for church work.
"These residents" said he. "are not
prepared to accept the emotional minis
trations of the travelling evangelists, W ho
come stocked up with the slang OF the
sandlot."
Rev. J. Day spoke Of the peculiar field
afforded by Coronado. During the
boom" period the several dissenting
denominations, as well az the Roman
Catholic church, erected edifcss, and as
the population 10 only 800 people the
Episcopal gaina during the past year
have not been large. Worshiping in q
hall that previously was q grocery store
has not had any attraction for that clas a
who. though members OF the church
are not as faithful 70 its spirit as they
should be. Tho new church, however,
is in course OF erection on ground do
mated by George Gibbs of Saa Francisco.
who also gave $500 toward the building
fund. Other donations have been re-
ceived, and the prospect is encouraging
when the new church is completed.
An essay on The Cumulative Evidence
Of Holy Scripture to the Church Idea
was read by Rev. Alfred Fletcher of
South Riverside. The esaay was
thoughtiully prepared effort and formed
q strong plea for the catholicity of the
church and the apostolic succession of
the priesthood. Toward the close of
the essay reference was made to what
the reverend gentleman referred to as
"that incubus weighing down the
church, and which must be thrown off
for the accomplishment OF the great
duties devolving upon her. I REFER"
said he, "to that curiously inapplicable
term. the Protestant Episcopal church
of America
In his opinion the clergy are fast be-
coming a unit on the subject. Senti-
ment has largely to do with the matter,
but he thought that when truth Is an
tagonizsd by sentiment the latter ought
to be laid aside. The name indicates
neither the catholieity or the apostolicity
OF the church, and the first name simply
indicating passing phase in the his
tory of the church, and the second a
mere compromise. Sectiorglism and
sectarianism are indicated, and that is
all. "We are Protestants," continued
the speaker. "but that does not ropre-
sent our intrinsic character; our Protes.
tantism Is principally negative ex-
PRECISION Of our faith. Let US anticipate
the time of reunion by discarding the
name which is so invidious in charec-
ter. We are Episcopal, but not
more so than diacnsl, Presbyterian or
Congregational. The mission of tho
church is not to teach Protestantism or
Episcopalianism but the gonpel OF
Christ. II we are the representative
branch of the catholic church let us say
30, and il we want the world to know
let the church-not the church OF
accident but of canonical appointment
take action. She 10 the holy Catholic
church of this country and ought to
state her name and mission"
The attendance in the Guild hall wac
not very large but most of those present
seemed to be in accord with the ideas
advanced by Rev. Mr.. Fletcher. A dis
cussion followed the reading of the paper
bat it was rather one sided.
Rev. A. CLARK, of Christ's church,
spoke very energetically. In the course
OF his review of church history he said:
ut was thirty years after Christs as
cension before the first church was ess
tablished in Rome. The blackest lie
ever told was when the then pope had
inscribed over doorway The Mother
and Mistress of all Churches.' Proceed-
ing he alluded to tho preponderancs of
tho Greek in the undivided church, and
to the Council of Nice when the
west was represented by only s out of
loo ecclesiastics. "Some people," said
he, "obieot to our taking the term Oath
Ole; they are asking us to deny our
paternity. The church idea should be
maintained and will be-"
Rev. B. W. r. Tayler OF ST. Johns,
while conceding that all believed in the
catholicity of the church. said they were
backward in ventilating their views be-
fore their respective congregations. "If
We believe in tbs priesthood. bishops,