The Portland daily press., 1894-06-11


Pope's Prerogative of Excommunica-
ton. -
At the annual convention of the Episco-
pal church to begin in this city tomorrow
morning, three amendments to the consti-
tuition will come up for final action. In ref
erence with this matter the following open
letter has been written and copies of it.
have been mailed to the delegates of every
parish in the diocese.
Sir-The annual convention of the Protes-
tant Episcopal church in Maine to meet at
Portland on the 18th inst, has matter to act
upon which will have a marked influence
upon the future of the church, much farther
reaching in it's effects thar. would appear
at first sight.
The matter referred to consists of the
three amendments proposed in the consti-
tuition of the diocese which this year comes
before the convention.for final action.
They are: First that only communicates
be eligible as paroohial officers and repre-
senatives in convention in parishes where
there are sufficient number of communi-
cants to ill such positions. Second, that
no excommunicate person fbe eligible
member of the diocesan Convention, sand
third, that the Rectors of Parishes shall be
required to sign the certificate of election
to the Diocesan Convention, also certifying
that the above requirements have been
complied with: instead of the certificate be-
ing signed as at.pl esent by the Rector or one
of theWardens or Parish Clerk. These amend
ments seem upon their face to be eminently
right, just and proper. But an examina-
ton of their effect and the uses to which
they may be put and for which they are in
tended. cause grave doubt as to tn cir advis-
ability as well as to their justice and consti-
nationality.
THE effect of these amendments will in
evitably be: First to take from the laiety
their right to free election of officers and
representatives which they now have. Sec
ondly, to constitute the Record of Parishes
instead of the electors, judges of the quail
fcations of such officers and representa-
tives, and that without appeal, and Thirdly
| to place in the hands of the Bishop the pow
er of.absoluely controlling thescompositionof
the convention by excluding from it any
delegate or delegates whose views may be
at variance with his; thus absolutely de-
stroying its representative character, which
| it is needless to point out is contrary to the
constitution of the PIE. church in the U.
S. of A.. as well as to the whole spirit
and conception Of American institutions.
The present Bishop of Maine claims pre-
negative, and claims to have recently exer-
c1sed 1T, which is assumed by no other &C.
| clesiastic in the world except
THE POPE OF ROME
| df by him) viz: the right to excommunicate
without citation. hearing, right of appeal
| or form of any kind, ana without even as
signing any reasonsfor such action, any lay
| man whom he pleases. Canon IL. sections
and of Title II of the Digest of the Can
ons of the P. E.Church to the contrary not
withstanding. And by this assumed prero-
gatlve, should these proposed amendments
bee ONE law will be enabled at any time to
control the convention by excluding suti-
| Gent number of lay delegates to give him
majority upon any question upon which the
majority of lay delegates may be opposed to
him.
The Church Cyclopedia under the article
upon Bishop written by the Ri. Rev.
Bishop Robinson of Missouri say, apostolic
example show that this rule of the Bisop is
not designed to be autocratic but is to be
shared and concurred in by the council of
Preby terry and Brethren (Acts XIV. 23.)''
The stand taken by the present Bishop of
this: He assumes the right to say to any
clergyman, Mr.. Mrs. or Miss X, of your
parish has broken the law of the church and
is not to be admitted to the sacramento,
and that settles the whole question
Upon this coming to the knowledge of
Mr.. Mrs. or Miss X--they write to the Bis
hop to know what it is all about and asking
for the hearing provided for in Canon IL a
ri od harr IL
ly, ''you broke the law. you know it and
you ought.not to complain In vain may
such person protest.that he or she has brok-
en- no law, but SO far as they know have al
ways kept within their rights. The fiat of
the Bishop has gone fourth and there is no
appeal. The Rector of the Parish can do
nothing about it without getting himself in
to trouble and perhaps losing part of his
salary; grave consideration in the
:sPOORLY PAID PARISHES OF MAINE,
and thus the unjust exercise of arbitrary
power prevails.
The foregoing is not supposititious case
as correspondence of recent date is before
me to entirely substantiate it, though it is
too voluminous for insertion here.
Now in view of this stand taken by the
present Bishop of this Diocese it is clear
that the proposed amendments if finally
enacted will place in ecclesiastical hands,
but more particularly in those of thesBishop
a power which it is plain from the Canon
and quotation above cited, as well as from
the whole spirit of the Liturgy, Canons
and Rubrics of the Anglican church it was
never intended that he should exercise.
1t is bad.enough that there should be no
manner of appeal from such an arbitrary
abuse of power in the case of an individual
and the knowledge that such power is SO
usurped and exercised.in this Diocese would
doubtless do much to deter thoughtful peo-
pie from coming into the church. But it is
infinitely worse. Infinitely more
ANGEROUS TO THE CHURCH,
when by the exercise of such power, her
legislative body may be SO curtailed as to
become simply the subservient mouthpiece
of it's presiding officer.
Far safer would it be for the church if
her lay representation was composed of
Jews, Turks, Infidels and .Heretics, who
would at least be powerless for harm In
all churches and all ages the tendency has
ul1 baa 10 +batc %