Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-16
THE DIOCESAN CONVENTION
The Episcopal Body Soon to Be As
sembled in Washington.
Program of the SessiOns-The Pro.
posed Division of the Diocese
of Maryland.

What promises to be very important
meeting of a church organization will be
held in this city within a fortnight, when
the Episcopal diocesan convention begins
its annual session. Matters of unusual
interest from local point of view will be
up for consideration, among these the ques-
ton of the division of the diocese of Mary
land
AS it now stands and has stood for many
years, the diocese consists of the majority
of the counties of Maryland, together with
the District of Columbia. The bishop of
the diocese. Right Rev. Dr. Paret, was
formerly the rector of the Church of the
Epiphany of this city, In the event of a
division Of the diocese into the diocese of
Maryland and the diocese of Washington
1t is the constitutional right of the bishop
to elect which charge he will accept as his
own. While it is understood that Bishop
Paret has avoided any reference to the SUBJ
ject, it is generally believed that he would
select this city as the scene of his future
iabors If that should be the case, it would
be necessary for the diocese of Maryland
to hold convention to choose a new
bishop. 1t is by no means certain, how
ever, that at the coming convention ia
Vorable action will be taken on the sugges-
tion of division. The action of a year ago
may possibly be reconsdered.
The convention will begin May 90. and
the chances are that 1t will last two days,
although it may last a day longer than
that. Bishop Paret will preside at the
different sessions of the convention. The
first meeting will be called to order We'd
nesday morning at 10 O'clock and tie out
look EoW is for large attendance of dele
gates. There are in the diocese in the
neighborhood of 100 clergy, and it is ex-
pected that practically all of these will be
here, as none of them has very far 10
come They will be entertained as the
guests of the members of the local church.
es. In addition to these the churches which
compose the diocese are entitled to elect
as many lay as they have clerical dele
ward of 100 delegates in attendance when
the first session is called to order.
The first session of the convention will,
as usual, be opened with the communion
service, and the annual sermon will be de-
livered by one of the delegates, though the
bishop has not yet announced the name of
the preacher.
After the religious exercises the bishop
action of the convention will probably be
based largely on the recommendations and
suggestions which this contains.
One subject which is up for consideration
is the matter of diocesan missions. An
other item of business Is the election of
the standing committee, and also the cleo
tion of the delegates to the general con-
vention of the church, which is to meet
in Minneapolis, october 1 next. In addi-
tion to the consideration of the routine
business of the body there will be reports
from two committees on endowment, one
for Baltimore and one for Washington,
that is to say, the endowment for the sup
port of the bishop, or bishops, as the case
may be.
Dividing the Diocese.
The matter in which Washington people
are most interested, however, is the ques-
tion whether or not the diocese shall be
split into two. This question was first
taken up formally year ago at the con-
vtntion, when, by a unanimous vote, the
division was favored, and committees on
endowment were provided for. This action
was not final, however, and a motion to re-
consider the action is quite in order. and,
while 1t is not expected. it is still possible
that the vote of a year ago may be
versed. The general convention of the
church does not meet but once in three
years, so that if the diocesan convention
and Bishop Paret unite in favoring the pro-
posed division, the matter will be taken up
at the Minneapolis meeting next fall. The
regulations Of the church provide that a
proposition Of this sort must be first
favored by the diocese, and then receive
the sanction of the bishop before it can
properly come before the general conven-
ton. Bishop Paret has reserved his con-
sent in the matter until he is satisfied that
suitable provision is to be made for both
bishops. 1t is not thought that he will
finally withhold his consent as the general
opinion is that he favors the change. The
proposition. as it was agreed to year ago,
was to the effect that the newly constituted
diocese of Washington should consist of
the District of Columbia, together with
Prince GeoI ge's, st. Mary's. Montgomery
and Charles counties, Maryland.
The secretary of the convention is Rev.
Peregrine Wroth of Baltimore, and a num-
ber Of local committees are already at
work making arrangements for the COM
fort and entertainment of the coming