Evening star., 1895-05-27
A CHURCH CONGRESS
Diocesan Convention to Assemble
Herd "Wednesday.
CLERICAL 4Nl LAY DELEGATES
Question Of the Division of the
Diocese to Come Up.
WASH INGTON'S CLAIMS
WAsHINGTON'S CLAIMS

The 112th annual convention of the Pro-
testant Episcopal Church of the diocese
of Maryland, which meets in this city next
Wednesday. will bring together one of
the largest and most influential bodies of
churchmen ever seen in this city AL
though the convention Is not expected to
last more than a couple Of days there is
a great deal of important business to be
transacted among this the action to be
taken on the proposition to divide the do-
cese and also upon the proposition to
amend the manner Of electing a bishop.
The convention will open in the morn
ing with a religious service, which will
include an address or sermon by the bish-
op, Right Rev. VIM. Paret, D. D. AS a
general thing the convention lasts but two
days, although last year in Baltimore
there was so much business before the
body that it lasted a day longer and that
may be the this year, as the plan
for the division of the diocese is pretty
Even though the division should be de-
cided upon, there will still be a number of
details necessary to make it practicable,
which must be settled, the metes and
bounds of the two dioceses and the provis-
ion to be made for the support of the new
bishop, whose office will be created by this
division.
The Proposed Division.
At the convention last year a motion ex-
pressing the sentiment of the body as in
favor Of division was adopted by a prac-
tically unanimous vote. This action was
not final, however. but must be ratified
before it becomes operative, by the adop-
tien of a petition to the general assembly
praying for such division. The resolu-
tions as adopted last year were as fol-
lows:
Resolved first. That it is advisable to
divide the diocese Of Maryland into two
dioceses.
Second. That the District of Colum-
bia. together with Prince Georges, St.
Mary's. Charles and Montgomery counties,
shall constitute the territory Of the new
diocese. leaving the remaining part of the
present diocese to constitute the diocese
of Maryland
Third. That two-committees be appoint
ed, each consisting of three clergy and
four laymen. selected respectively from
the proposed dioceses, who shall several
ly take such measures as they may deem
best to secure suitable provision for the
tive divisions Of the present diocese, and
make full report to tn. next convention,
with a view to, satisfying the provisions
Of article 5 Of the constitution of this
church in the United States.
Fourth, that the" present episcopal fund
be equally and the accumulatI atIons to the
episcopal fund be "equitably divided be-
tween the two dioceses.'
How the Question VIII Come Up.
The way in whichrthe question will prob
ably come up at Ehe coming convention
will be by motion to petition the general
convention Of the church to make the di-
vision. The general convention meets in
Minneapolis next October and If the petit
ton Is formally sent up, with evidences
that all the necessary provisions of the
constitution have been compiled with. there
is little doubt THAI the request will be
granted forthwith. In that event a meet
ing will be called of representatives from
the various parishes Of the new diocese of
Washington to draw up constitution and
to complete the organization of the diocese.
According to the law of the church in the
case of division the existing bishop may
select himself the diocese over which he
will provide. Bishop Paret has sedulously
refrained from ever expressing a choice nor
has he intimated in the slightest way what
his action would be in the event of a di-
vision, but as he was formerly the rector
of the Church of the Epiphany in this city
and has long been intimately connected
with the church here there is a general i'm
preston that he will select Washington as
that the Episcopal cathedral is to be erect
ed in this city would also have the effect
of making this a particularly attractive
diocese for any bishop.
1t Is likely that at the coming convention
the Washington committee will report that
1t can guarantee in the neighborhood of
$4,000 as basis Of episcopal support. 1t
Is customary to require some such lump
sum as that so as not to depend altogether
on what can be raised each year. In addi-
ton to this amount,in the event of division,
Washington would receive $4,000 as it's
half of the present fund. and an equitable
the present episcopal fund in the way of
bequest and other gifts that have been
promised.
Bishop Paret has frequently expressed
h hfrr1cn a in nf wi 1nl
that fund sufficiently large can be rails
ed in the beginning to make 1t certain
that the assessment on the different par
ishes will not have to be increased. The
episcopal fund at present Is not a large
one, because the present diocese Is so large
that the necessary amount can be raised
each year by comparatively small and easy
assessments. With two dioceses in place
of one this would not be the case.
What Daltimoreans Think.
According to a prominent minister of
Baltimore the proposition to divide the dio-
cese is looked upon by the people of that
city and of Maryland generally with in
difference rather than with any great
amount of interest. They feel that If
Washington is desrous of forming a dio-
cese of its own it should be allowed to do
so without opposition, as the size of the
present diocese is large enough to warrant
the change. They feel, however, that this
city should assume its full responsibility
in taking care of some of the parishes of
Maryland which are not self-supporting,
for it would be too great a burden for the
present diocese without the cooperation of
Washington.
There Is a sentiment among a certain
section of churchmen in favor of forming
the diocese of Washington from the Dis
trict alone, without the addition of the
adjoining counties of Maryland. The ar
gument they use IS that as these counties
are politically part of the state of Mary
land they should also be a part of that
diocese. Any such proposition as this is
certain to meetIewith bitter opposition and
would probably fan OF adoption. Washing
ton is regarded as a rich community, and
the feeling in Baltimore Is that this city
should not attempt to free itself of the
care OF the parishespin the nearby coun-
ties, many of which are not self-supporting
anj must depend upon missionary assist
ance from he-weaHhier parishes. While
it is admitted that diocese composed only
of the capital pof the nation would be an
ideal cne-especially for the diocese of
Washington-it would be anything but
pleasant situation for the rest of the old
diocese of Maryland. $50 it can be author1
tatively stated that any division which
leaves out from the new diocese the adj
joining counties of Maryland would meet
with an overwhelming opposition. Certain
ly the delegates from Maryland would