The evening times., 1895-11-13
Prominent layman Discusses the
Organization Of Il.
PRE0EDENTs FOR FORMATION
Primary Convention Must Elect Pre-
siding Officer-The Assembly Can
Put the New Diocese Under the
Ecclesiastical Care OF Any Bishop
Until Ono Is Elected,


occasioning great deal of discussion pro
and coz. The convention was ordered to
meet at st. Andrews Church. in this city,
on Deccmber 4.
A prominent layman of the Episcopal
church, who has been for many years u
member Of the diocesan conventions, in dis
cussinE the situation, says:
'The question is asked, What authority
has the bishop of the Diocese OF Maryland
over the new diocese?
'The answer is TO be found In canon 1, or
title 3, of the Digest, which provides that
whenever any new diocese shall be formed
within the limits of any other diocese.
and the same shall have been rati.
fled by the general convention, tue bishop
OF the diocese within the limits of which
another is formed shall thereupon
call primary convention of the new do
cese for the purpose Of enabling 1t to or
| ganize, and shall fix the time and place of
holding the same, such place being within
the territorial limits OF the new diocese.
| Aud IL requires not ming more OF him asre-
spects the new diocese, unless his consent q =
| TO mime The canon does not say he shall
| organize or take any part In the org niza
| ton thereof.
"Thegeneral constitution ays: "A nd every
| bishop of this church shall cOnfine the excr
| else Of his episcopal office to his proper
diocese, unless requested to ordain or con-
| firin or perform any other act OF the epis-
| copal office in another diocese by the &C.
| clesia stical authority thereof.
He calls the primary convention OF the
new diocese "for the purpose of enablig il
| to organize
"But how?
article b, par. 5, Of the general consti-
tpfi mr. a.
ion OF diocese into two or more diceses
shall be ratified by the general convention,
| each or the dioceses shall be subject to the
constitution and canons OF the diocese
50 divided, except as local circumsta nccs
may prevent, until The same may be al
tered In either diocese by the convention
thereof When, therefore, the late gen.
erli convention ratified the formation of
the new diocese OF Washington, il became
subject to the constitution and canons OF
the diocese OF Maryland, except as local
circumstances may prevent
CONSTITUTION AND CANONs.
I'VE have then an inchoatc diocese pro-
viicd with constitution and canons for
the regula tion and government OF its
members in certain respects.
There is thus furnished for the new do
cese regulations for the constituents and
organization Of the primary convention.
''Of whom shall the primary convention
consist? We find the answer i'm article .
OF the constitution, to which the new ,iio-
cese is made the subject by the general
convent ion.
Article Of that constitution says that
every clergyman OF this church, of what
ever order, being a settled minister Of some
parish or separate congregation, acknowl-
edged rs such by this convention within this
diocese, or being a president, professor
tutor lr m m M lee
or seminary OF learning Incorporated by
law, or being a missionary under the &c
clesiastical authority of this dioccs g, shall
be entitled TO a seat and vote in the CON
ventioD II he has been economically resi-
dent within this diocese for the space of
six calendar months next before the meet
ing of the convention. The lay
men shall consist OF one dele gate from Zach
parish or separate congregation. chosen by
the vestry thereof, or, If there be no
vestry, by the congregation, from among
the parishioDers,' etc.
Upon the call which has been issued for
the primary convention the clergy of this
church within the limits of the new diuccse
possessing the qualifications Of mernbeTs uf
the convention, as stated in article or the
constitution, and the la ymcn Who have been
elected as delegates, as provided in the same
article, will meet at the time and place ap
pointed.
Having assembled, the case is presented
of n diocesan convention assembled without
a bishop which has occurred a number of
times in the diocese "f MarylaDdl. and the
convention must proceed as provided for in
such cases.
IN CASE OF A VACANCY.
"The constitution, section =, provides that
In case of a vacancy in the episcopal office
the convention, immediately upon their as.
sembling. shall Choose by ballot a president
from among the order of priests, who shall
remain in office until the new election Of II
president The election of bishop would
in effect be such an election as the constitu
ton declared that the bishop of the church
in this diocese shall be president Of the con-
vention.' The article further declares what
his duties shall be.
THE primary convention, having chosen
Its president, must then proceed tn elect a
secretary, according to article of the con-
stitution. The call of the convention might
here be read, rules of order adopted and
committees On credentials appointed. There
might then be a recess to enable these two
committees tn do their work, and, on re-
assembling, their respective reports would
be read and acted on.
Article provides for the election of
the sta anding committee, and IL seems to me
that before proceeding to elect bishop it
might be wise. in order that the diocese
may at once have its ecclesiastical author
ity during the interval that may ella y,se be-
tween the election and conservation of the
bishop, to proceed first to the election of q
standing committee. The constitution does
not provide for a treasurer. This office. it
seems to me, should be elected after the
election of the secretary; and, with these
elections, the convention is ready for the
various subjects to come before 1t.
''In the case of the Diocese of Easton
Bishop Whittingham was not present, and
the convention organized without a bishop.
In the case of the Diocese OF Long Island
the primary convention organized without
the bishop of New York, although he took
part in the religious services of the day.
After it's organization, and proceeding with
certain business, resolution was passed
placing the bishop of New York in charge
of the new diocese until bishop should
be duly consecrated for the diocese; or until
this resolution be revoked.
ORGANIZED WITHOUT A BISHOP.
'.The primary convention OF the diocese of
Central New York, of which the present
diocese of Maryland was then member,
organized without a bishop. After proceed
ing with certain business resolution was
adopted. as in the case Of the diocese ofLong
Island, placing the diocese under charge
of the bishop Of Western New York until
a bishop should be duly cOnsecrated for
the diocese, or until this resolution be
revoked
''In both these cases the respective bishops
presided after the adoption Of these reso-
lutions. Whether such action I'm the pres
ent case would be consistent under the
constitution provided for the new diocese
of Washington the convention will decide
If the question arises. When one of the
arguments used for the division Of the
fiiocese of Nfarylanf- was that 1T required