The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-04
Greetings TO METHODISTS
Significant Mark Of Advance Of
Christian Unity.
WORK AT EPISCOPAL MEETING
Tho Tanelc Over Revision Causes Much
Diseussion-Att the Suggestion Of OK.
Senator Edmunds the Matter Is
Postponed for q Time.

in force today. For half an hour be-
fore DR.. Morgan called the session to
clder the friends and opponents of the
proposed new constitution and canons.
consideration of which had been made
the special order over all business.
gathered in the aisles and pews and
debated desirable methods Of pro-
ceedure and policy with animation.
The revisionists following out the pro-
gramme inaugurated yesterday after
noon, seemed determined. to press for a
full consideration of the report thus
early in the convention. while the ants
were disposed, as a temporary expedi-
ent, to refer 1t to special committee
Of house of deputies in the hope that
this might result in its being Indefinite
ly hung up. At the outset of the ses-
sion DR.. Dix announced the committees
on the state of the church, new do
ceses, canons, the prayer book and
other subjects to be brought before
the convention, which were sufficiently
numerous to give nearly every one of
the delegates work in the future.
The Methodist conference of north
ern Minnesota is now in session a few
blocks distant, with Bishop Fowler pre-
siding. and in q spirit of good will Ma
jor Samuel Mahon, of Ottumwa. Ia,
today moved that the house send fra
ternal greetings to the Methodist gath
ering. Vigorous objection was entered,
however, by Delegate Fairbanks, of
Florida, who characterized 1t as an ex-
traordinary and unusual proceeding
and as one objection was fatal, the
resolution went on the calendar. This
disposition, however, was not satisfac-
tory to the conference at large, and In
behalf Of the Iowa delegation. Rev. DR..
Green. of Cedar Rapids, pressed for
Immediate consideration. The neces-
sary two-thirds voted to take the reso-
luton from the calendar and Its adop-
ton was urged in vigorous speech by
DR.. Green.
Delegate Fairbanks, of Florida. con.
tended that the body of Methodists now
in session was not a general conference
but a mere fragmentary affair. and
that 1t would be setting a bad precedent
in many respects to send greetings to a
small sectional Christian body. The
house. however. was of a contrary
opinion. and the greetings were adopted
by a viva voce vote of about 500 to 90
This Is the first time in the history
Of the general convention of the Epis-
copal church that greetings have been
sent to q conference of another demo
miraticn and the action Is Aegarded as
a significant mark of the advance
Of Christian unity.
The Work OF Revision.
When the hour arrived for the specla
order DIR. Hoffman, in behalf of revision
committee. made brief explanatory
statement. Himself and his associates
he said. had placed the canons in regu.
lar order and clothed them In language
hat could not be misunderstood. and
the report, which reflected the views OF
majority of the committee, was en-
titled to a careful and patient consid.
Grafton.
To that end he moved that the house
resolve itself into committee of the
whole. This was adopted with ar
amendment keeping the debate within
the rules governing the house, which
was incorporated by a vote Of 1856 tC
1870, the revisionists being in the minor.
ity.
Delegate Packard, of Maryland, hav'
ing been elected chairman Of the com
mittee. DR.. Hoffman presented the
formal declaration of faith, which had
been amended to include the mission
ary jurisdictions In the general term
"the church in the dioceses within the
United States" 1t was insisted by DR.
inently desira BILE If not necessary.
Rev. DR.. d. j. Stone, of Chicago, 8
member of the revision committee. wa.
of different opinion. and moved the
tabling of the resolution. The chair
man ruled the Chicago rector out Of
order on the ground that the object o.
yoing into committee of the whole wa!
20 allow full and free debate, and h,
likewise refused to recognize an appea
from this decision. The committee wa!
getting into tangle over the question
Of debate when ex-senator Edmund!
suggested that further action be post
poned until the committee on rule!
could grapple with the difficulty Thi
was satisfactory to all concerned, ant
the committee rose.
Victory Of Anti. .Rcvisionists.
In committee of the whole this after
noon the house of deputies threw over
board bodily the solemn declaration o
faith with which the proposed new con
stitution and canOns were prefaced. re
fused to concur In the recOmmenda tiOi
of the committee that the name Of tri
ennial gathering be changed to tn
general synod" and likewise rejected
proposition to recognize the title
The Protestant Episcopal Church II
ing victory OF the anti-revisionists II
which the commission of 1892 had ex
pended much time, thought and labor
apparently demoralized its supporter
Ind to the motion to reject the new
| lame of the assemblage they made bu
| feeble resistance When the hour 70
| adjournment arrived q warm debat
vas In progress on the question rein
| 'erting In the first paragraph of tn
constitution the clause making effectiv
legislation originating in the house o
| leputles and in which the bishops an,
| 'ailed to concur within three days
| This feature CT the Philadelphia consti
| ution of 1885, and which is Is still II
orce. had been omitted by the re
| 'isionists and their action was regard
ID by many Of the delegates as a dan
-erous infringement of the rights O
| he lower house.
At the rate of progress today. debat
being urlimited, It would take owe
four months to complete consideration
If the report. The ant-revislonist
abandoned their intention Of endeavor
| ing to shelve the report at the outset
snd as the document. when re-revise,
| by the present gathering, must be sub
mltted to every diocesan convention Il
ihe United States for it's action, tn
| contest between the two elements vii
necessarily be renewed In the conven
tion Of 1898. Meanwhile the old consti
tuition remains In force.
The only action of interest on tn
part Of the house OF bishops was tn
adoption Of resolution approving b.
\ Implication the suppression of the Fritz
simmons-C Cprbett fight by the Texa
legislature. Bishop Doame, of Alban,
was placed in Episcopal charge of tn
churches and congregations In contin
entail Europe.
When the Delegates met In commttte
of the whole after the midday recess
. code Of rules. designed to prevent