The evening times., 1895-09-30
SOME RADICAL CHANGES
They Will Be Discussed at Tri-
enniaI Episcopal Convention.
TO MEET IN MINNEAPOLIS
New Constitution and CanOns VIII
He Submitted nd an I'm pOrtant Dis
cussion Is Expected-New Washing
ton Diocese to BE Rati a nd Other
Church Matters Disposed OF

The triennial general convention OF the
Episcopal Church of America will con :
vene in Minneapolis on Wednesday of this
week. This is the supreme legislative
body OF the church in this country and is
composed of two houses Of co ordinate
power, the house of bishops, consisting of
all the bishops of the church, and the house
of clerical and lay deputies, composed of
four clcrgymen and four laymen from
every diocese within the Jurisdiction of
the body.
AT present there are firty-two dioceses
and twelve IN visionary Jurisdictions in
America, and seven foreign districts.
The clerical delegates from the Maryland
diocese who will attend are Rev. j. H.
Elliott, S. T. d., of the Church of the
Ascens ion. this city; Rev. X. II. McKim
rector of the Church OF the Epiphany, and
Rev. j. Ii. Eccicston. ID. D., and Rev. j s.
b. Hodges, ID. D., both OF Baltimore.
Lay delegates, Mr.. Bancroft Davis, Wash :
ingtOn; Messrs. Skipworth Wilmer. Joseph
Packard, Jr., and William Kcyser, Balti
more.
In results, this session OF the convention
W i'll proba bly, be the most important ever
held. AT the last session. held IN Baltimore
in 1899, commission was appointed To
draft ncw constitution and canons for
the church and its report. made public
some time age. has created a great deal
OF discussion and excited much Opposi
[ ion.
SOME RADICAL CHANGES.
= In character il is quite radical. The first
of the changes which the commission rec
ommends affects the organization OF the
general convention. changing its name IN
the general synod and providing that the
hnuSn gf = hs. ritIa t.t an t1f-
ficer called a primus, elected from among
its members, instead of by the oldest
bishop, as at present.
1t is further provided that the diocesan
representation in the general synod be
three of each order instead Of four. II Is
proposed also not to count the missionary
bishops, numbering about twenty. in max
ing up quorum, which would make
twcnty-rine a quorum, and a ma jorty
of this number could thus exercise cnntrDI
of the upper house.
The proposed constitution declares the
general synod the supreme legislative au-
thority; provides that bishops alone are
to sit as a court for the trial of bishops.
and the power to interpret doctrines is
also .taken from the general body and
lodged with the upper house alone.
The authority OF the house of bishops
is still further increased by giving to it
alone the power 10 appoint missionary
bishops and to send bishops 10 foreign
lands. A new bishop must have the CON
sent of a majority Of the upper housc. and
the body may convene at will for any
purpose. except that of enacting laws.
Bishops alone are to pass upon the cleo
ton of diocesan bishops.
HOUSE OF BISHOPS.
The house of bishops is made the court
of last appeal. 1t is also provided that
contiguous duceses be united into prov
inces. the presiding chief bishop Of which
is to he called primate.
One article of the new constitution pro-
vides that the number of self-supporting
parishes and settled pastors in u proposed
diocese shall be increased from six to ten.
These are the most important changes
proposed by the new constitution, but sew
cral of them involve questions that have pre-
vinusly been the cause OF heated contro-
versy in church councils and when their
begins at Minneapolis this
week it is quite evident that warm fight
for and against certain of them will be in
augurated.
The coming session will be of especial in
tercst To the members of the church resid-
ing in the Maryland diocese, IS the conven-
tinn will pass upon the proposition so largely |
favored at the recent session of the diocesan |
in this city looking to the divis- |
ion of the Maryland diocese, the District of |
land to compose the Washington diocese |
the Maryland diocese to consist of the rest |
Of the counties in that State and the city |
nf Baltimore.
WILL BE APPROVED.
Owing to the almost unanimity with which |
his proposition was adopted, there re
mains but little doubt as to the change being
authorized by the general convention. In
that case Bishop Paret, OF this diocese,
would probably beallowed TO choose between
he new dioceses.
If the recommendation OF the constitu-
ional commission providing for the cleo
ion OF a primus bishop be adopted, there
S a strong probability OF Washington being
selected as the see city. The new digntary
will be national in his character of admins
ering his duties, and it is regarded as fit
ing that he should reside at the Federal
capital.
However. as the primus would be chosen
Jy the general convention, it is said that
many Episcopalians in this diocese are not
friendly TO the proposition that this be
made the see city. as it would deprive the
diocese OF the privilege of choosing
is own bishop.