The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-28

Ieellng. The province was to be mace up
OF not less than five contiguous dloceses,
it was to meet in synod for the exercise
Oh legislative powers, not inconsistent
With the constitutional powers OF tne
general convention, and it was to provide
uniform mode of trial for the clergy,
aud ensured an appeal to court COM
posed OF the bishops of the province. ex-
elusive OF the one in whose jurisdiction
the decision was rendered. Under this
provincial system, the general convention
might meet less frequently than at
present, and the church might be repre-
sented in its councils by delegations from
the various provinces, rather than by
eight men from each diocese. 1t seemed
to be settled opinion that some such
system must some day be adopted, but
neither the argument from primitive
time, nor illustrations from the present
day, nor its claims as a common sense
and practical method, could eradicate
from the conservative minds of the house
the thought of great danger in departing
from the customs which had prevailed in
thls.c for the last one hundred years.
sent back to the joint commission the
system will no doubt appear again three
years hence with such notifications as
may satisfy the ,timid and ensure it's
passage for final adoption in 1901. 1t is
worthy of remark that while the house of
deputies had been hard at work for near
ly two weeks in discussing two Of the ten
articles of the proposed constitution, the
bishops had concluded their revision of
the whole and had expressed their mind
upon it in messages which accepted with
but little change, the report of the COM
mission.
Among the encouraging signs of a true
progression along churohly lines, none
perhaps, was more noticeable than the
readiness of the bishops to suggest and
49, fv,f ho itr1ti yynJ n
| seemed to promise greater adaptability to
the altering conditions of thought i'll the
present day. Laws which were of use a
| hundred years ago if found imperative
today may be wisely repealed, terms
which no Longer define may well be
dropped, and canonS which were enacted
to meet the requirements of past genera
lions can scarcely be kept alive by any
legislative power today. We can but ad-
mire the wisdom which adapts present
ecclesiastical legislation to the times in
which we live and which with CAREFUL
foresight anticipates the results and wisely
provides for the future of the great move
ments which are now only beginning to
aigtate the public mind
1t is no longer question of ecclesias-
tical colours and vestments and ritual
adornments of vari0 us kinds. but of
matters vitality important to the growth
and welfare of the church in this land.
All cnufcnman agree Gnab Un0fe nuSU De
advance all along the line, and but few
are found even among those whose age
renders it difficult for them to sympathize
with the changes now going on in the
Christian world, who cling with very
grS,t tenacity to notions which are fast
becoming Anticipated. Thanks to the
conservative wisdom of older men and to
the wise counsels of those whose ex
perience has taught them the advantage
of the slow and gradual adoption of
changes, the church is in little danger of
moving forward with undue haste. The
ardor and impetuosity of youthful en-
thusiasm are ever held in check and the
advances of false sentiment are wisely
restrained by a temper in the legislative
assembly of the church which Gains and
directs the one, and with the good judg
ment based upon experience, restraints and
modifies the other.
Under this wise supervision and blessed
by the presence of the Holy Ghost the
church is rapidly gaining ground in the
great land, and with greater dependence
upon the means OF grace and with greater
and greater resolution to preserve, invio-
late the sacred deposit of truth committed
to her trust She goes forth more and
more able to break down opposition and
to win the world for Christ her Lord