New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-25
THE CONVENTIONS WORK.
WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY THE EP1s-
CoPAL DELEGATES AT MINNEAPOLIS.
MICH EARNEST AND ABLE DEBATE. But LITTLE
ACTIoN-THE THREE GREAT QUESTION:
SOME ARLE SPEAKERS.


in attendance at Minneapolis during the last three
weeks and this IN spite OF the fact that little acua,
Church legislation has been accompiished-less than
at any previous convention for the last twenty
or so There can be doubt that the great sub
feet Of prayer-book revision. which blocked the way
for so man. years had grown heavy and monot-
onous and the House Of Deputes-one may not
speak for the House Of B.shops-had begun to be
weary Of the matter and therefore glad, at the
opening of this convention. to be confronted With
entirely programme.
1t is true that the chief item in the pro-
gramme was still revision. but ii not prayer
book revision and seemed to offer chance for new
men. as well measures. come to the
front. The long time occupied in the prayer-book
revision made IL almOs, necessary that the same
deputies be returned FOR many years in succession
and the personnel OF the convention was getting to
be near.y monotonous the subject matter.
New blood is necessary thing in church councils.
especially f IL be good blood and there was no bad
blood shcwn during the whole Of the convention
al least in the lower house and here, again, 1t
must be observed may not speak for the House
OF Bishops That the blood brought with 1t,
among other things, a doctrinare spirit was evil
dent-more evident at the beginning than at the
end. however for Il takes two conventions for depu-
ties 10 get their legs. to say nothing OF their
tongues. and the young doctrinaires listened. and
learned. in comparative silence and will not be
quite so anxious lead in the next convention.
Nor arr they quite settled upon leader.
PARTY WITHOUT A LEADER.
One or two have assumed that position. but their
right and fitness to lead have not been wholly undis-
puted in this convention. One thing, however. is
finally settled viz. that this progressive body Of
young will not have the Rev. DR. Davenport.
Of Tennessee rule them in the future as he has
done in the past. He is fluent and ready in debate
and has knowledge Of canon law but he is
neither profound nor pleasing. and soon
give way TO stronger Who that stronger
will be the next convention. perhaps will tell
He is certainly unknown parsonage at present
Speaking OF leadership brings reminder that the
House of Deputies just to be without a
leader, nor, far can be seem is there any one
who is ambitious to assume that rather difficult po
son. During the prayer-book revision. the Rev.
DR.. Huntington naturally occupied that position.
but he tacitly resigned It the moment he had
brought mis- ship TO port. and his place is not one to
be lightly sought. easily filed The Rev. DR..
Fulton who made his appearance in this convention
for the first time in many years. has many of the
qualities Of leader, and il he cares 10 take this
position IN the next convention do not think that
many will challenge his right to DO He has dur
ing this convention hed the breach whenever he
felt that a leader was required and his leadership
undisputed
THE JOINT COMMISSIONS REPORT.
The report OF the joint commission was. Of
course the matter that occupied OF the time
of the convention. 1t had been before the Church
and the whole public in printed form for several
months: so that the deputies had all had oppor-
tunity for a thorough examination of the whole
subject. The Church papers had also discussed it
as, perhaps. other proposed Church legislation
had been discussed. so that the deputies
went 10 Minneapolis full OF the subject of consti
tutional and canonical revision, and prolonged
discussion inevitable. That any considerable
portion Of the joint commissions report would
be adopted, time believed even thought
h. Il,tff hzffl and nv ono
feared that important changes would be made
in the ecclesiastical nomenclature of the church
This. however. did not come 10 pass. and Bishop
Coadjutor for Assistant Bishop is the only titular
change that has been accomplished
The very sweeping and radical changes recon-
mended by the report in reference to the authority
and scope of the Episcopate from the first
doomed 10 complete failure. Even the province
system" VII. certainly has many things to recon-
mend II. was thought too foreign for the American
Church. and the convention would have none OF It,
in spite Of the fact that two such Conservative
ChurchmeL as Dean HOFFMAN and the Rev. Dr.
Huntington both advocated thai ecclesiastical sys-
TEN in form another. All this goes TO show
beyond reasonable DOUBT that the convention
conservative TO the very core; and that the
Episcopal Church is not likely TO make any great
changes, either in her form OF government, or In
her ecclesiastical nomenclature. without plenty OF
The province system was the last article in the
report OF the joint commission. which the House
from any further action, so far as the ''constitu-
tons are involved. that part and altogether
to e Committee mite s9 Of he he House The commission
still alive 50 far as the revision Of the canons is
concerned This portion of the report was recon-
mitted, for TIT reason that the whole report had
canons had been reached. There was a strong eff
fort made 10 have the whole report recommittet
10 The ioIit commission but that effort failed for
many good and sufficient reasons. Some deputies
treatment 1t can only be said in regard 10 this point
mat the chairman OF the ioint comm sSion, Dean
Hoffman. said that he had not from the first ex-
adopted by this convention The work Of the
mission. he said. Vas merely tentative
REPUTATION QUICKLY MADE.
Regulations are sometimes quickly made. and as
quickly lost in these general conventions Of the
Episcopal Church. 1t would not be gracious to give
Instances Of those who have lost; but IT is proper
TO make mention of one who gained a reputation by
a single speech This the Rev. Albion W
Knight OF Atlanta Ca "ho IN ashng sNa sp5ke
so elOquently 10 change q small minority mo
What speech can sometimes do said one of the
deputies, and the Rev. Dr. Huntington observer
YetS passed 'a away n ThS was Mr Knights
convention. and he came as an alternate ne Is
young man and a modest man, ana mad me
good judgment not TO try his fortune second
There have been three great debates in this con-
yenon one on the Primal one on me rna rH ss
system ana one on h dsc1ss,nn that has been
heard in the House of Deputies Tor Ely Years OF
more No greater subject could certainly nave Deen
chosen. and the speakers were equal 10 inc
The discussion took place on the heV Dr. iui'ihs-
tons resolution, which was to the enect tha' an!
bishop OF the church should receive power 10 take
under his spiritual oversight any consresaon mat
accepts the Apostles Greed and the Nicene CTesi
authority Of the bishop. This brought up the whole
question OF Church union. which mas Deen taIks1
So much ahou, and written 50 much about since the
publication OF the Chicago and Lambeth articles. ~
was the first practical attempt in the direction OF
Church unity which has been made In the counclls
OF the Episcopal Church and II such an erort can
not receive favorable consideration little can be
hoped from the high contracting parties OF bishops
on the one sid. and professors on the other
DIR. HUNTINGTON ANSWERED.
The ablest argument against pr Hununstons
resolution was made by the venerable Dr Jewell
OF Milwaukee but the most effective Criticism was