The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-07
OPPOSE A NEW DIOCESE
AntagoniSm to the Formation
of a Missionary Juris-
diCtion.
PRERoGATIvEs OF BISHOPS.
A Disposition to Abrfdge the Power
of the Upper House
Manifested.

MINNEAPOLIS. MINI, Oct. 6.-Unless
side-tracking policy is adopted. as was
the case on Saturday, the special order for
tomorrow morning in the lower house OF
the Episcopal convention will be the reso-
luton adopted by both houses six years
ago, which, by an alleged oversight, the
last convention failed to ratify, and which
authorizes cession by diocese of por-
ton of its territory to be organized as a
missionary jurisdiction. The proposition
is antagonlzed, however, by large num-
Der OF influential delegates, on the ground
that with new constitution under con-
sideration action is unnecessary, while,
moreover, it would be bad policy to sane
ton the setting off of weak portions OF
dioceses to be a burden upon the general
church.
This matter disposed of, the house will
again resolve itself into committee of the
whole and for fourth time resume con-
slderation of the re-enactment of the para
graph in Section l of the whole constitu-
ton, which puts veto on any disposition
on the part of the Bishops to avoid con-
sideration of matters referred to it from
the lower house.
There are some six amendments to the
resolution, the last and most important
being that of Judge Wilder of Minnesota,
who desires the house to put itself on
record as declaring that when the Bishops
are willing to abandon their "star-cham-
Der" method of conducting business and
sit with open doors they may be granted q
few more prerogatives than they enjoy at
present.
This pointed suggestion has put upon
their mettle some of the clerical delegates,
who believe that the fathers of the church
are absolutely above suspicion and entitled
to full amount of reverence and dignity
from the house below some of these cler-
ical delegates, it is said, living in hopes
that they themselves will be members of
the upper house before the next conven-
ton. 1t is difficult to forecast the action
on the resolution.
The next bone OF contention will be that
portion of the second section excluding
missionary Bishops from assisting in the
formation of a quorum for the transaction
of business. If this is done bare major
ity of the actual number OF Bishops would
be twenty-nlne, and as a majority OF
twenty -nine is fifteen that number of
Bishops could exercise the authority of q
house of twenty-nine. This, it is con-
tended, might make fifteen Bishops the
practical directors of the church so far as
concerns action whish is within their juris-
disction between the meetings of the gen.
eral convention. Some of the deputies are
in favor of defeating the clause outright,
while others believe that the situation may
be met by the recognition Of the domestic
missionary Bishops in forming quorum
of the upper house.
Election by the House of Bishops of a
Primus, or Primate, or an Arch bishop. as
it may be yariously interpreted, and to
hold office for life will not, according to
indications, encounter much opposition.
Not only the deputies and the Bishops
themselves, but also the church at large,
has come to a realization of the fact that
while it is eminently in keeping with the
teachings of the denomination to manifest
its love and reverence for the senior Bishop
by recognizing him as the presiding officer
OF the church, nevertheless the time
has arrived when its vital interests require
that the presiding Bishop shall be a man
upon whom the weight of years has not
yet fallen and who shall be equal to tray
ersing the continent as often as required
and possessed of vim and vigor.
Both Bishop Williams of Connecticut
and the next in rank, Bishop Clark OF
Rhode Island, were absent from the pres
ent convention, owing to the infrmities of
age, and Bishop Whipple, who is presid-
ing over the upper house, has several times
during the past week, through fatigue,
called to his seat the deputy presiding
officer.
The discussion of these sections of the
constitution will probably occupy the
greater part of the week.
The Episcopal churches of Minneapolis
were the central attraction in the local re.
ligious world to-day from the fact that the
pulpits were occupied by the most eloquent
of the Bishops. At the Gethsemane Church
Bishop Nicholson of Milwaukee preached
in the afternoon and Bishop McLaren Of
| Chicago this evening. Bishops Lawrence
| of Massachusetts, Hall of Vermont and
DIR. Huntington of New York spoke at ST.
Marks. Bishops Dudley of Kentucky and
| Millspaugh of Kansas were the preachers
at st. Paul, and Sesums of Louisiana and
| Seymour of Springfield at All Saints
| DA0AiOp w ElbCACoQ as llobClcu W ny III
overlooking congregation at ST. Barnabas
| Bishop Potter went over to st. Paul and
dedicated the new church of St. Clements
Many of the Bishops spoke in two or three
churches during the day.
The Bishop who on Friday Afternoon
questioned the accuracy of the bishoprit
reports from Alaska and announced tina
at the proper time he would oppose tn,
creation OF a missionary jurisdiction il
that Territory, was not Bishop Whitaker o
Pennsylvania, as stated in the report O
the event, but Bishop Nelly of Maine.
ENDS n LONG STRUGGLE.
Jog at Los angeles Orer the Division O.
the Diocese of California.
LOS ANGELES, CAL, Oct. 6.-The dis
patch from Minneapolis, announcing tina