The record-union., 1895-10-14
The Episcopal Convention Making
Slow Progress.
THE REVISED CON-
STITUTION AND CANONS
Little Likelihood That the Document
VIII Be Completed so as to Be Sub
mitted to the Various Dioceses In
Order That They May Certify Their
Approval or Disapproval TO the
Triennial Convention IN 1898.

MINNEAPOLIS (Minn.), Oct. 13.-1he
nearer the general convention of the
Episcopal Church approaches hnal ad-
journment. the more improbable does 1t
appear that sufficient progress can be
made on the consideration of the revised
constitution and canons as to enable the
completed document TO be submitted to
the various dioceses, and thus enable
them to certify their approval or disap-
proval to the Triennial Convention OF
" Washington in 1898. One-half OF the
period within which the body is expected
to transact its business and dissolve has
Xpired, and the net results OF nearly
two weeks labor, apart from the disposal
of routine business that called for no
great expenditure of time, is the adop-
ton of three articles of the constitution,
covering two pages of the report. ana
leaving seven additional articles, together
with the fifty-four canons, covering some
eighty pages, yet to be dealt with.
In that portion of the constitution
which has still to run the gauntlet OF the
Committee of the Whole there is, more
over, any number of propositions that
may be subjected to as much debate and
vigorous antagOnlsm as was expended
during the past week upon the introduce
tory sections Among them is Article
ILL.,, In many respects the most lmpor-
tant one of the revision, and which, II
laying down the doctrine that the general
convention is the supreme legislative
body of the church, gives to it the exclu-
sive power to enact canons defining the
otfenses for which Bishops. Presbyters
and Deacons may be tried, and defining
the mode of trial. Strong opposition
will be made against the provision for d
trial OF Bishop by Bishops only, on the
ground that the diocese to which Bishop
belongs, having a right and title to his
services, should not be deprived of them
by proceeding in which they have had
neither voice nor standing.
So also with the proposal to establish
final Court OF Appeals in matters OF
doctrine and with the list of subjects
upon which the general convention is
given exclusive power to legiSlate. Mem
bers OF the committee say that u strong
effort will be made. by limiting debate
or through other methods, to get through
the legislation by the middle of the week,
but even then it will be an impossibillty
to attempt to touch the canons. and
without the one the other is useless, so
far as concerns the action of the dioceses.
To the revisionists the prospect is any
thing but pleasing, but their opponents
are very well satisfied with the outlook.
a few days ago K. ID. Wade of Chicago,
representative OF Central States Com
mittee for Theosophy Work, addressed a
letter 10 the House of Bishops. asking TO
be given q hearing on the question of the
necessity of the Episcopal Church return
ing to its most ancient faith-reincarna-
tion-and urging that the change was 100
early made. and that the church was out
of touch with the masses. The Bishops
treated the communication with silent
contempt, and accordingly Wade ar
raigned them tonight before the local
branch of the Theosophical Society, taxi
ing the ground that if the church was to
continue spiritual power it must listen
to the demand from the masses for
rational and philosophic teachings, such
as were used In the first centuries of the
existence of the church.
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
SYRACUSE On. ", Oct. l3.-The dis
tinguished delegates to the Congrega-
tional Convention now in session in this
city furnished Syracuse church-goers
with many rare intellectual treats to-day.
Every pulpit in the city, with the eXcep-
ton of those in Roman Catholic and
Episcopal Churches, was filled by some
eloquent Congregational divine. The
churches were thronged both morning
and evening.
But the principal attraction was the
speaking of Rev. Dwight l.. Moody, the
famous evangelist. Ia the morning he
preached masterly sermon to the dele
gates only in Plymouth Church. The
sermon was followed by the sacraments
OF the Lords Supper, which was un-
usually imposing. In the afternoon MIR.
Moody addressed meeting for men only
at the First Presbyterian Church. The
Alham bra, recently the scene of the
Democratic State Convention, has never
before seen such crowd as that which
thronged it to hear the great evangelist in
the evening. Fully $4,000 were present.
The text was AZ Mess q man be born
again he cannot enter into the kingdom
OF heaven"
REV. HIRST'S FIRST SERMON AT CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, Oct. I3.-Rev. A. G. Hirst,
formerly of the Simpson-avenue NJ. E
Church, San Francisco, to-day preached
his first sermon in Chicago, where he has
accepted a pastorate at Century NJ. +.
Church, Monroe and Morgan streets. Il
very large congregation assembled ana
extended hearty greeting to their new
pastor. The text was Mathew D, verse
Is: "tor verify l cay unto you, until
heaven and earth pass. one jot or ono
little of this law shall III no wise pass FROM
the law till all be fulfilled"
The preacher eloquenlly described the
interchangeable and unassalIabie position
of Christ's church to-day, Wnlch re-
manned proof alike against the changes OF
the centuries and the attacks and discov-
cries OF philosophers and scientists.
The memUeis OF the church will hold
reception Tor Dr. Hirst next Thursday.
MACHINE TELEGRAPHY.
Experiment of More Than Usual In
terevt Made at Philadelphia.