New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-03
rprscOpiL GENERAL CONVENTION.

The Protestant Episcopal General Convention,
which began its sessions yesterday in Minneapo-
lis with an impressive religious service. is likely
70 spcnd most OF It's time In discussing the re-
mort of the Constitutional Commission appointed
nv tho last Convention This Commission will
offer for consideration a proposed new Constl-
tuition. which has been the subject OF lively
discussion since It's publication in the Church
papers a few months ago The prevailing opin-
ion concerning 1t seems TO be that. while 1t con-
tains many useful provisions it unduly enlarges
the powers Of the bishops. and curtails those OF
the other clergy and Of the lalty. One innuentlal
UNCONVENTIONAL paper which makes this criticism
saws that the seven eminent bishops on the
Commission ovcrshadOwed the other members
of the Commission, and were thus able 10 IN
icct into the proposed Constitution strong
tncturc of un-American prelacy. BE this as IL
may. there is little doubt that vigorous opposi-
ton TO the report will be developed In the House
of Clerical and Lay Deputies, and II Is quite
possible that the Commission Will be asked 10
take the subject into further consideration ana
report three years hence. There are few ex-
IRENE churchmen who think 1t uncatholic for the
Church to have paper Constitution at ALL But
II is too late to moot that question now. II mas
such a Constitution and the only thing to do Is
70 revise it in keeping with the expanding life
Of the Church.
The old proposition Of the rituallss to change
tho name Of the Church will in all likelihood
come I'D again. They want 1t TO be named "the
American Church." "the Holy Catholic Church.
or simply 1.-THE Church; but the chances OF their
carving such measure in the present conyen-
,lt,,,t S,,cl
bishops as Doane, Of Albany, and Perry, OF
Iowa. either oppose the Idea or believe 1t mop
portune 1t Is doubtless true, as the rituallsts
say. that the name Protestant Episcopal Is by
no means an ideal name. The term Protestant
is negative and unmcanlng 1t would describe a
radical Unitarian and a rituast equally well,
unless the rltualist should decide to join the
Church Of Rome. And as for the word Epsco
pal 1t Is not much better. As a term of differ
entation, "Praycr-Book Church. or even SUI
pce Church." would be about as expressive.
Rut. after ALL though it Is desirable that
Church should have an expressive name, the
history Of the more important Protestant de-
nominations proves that their growth does not
depend on their name. The great Methodist
EnIscopal Church is striking illustration Of
this The term Methodist was first applied to
the followers Of Wesley In dersion. And even
apart from that fact, the name does not fairly
describe the genius and spirit Of the Church that
adopted It, Nevertheless, the growth Of Method
ism has been uncxampled. The progressive
members of the Episcopal Church are not trou-
bling themselves owe" the fact that Its name Is
not ideally perfect. Nor are they willing to have
IFS name changed to the Church until in num-
hers II gives better evidence than II has yet
given that 1t really Is the Church.
No other questions are likely TO come before
the convention. During the three years since
the meeting Of the last convention In Baltimore
the growth Of the Church in numbers and infu
cnce has been gratifying. Much OF the old bit
tcrness between the parties has died out The
ritualists are working hard TO gain an ascendancy
in the Church: but the bulk Of the wealthy and
progressive ay are passivcly. II not actively,
opposed TO them.