The record-union., 1895-10-08

if it Were So Disposed. Literal
Oligarchy. to Approve or Disap-
prove of ANY Part or All Legisla-
ton of the Junior Body.
MINNEAPoLIs, Oct. by viva voce
vote, which was sufficiently large in vol
ume to restrain the minority from chal-
longing DIVISION the House OF Depu-
ties of the Episcopal Church placed itself
on, record to-day as being willing to sur
render one of its most valuable preroga-
tives, especially the only one which en-
Rbles it 10 hold the whip hand in prevent
ing the House of Bishops from making
itself, if it were so disposed, a literal
oligarchy. But for the fact that it is now
recognized that the present debate is but
an interchange of opinions between the
representatives of the various dioceses,
and that the old constitution is likely to
remain she foundation of the church, the
refusal of the convention to re-enact the
clause putting into effect within three
days all legislation concerning which the
Bishops had made no sign to concur In,
might be fraught with grave consequences
10 the denomination.
This clause, which was omitted from
the new revision after debate In the
commission, which it is said lasted
week. enables the House OF Bishops to
approve Just as much of the legislation OF
the junior body, and to indefinitely Kill,
by failure to act all resolutions, reports
and other matters with which 1t may not
be in accord. The result would be to
make the lower, or representative house.
little more than a spoke in the wheel OF
the church.
a number of deputies, both lay and
clerical, declare tonight that If the con-
slderatlon Of the revision was completed
at this meeting, and the document went
10 the dioceses, the old clause would be
reinstated by an overwhelming major
ity. Most of the delegates to the pres
ent convention were elected before the
preliminary report of the commission
was issued, and consequently IN voting
represented more their own views and
sentiments than those OF the dloceses,
the latter not having had an opportu-
nifty OF officially expressing their views.
This was the first victory for the re-
vision commission after several days of
debate. But their jubilatiOn was short
lived. By an overwhelming majority
the house refused to exclude domestic
missionary Bishops in the counting Of
q quorum. The legal effect of this ex-
clusIon would be TO make it possible
for seventeen or eighteen Bishops to
form a majority, even when questions
OF the gravest importance to the church
are under consideration.
Then came the celebrated Section 3,
providing for the election of PRINTS, or
head Of the House OF Bishops, to hold
office for life. save II the event of Yolun-
tary resignation. Quickly the amend
ments piled up. One delegate favored a
designation of ''President Bishop" an
other Archbishop" still another Pre-
siding Bishop" and one more "Primate."
The house was not in favor OF any one of
the three, nor did il kindly regard a sub
stItute that the Bishops elect their own
presiding officer, and give him whatever
designation they might see 1T. y vote
had not been reached on The ''Primate"
proposition when the house adjourned.
The Bishops also devoted themselves this
afternoon 10 the revision.
Invitations from Atlanta and Boston to
hold the next triennial convention in
those cities, respectively, were presented
TO the House OF Deputies this morning
and were referred to the Committee on
Locations.
The resolution presented by Rev. DIR.
Fairbanks Saturday, providing that any
diocese may set apart a portion OF its
and discussed at some length.
Mr.. Alsopp OF Long Island objected in
strong terms TO the amendment, on the
ground that it would invite dioceses to
throw oil their outlying and more
troublesome districts. and would greatly
increase the work OF the missionary
board.
Dean Gardner of Omaha took issue
with him, stating that he did not believe
such action would be taken except where
ii was necessary.
\ motion TO lay it on the table was lost,
and q motion TO refer il g. the Revision
Committee was present o by DR.. Nc
Wicker of New York, but before d vote
was taken Dean Hoffman moved the or
der Of the day, the report OF the Revision
Committee, be taken up. The house
then went into Committee of the Whole.
W hen the constitution was taken up,
Judge Wilder of Minnesota was given
permission 10 withdraw his amendment
expressing his Willingness TO give con-
cessions to the Bishops il they would sit
with open doors.
Dr. Davenport of Tennessee and DIR.
Edward b. Spalding OF California spoke
strongly in favor of dealing. with the
Bishops IN an honorable manner. DIR.
SpaldIng said that later issues in the dis
cussion should not be preiudiced At this
time. lie thought ii eminently lust that
Tie H0use OF BISHOPS be put on the same
plane with the Deputies, and he regarded
the report OF the commission as tending
that way. lie had heard great deal
about the equality OF the two houses.
This was all right as far IS legislation was
concerned. but the Bishops would always
have the larger personal influence. The
amendments should he voted down, anu
the two houses put on parity in mat
ters OF legislation.
DR.. Elliott OF Maryland was also on the
side OF the Bishops, ana so, of course.
was Dean Holman of New York, the
spokesman of the commission on the /
floor.
DR.. Patrick Roberts Of Missouri thought /
itamazing that body such as The deputies /
should imagine for moinent that II was |
giving power TO tGa Bishops Asa mat
ter OF tact they had never been given |
power 10 sit as body, Tor the reason that
they had lu since the Lord collected the
College of Apostles.
Amendments directing both houses to
give their reasons for rejecting legisla-
ton, also leaving tho time limit To De
fixed by the bishops themselves, were
defeated, and then The original amend
inent Of j. ;. Biddle OF Philadelphia, re-
enacting the three-day limit, was voted