The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-12
MHENREEH o. G@Mg Westminster Street,
-. EvG A OWN Corner Of Eddy.

save an Interesting outline of the growth
and development OF the Episcopal church
in America, pointing out the marked sim
ilarity between its constitution and that
OF the United States. Both were adopted
in 1889, and the constitution Oi the
church is in many respects the counter
part of that of the country. For in
stance, the United States mas its federal
government, which is supreme over the
States. Ii is composed OF the Senate and
House Of Representatives; the church has
it's general convention, which, said the
speaker, Is supreme over the dioceses.
And the general convention IL composed
OF two bodies, the House OF Bishops and
the House OF Clerical and Lay Deputies.
But authority of the general convention
is more absolute than that OF the ma
tion's congress. II Is subject to no veto
power and there ~ no Supreme Court TO
set asiue It's decisions. And vet the key
note OF II oil Is the elective power OF the
laity. The power TO choose the rector
lies with them through their vestrymen,
and so on through the various steps OF
the church government il lies wit the
laity who shall compose the general con-
ventinn.
In conclusion Mr.. Alsop paid o tribute
10 the value OF the laymeD's services IN
behalf OF the church. They are loyal
TO the church and truth, and in their
conservatism add not little 30 the vf-
Rev. John :. Lindsay OF st. Psus, Bcs-
ton, talked about the work OF the general
convention. There was an apparent differ
ence between his views OF the church
government and those OF DR.. Alsop. He
said that the church would not be made
great ~ what the general convention
may do or may not &c. IL is the work
and service OF the individual, OF the lay
man and his clergyman. Then DIR. Lind
say iptimated that the power OF the bis
hop was not SO great as that OF the men
who sit In the pows and tnat the author
ity OF the general convention docs not
equal that OF the body who elects and
sends the delegates.
Relative 10 his special topic the speaker
emphasized the act fthat the general con
ven,ion OF 1895 had In reality sccom-
plishcd much and that il had been a
most successful gathering, notwithstand-
1rrg ttE fHpt=t tbHt n IHTt not duHe= =Hft ( hat
had been expected ~ IL.
lie spoke of the great spirit OF unity
which had characterized it-how men
had gone there thinking of their person,
their party and their diocese and then
forgotten all these an become merged in
the general broad spirit OF the church.
In conclusion he asked the reporters
present 10 quote him correctly in refut-
ing a statement made by the Providen
Journal That paper. he continued. had
credited Dean Hodges with saying that
1.-The General Convention OF 1895 was a
spiritual hssco, and Dean Hodges said
nothing of the kind. The statement OF
the Providence Journal was absolutely !
false.
Rev. Thomas Edward Green was the
closing speaker and his subject was "The
Message OF the General Convention.n -
The clergyman from the West is a most
eloquent speaker and his topic admitted
of magnificent display OF orstory. I'm
words almost pCet ical he told pf no prpat
significance of the convent ion message to !
the entire church. He said that after all !
the contention and the legislation, the /
mighty challenge OF the convention each I
ana every member ~ the church is to do
lis work; by the power OF consecrsted I
faith. and by the power of consecrated J
wealth and means 10 rear altars, and
build churches, and presch sermons and
spread thorug ghout the land the gospel Of !
the Lord Jesus Christ.