Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-19
THE EPISCUPALIANS.
SECOND DAY OF THEIR CONGRESS
IN NORFOLK.
TWO INTERESTING SESSIONS.
Does the Church Need a Hiernr-
chy.-The Question Discussed
Rev. Francis Tnyior's Plea
Bishop Newton in Opposition.

cial)-The second days session OF the
congress of the Episcopal Church In
America opened In the Academy OF
Music to-day at 1879 A. NJ. Bishop Ran
dolph. of this diocese. called the body
together and conducted the devotional
exercises
Though the audience was not so great
as that which attended the session Tues
day night, there was large crowd as
sembled. including representatives of all
religious denominations. The topic for
the session was: do We Need Hierar-
chy in This church," The first writer
was TO have been Rev. j. j. Faude. OF
South Minneapolis. and the first speaker
was to have been Rev. @. w. Dumbell,
ID. d., OF West New Brighton. n. y, but
neither OF these divines was present, both
having been unavoidably detained. The
first paper was submitted by Rev.
Francis NJ. Taylor. OF Mount Vernon, \.
Y He was on the programme as last
speaker, but owing to absences, ne De-
came first writer. Mr.. Taylor stated
that he had arisen from SICK bed 10
attend the session of the congress. HIS
tention. and was regarded as very able
one II strongly advocated the establish
ment OF a hierarchy in the American
Church, and to the lack Of it the writer
ascribed a lack of vitality on the part
of the Episcopal Church in this country.
HIS PLEA
The following extract gives an Idea OF
the strength OF his plea for hierarchical
government:
1.-The Church has been basely unfalthiui
to her trust. Our Church, as a cnutch
i'm this country is not doing her duty
Something is wrong We stand almost
helpless by the side of the Methodists.
Baptists. and Catholics. Something Is
wrong. We have az grand a corps Oh
bishops. priests, and deacons as could
he desired. There is something wrong
in the administrative power. we need
something that will centraliZe force III
bringing the Gospel to the masses we
need something and / Will say IL Is
hierarchy. Give us archbishops dis
tributed in the various sections Of the
country. and the Church will go on to
magnificent success and victory
The address was regarded as one or
the most thoughtful and forceful OF the
congress so far
Rev. George l.. Locke. OF Bristol, X. L.
was the next writer. He took the posi-
ton that the Church already possessed
hierarchy. and the present question
was. us development of the hierarchy
needed by reviving offices not now IN
use?" He contended that the hierarchy
as a close corporation. would be an
tagonistic to the principles OF American
ism and to the policy of this church.
The cultivation of the hierarchical idea
would be mischevous, unwise, ana per-
verse. 1t might be argued that our con-
stitutional safeguard against the narm
10 come of a hierarchy is sufficient. But
there Is a class who are anxious for the
opportunity to suppress themselves, yield
their wills 10 a class that they feel Is OF
a higher origin. A loose construction OF
the term hierarchy takes in no Office
below the episcopacy. Would the
hierarchy in the English Church work so
smoothly but for the power behind Can
terbury in the throneY'
The paper was a strong one, and the
audience was visibly disappointed
when it was cut short by limitation
of time. the Bishops bell ringing before
IL was concluded.
The hymn. The Church's One Founda-
ton is Jesus Christ. our Lord" was then
sung.
BISHOP NEWTON.
Right Rev. John b. Newton was the
first speaker to the topic. He said, In
part: 1.-THE first objection / would make
to the hierarchy is that 1t Is un-Ameri-
can. 1t is against the genius and insti-
tuition of our people. a bishop has said
that hierarchies are not n product OF our
soul and he might have added that they
will not flourish here however. sedulous-
" cultivated. Our mission is not to the
people of the eleventh century. but 10
the independent free-thinking people OF
the United States. In the language OF
another. The simplicity of Bethlehem
is far more weignty than the spiendor OF
jerusalem What advantage can come
OF an hierarchy? VIII the tramp of the
twelve archbishops take the place OF
the tramp of the millions OF people, who
would be driven from their Church by
these officials with high-sounding titles?
We are a missionary church. Our money
comes from the people. Shall we divert
this money they give up. and with 1t keep
up the pretentious machinery of
hierarchy? Shall we withdraw our mis-
sionaries to support few dignifed old
gentlemen with their mItres?
1--WE don't need hierarchy, but re-
vival Of true religion that regulates con-
said of us. as we said of the Church Of
Rome. that her ritual was grand. etc.
but where was the Christ of Nazareth
and Calvary"
Bishop Newton spoke with great liber-
ty. and made a splendid impression
as a speaker upon his audience.
Rev. DIT. w. r. Huntington, OF New
York, then spoke. He said, in part: II
believe the time will come when every
State in the Union will have its house
Of bishops. with its presiding bishop,
and the Union will have its house OF
bishops. with It's presiding bishop.
do not believe that this Is revolution
airy idea. The Church was iptended to
conform to the form Of government of
the country. and / believe it Will The
change of attitude Of the Church OF
Rome makes 1t necessary for us TO have
a philosophy OF our own" DIR. Hunting
ton was substituted as a speaker to the
topic, because of the absence OF DIR. Dunn
bell. His address was forcible and ef
fective.
At 1890 o'clock the congress adjourned
for the evening session.
Night Session.
The audience at the Academy of Music
tonight was. II possible. larger than that
of last night. 1t probably contained up
wards of 1900 people. 1.-The Ideal and the
Real I'm Literature" was the topic.
Mr.. Thomas Nelson Page. OF Washing
ton. was on the programme for the first
essay. but owing 10 the Illness OF his
child could not be present, and his place
was supplied by Rev. Wilbeforce Newton.
ID. d.. of Pittsfeld Mass. His paper was
a very fine one, and was followed with
the closest attention. The Ideal and the
Real in Literature" he said, SIS the
same problem as the old question of the
ideal In philosophy. DO we make the real
things Of earth move around the spiritual
centre NJ earth, or do we make the ideal
come down to the fad OF the moment--the
publishers check. the popular fancy, the