The morning times., 1896-05-28
hot DEBATE on MISSIONS
Two Plans Discussed in the Ep s.
COpal Diocesan Convention.
FREE OR ASSESSED GIFTS?
DR.. Mac ckay-Smith Presents Report
Accommodating Raising $4,000 for
Diocesan Missions to Be AppOr-
toned Among the Parishes-LiyeIy
Opposition Provoked

The question OF the manner OF raising
FUNDS for diocesan missions was the
proVocation OF an interesting and spirited
debate last night before the Episcopal
convention. IL has always been an iin-
portant subject but as Dir. Mackay-Smith
said III the discussion, the new conditions
arising in the new diocese and the zeal
with WHICH It's interests Will be forwarded
by the presiding bishop make the ques
ton one of great present interest.
The matter came up in the regular
routine OF the presentation or committee
reports. DR.. Mackay-s mith read that oi
the Committee on ,iIocesan MISSIONS coy
Til Lne preSenC time. The report, afJeT
reyie wing briefly the field, suggested two
resolutions one or which was that the
sum OF live Thousand dollars be assessed
upon thesdiocese and appropriated among
the yarioEs parishes. The other resolu-
tion dealt lyitA the provision for the care
OF superanuated clergymen.
III lucsc rttoniIthudtIoiS Dr. Mackay-
Smith was OF course committed to the
assessment plan of raising funds.
ASSESSMENT PLAN ASSAILED.
This method was assailed by Rev. Mr..
Aspinwali. He did not believe in grating
THIS particular plan OF tae Maryland aio-
cese on the new jurisdiction. Tbis way
or giving money, he sad, was not alto
gtther CurIstlan IN It's spirit, Tor gifts of
tnat KIND should be voluntary.
He also maintained JtaJ tue committee
making thtsS assessments was not in pos-
session OK all the facts as TO the parishes
which would enable them to act intellI-
gently IN InaklnS up theIr estimates. AS
sesSnents We're, To glS mind, nothing but
compulsory tribute, quite unlike the true
spirit OF things missionary. He character
lZcd tue plan as unWlse ana unfortunate.
He also Counseled a separation of the mis-
sionary fund ana that i0r the retired clergy,
for he noticed that whenever there was
any deficit III the aggregate or collections
for both purposes the superannuated We're
Rev Mr. Williams took exceptions to
these argume nts. He held that the yoiun-
tary plan or providing these funds had
always been a failure. II was so 10 his
own knowledge and in his experience. Not
only was the voluntary methCd bad one
but the assessne ut plan was the only ef!ec-
tive one.
HARD On POOR PARISHES.
Rev. Mr.. Striker made strong speech,
commending the position or Mr. Asplnwall.
Rev. MIR Johnson OF Laurel made some
sharp criticisms on the existing manner OF
raising the funds. He referred TO the
case OF a poor parish, which made every
effort 10 appear well before the convention
by meeting u dlsproporticnate or other
wise heavy aSSe Ssmeot.
The parish III these cases, he intimated,
oiteu succeeded in doing this at the ex-
pense OF things leTt undOnt, and which were
for the material weIiar OF the parish aud
its people. Yet should the parish IaIl to
come up 10 the required amount It's rector
was scolded IN convention by pc erllapS mem
hers OF the committee ou missionary FUNDS.
These should re member that the rector
of parish knew how much burden the
parishioners could bear better than the
membe RS of committee
II occurred to him that il would be
better for the parishes To give sums hat the Y
kne " they could pay and willingly than to
be assessed comparatively large sums which
they conldnotpay. 1t would be much better
for them to remain poor aud independent
than, by incurring heavy expenses, make
themselves heneficiaries OF the diocese.
II was time TO stop this kind OF assessment,
which he called taxation, which, II rot net
placed a stigma ON the Gefauitlng parish
Mr. Striker said tersely that it snlacked
rather OF business than Christianity.
COMPROMISE SUGGESTED.
Rev Mr.. Ware offered a compromise.
He favored the central Pennsylvania plan,
which was hat the vestTy, before he meet
ing of the conventions. should meet anC
advise the conventions as TO the minimum
amount that 1T could pay. In this way
there could be n0deficit. He cited the policy
OF the general board OF missions, when
did not pursue the assessment mode.
DR. MchIm here stated that this was
All unfortunate Illustration because the
general board had not all the funds at It's
command tnat could he desired
Mr.. Ware. however, succeeded in having
his proposition referred TO tie proper com
mlttee with view OF having the plan
inserted among the Canons
vote was then taken on Dr. Macka y-
Smith S reSOlu tlonS as embUuied in his
report, and they were adopted almost
unanimously.
Several reports OF a routine nature were
then read and adopted.
DR.. Stuart read the report on the proposed
seal OF the diocese, UI which he gave a
descr ption. The motto Will be Hscrit1
tura symbolun mysteriGm ordo.' Tie
cross viii be the Jerusalem cross and the
designs will embrace the arms of the Wash
luStUh family.
The convention received greetings from
the convention OF Los Angeles.
lne standing committee viii be elected
today. There Will be Il busy election as tie
following were nominated last night and
will be on the printed ticket today:
Rev. DR.. Elliott, Rev. DR.. Mckim, A. S.
Brown, W. q. BALDWIN, Charles W. Stanley,
Rev DR.. a. r. Stuart, Rev. DR.. Ma ckay-
Smith, Rev. W a. Mi tchell, Rev. j. B Perry,
Rev DR.. Harding. Mr.. Frederick Cossard,
w. H. Laird, Thomas Alexander Johnston,
F. ~ Waters, W. NJ. Lloyd, Mr.. Melville
Church, Judge R. B. Chew, Judge Bancroft