The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-21
LAST DAYS SESSION
The Episcopal Congress Of America
Adlourns Sine Die.
LARGEST ATTENDANCE OF THE SERIES
The Organic Law OF the Episcopal
Church Discussed-The Pastoral
ONCE As Affected by Modern Con.
ditions-Thanks to the Norfolk
Public for Its Courtesfes.

The large audiences which ATTENDED
the sessions of the fourth and last day
or the National EpiscofaI Congress, in
dicated that the deep interest which the
public has all along manifested in the
body and It's deliberations was sustained
to the end. 1t has been one Of the most
notable sessions the Congress has ever
held and certainly Norfolk has never en-
tertained more distinguished body.
After the devotional exercises con-
Quoted by Bishop Randolph, the discus
sion OF the topic for the day. What Is
the Organic Law Of This Church," was
begun.
THE ADDRESSES.
Rev. John II. Elliott, D. D., of Wash
ington, ID. c., submitted the first paper
He deplored that the cons titutlon of the
church had fallen on evil days, that it
was antiquated, and in sad need OF ref
ormation. The ritual law Is no part of
the church's organic law. AS u part of the
Church Catholic the PROTESTANT Episco-
pal Church in the United States share:
in the divine law. AS national church
she has law for her own government;
and subject to the divine law. The faith
should be distinguished from tho doc
trlnes OF the church. The sacred minis
try in its .hrce-fold form is a part of the
organic law; 1t can be traced TO apostolic
statement. and we are justified in our
adhesion to policy derived from such
source. If our church form be Of divine
right 1t does not follow that there is no;
| salvation without IT, He Is blind who
does not see other churches existin..
without 1t; he is hard hearted who would
deny them salvation. y fellow feeling
| makes us wondrous kind, and having
been lately unchurchcd by the Pope it
| may be that a fellow feeling now causes
us 10 act kindly toward those who are
now existing without q three-fold minis
81 "a ftar D., Of
| the apostles must be reclloned a part of
| the organic law Things in their own
| nature, Indifferent and alterable, con-
| not be considered part of this law
Two years before the American Cons;:-
luton was written Bishop White had
written shat ecclesiastical cons Tuition
for which he has been said to be worthy
| of immortal distinction. The States
were brought into n union by q human
law. bu. II may be asserted that they
were called" ito do this work. Should
| n constitution be less authoritative be-
cause 1t lacks secular endorsement, when
| 1t was formed by humble churchmea
| guided by Him who shapes the destiu!es
of nations? What are the colonial cpis-
ccpates following? They are ,.ak:ng on;
| constitution as precedent. and the
| church of England itself-the vine of
Gods plan,:ns-reJoices that her branch
| in this county-wlth rich clusters Of
| fruitage-has influenced others. who
| have received from their sistcr-now
their mothers helper-closh!ng and
wrough, gold
Rev George s. Mallory. d. D.. of New
York, read the next paper He said
that organic law was the law of being
| only living things have organic law
| and life. Organic law is divine will
directing the living creature. 1t is the
| law OF life.
Is this Protestant Episcopal Church
| ~ "a liCinHlI ~ hot
a branch of Il divinely created being?
| Or is 1t merely an aggregation Of in
dviduals? Able writer's have held that
| the church is like the nation. Thus to
| liken the church is to bclttlc it, The
zeal of such writers was a mistaken
zeal, but not zeal without knowledge.
They knew the history of the church
The speaker reviewed the history of
the church in America and asserted tina,
| its constitution is not its organic law:
that it is impossible for any diocese To
adopt the whole constitution but cnch
| must have its own as is the case with
| the State. He pointed out Il provision
| OF the constitution as to bishops-au-
| thoriZing house of bishops when there
We're three of them. The House of
bishops now contains not only three
but scores. and still there are some
who say that this article of the constj-
tuition is part of the organic law. In
| lurthcr commenting on The inStrun,cu,
| he referred To it as th,. so called con
Siilution.' The church judged by It's
| constitution is union of dioccscs Il,
which women are not mcntioncd--it is
! evidently human instrument, the
| integrity Of the United States may no
| maintained by force; not so with tho
| church. No diocese can be restrained
| from departing. The church was no,
created by its constitution. 1t is not
\ the organic law Of the church. 1t is no
| more concern to the church than the
| egg shell is In the eagle, lhoumh tho
| shell serves good purpose i'm its order
| ThiS church WAS called the Protestant
| Episcopal Church in America TO indi-
| cate that IL was not separate from
others. The word Episcopal may bc
considered the same as Apostles. The
| church would have existed had there
hccn no constitution. The church is n
part of the body OF Christ. 1t is a living
being fashioned by Christ himself. and
was left after His ascension to wait for
the breathing in of the Holy Spirit.
which gave it life.
The hymn, II Love Thy Kingdom.
Lord" was then sung.
| THE SPEAKERS
Mr. Joseph Bryan. the editor of the
Richmond Na) Times, was the FIRST
| speaker. He said that organic law is
that law without which the body would
not exist. The law of the United States
| found its origin in the people, and that
Is its highest source. 1t is competent
for them to change it into monarchy
| or autocracy If they see fit But what
| Is the organic law of the church? Is 4
rules sent down by the House of Bish-