Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-06-19
CLERICAL VESTMENTS
TROUBLE CHURCHMEN
Reform EplscopaIians are All Torn
Up Over the Action of a
Majority Thereon.
BISHOP C. E. CHENEY RESIGNS
Money Gifts TO the Church are With
drawn and Priests AbdIcate
Positions on Numerous
Committees.

New York, June 14.-At yesterdays
session Of the general council of the Re-
formed Episcopal church a resolution
IF congratulation to Queen Victoria
lpon the completion of the sixtieth year
Of her reign was passed.
The vestment question was taken up
again and after a long debate the coun-
Ill proceeded to vote on the original mo-
ton to make the black gown the vest
nent TO be used on all occasions except
by those who are now using the surpllce.
1t was voted on 'by orders and the
result was a victory for the black gown.
The joint vote was 81 to q.
Bishop Cheney Of Chicago, then an
nounced that he would himself read u
letter which ordinarily should be read
by the secretary, but which under the
peculiar circumstances, he should pre-
fer to read to the council. The letter,
addressed to the presiding bishop, began
by saying:
las you are aware, l have kept ST.
lencc during the debate upon the vest
ment question, not because / had not
profound conviction. but because It
seemed to me useless to waste words
when | foresaw they would have no
weight with the majority"
The conclusion Of the letter was az
follows:
Such a destruction of the larger lib-
erty which the church has enjoyed from
Its birth hour, and such a departure
from the solemn pledges of Bishop Cum
Minis, compel me to enter my earnest
protest.
Il cannot with good conscience hold
any office in the gift Of the council.
which l am convinced has laid the ak
at the root of all Christian liberty in
this church.
Il, therefore, most sadly but positive
~ resign my position as a member or
the special church extension trust, az
trustee of the theological seminary, as
member of The committee on doctrine
and worship and any other place which
/ may hold by the authority of the gen.
eral council.
without the slightest question of the
ronsclentiousness Of the majority taxi
ing the action Of today, and with pro-
found affection for yourself, l am ever
faithfully yours,
Charles Edward Cheney,
Bishop Of the Synod Of Chicago"
Bishop Latans had hardly secured tho
acceptance of the resignation by tn"
council when c. NJ. Morton Of Philadel-
phia. announced to the council that
Miss Harriet s. Benson had delegated
him to state that on account OF the ac-
ton of the council in regard 10 the vest
ments she would withdraw until further
notice the income from her %contribu-
ton to the special church extension
trust and the special synod trust. These
trusts provide an income to the church
Of $4,000 a year.
4 hush fell over the council at this
announcement. 1t was followed quick
" by the designations of a number or
prominent clergymen and laymen from
important committees.
The old ~presbyters OF the council
showed their concern in their faces.
The proceedings of the council were
az a standstill for fully fifteen minutes,
while men left their seats n gathered
together to whisper to each other.
Finally Bishop Fallows called for an
immediate meeting OF the general COM
mittee Of the chuSch and an adjourn
ment of the session. a member or the
council moved that the secretary do not
put the announcement of the with
drawal of the trust funds on the min
ntes. He said that the council should
refuse to receive any such notification
except over Miss Benson's own sigma
ture. The council then adjourned.
Bishop Fallows was asked what the
prospects of the church were under the
crisis. He was inclined to take a hope
fu! view. The trouble was serious, he
said. but he did not apprehend the
b,aaking nm Of the church.