New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-24
CHi NGING 4 CHT RCH'S NAME.

considerable interest seems 10 he attached in
some quarters to the ac'ion last week 81 the
Protestant Episcopal diocese ~ Milwaukee. Al
n meeiing NJ the diocesan cow ention an amend
mcnt 10 The diocesan constitution was adopt
ed changing tine title of the Church from
Protestant Episcopal 10 n title NJ once more in
elusive and exclusive namely. The Church As
a result Of this action. the Protestant Episcopal
Church has ceased officially to exist within the
limits Of the dloccse Of Milwaukee And ont Of
this fact will arise some curious complications
until rs the advocates ~ the new name hope
the Church AT large follows the course Of Mil
waukee The Milwaukee churchmcn. for in
stance have no right 10 make any change in
the Prayer Book; still less have they nny right
10 use any other formulary OF worship in its
place. Consequently. although they have ceased
10 be members OF tho Protestant Episcopal
Church. they VIII he obliged to employ the
designated Moreover. in order to retain their
communion In the Church whose name they
have repudIatcd they must recognize 1t in many
other ways Their General Convention deputies
must come into that body no, as members OF
The Church, but Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. In fact. the general Church can take
Of the Milwaukee Episcopallans. 1t can know
them only as members Of the Protestant Epis
copal Church.
1t Is many years since this agitation for n
change Of name In the Episcopal Church first
began. While It has been maintained by the
extreme wing Of High Churchmcn, a number
Of other loyal churchmen have cordially agreed
with them that the present name of the Church
. Al,
real nature and claims OF the Church. Never
theess, every attempt In the General Conven-
ton to drop It has fallcd-frst because It was
felt that a change of name now would hurt the
Church in many ways. and, second, because no
better name has thus far been suggested. The
name Anglo Cathollc Church has been proposed
but the objection urged against that name is
that IT would tie the Church up 70 the idea Of
being simply an ofrshoot Of the Anglican Church,
whereas the mission OF the Church In this cOun-
try is for all peoples Some Of It's most saga
ciOus leaders declare that any such limitation Of
It's catholic character in its official name would
be fatal to its work and growth. Other 0bjec-
tons equally strong are urged against the name
that has just been adopted by the Milwaukee
Episcopallans. While 1t would crafty those In
the Church who regard their denomination AZ
the only dvnely organized body In the United
States. it would drive ont OF 1t multitude Of
loyal churchmen who reject that theory rs at
once unchurchly and unchristian. 1t would ar
rest the tide Of accessions to the Church from
other Christian bodies which has become so
marked during the last few years. and would
fail to differentlate the Episcopal denomination
from the other Christian bodies Every man In
this country where there Is no official estab-
lishcd Church, who Ia a member Of Christian
body, has the right TO say that he Is A member
Of the Church and any attempt OF one partc-
ular denomination. especially one as numerical
ly small a. the Episcopal Church, to appropri-