Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-20
Local episcopal Convention Oonsideu
the Constitution.
CONTINUOUS LAY DELEGATES
Election for Members of the
Standing Committee
Blu SINESS CTED

prayer was said at 10 o'clock by Rev.
James London and Rev. j. Z. Poindexter
after which Bishop Satteriee called the
convention to order. A number of ladies
and others were present, and in order that
they might hear the proceedings with
greater ease. the banners marking the
seats reserved for the delegates were
moved forward toward the altar some dis
tance The space set apart for the dele
gates was nearly all occupied a large rep
resentation Of those entitled to seats being
present.
After the minutes of yesterdays session
had been read by the secretary, Rev. Ar
thur s. Johns. and approved, the bishop
appointed the following committees, in ad-
oation to those named yesterday:
committee on accounts, John w. Warner
A IL Gray and H. c. Whiting; COMMITTEES
on ways and means, Lewis J. Davis w w
kurdette, Seymour W. Tulloch
A resolution of coincidence with the fam
Ky OF the late Rev. Thos. g. Cambria,
d. D.. offered by Rev. Dr. Gibson. was
adopted. va"
Constitutional Changes,
From the committee on changes in tho
constitution Rev. DR.. McKim reported a
number Of changes. the vote on each being
taken by orders
The first change proposed was to fix the
date for holding the annual convention on
the Wednesday after the first Sunday in
May.
A motion to substitute the word June
Tor May was laid on the table. and the
secretary was instructed to cast the vote
OF the clerical delegates in favor Of the
amendment, and Mr.. 8. w. Tullcch for the
lay delegates, and the bishop announced
tfat the change In the constitution had
been adopted.
The secretary read telegram of greeting
from the council of the diocese Of Vir-
GINA, and was directed to send an appro-
pirate response.
Another constitutional change proposed
was the provision that the lay delegates
shall serve for the canonical year for
which they are elected. While reporting
this change for tie committee DIR. McKim
stated that he was opposed to it, as it
would be contrary to the general practice
OF the church. He was Of the opinion that
when special convention is called the lay
delegates should be specially elected for
that purpose. This was the practice in
the Maryland diocese. He urged tina; the
power should be left with the parishes to
have special conventions reflect the special
purpose fer which they arc called
Mr.. A. s. Browne said the purpose of the
change was to insure a continuous body
until their SUCCESSORS were appointed. He
cited the cases of several dioceses where
this principle prevailed. and he added that
the course proposed was In line with that
followed in the church at large. He said
that at the last session OF the general con-
vention, held in 1895. an amendment, was
proposed to make that body a permanent
and continuous one He said that the
business commit ees of this convention
were composed mainly Of laymen, and 1t
was the purpose of this change to place
the laity on level with the clergy.
Standing Committee.
The discussion was Interrupted by the
announcement that the time for the order
Of the day. namely. the election OF men,
bers of the standing committee, had ar
rived. Ballots were distributed and the
voting began for four clergymen and three
laymen to constitute the standing COM
mittee. The nominations made at yester-
days session were as follows:
Clerical-Revs. Randolph H McKim ID.
D.. Alfred Harding, John H. Elliott, S. r.
D.; Charles E. Buck. John w. Chesley,
Alexander Mackay-smith. s. 7. D.: Josiah
Sontag, Albert r. Stuart and Thos. Alex.
tombstone.
Laity-Arthur S. Browne J. c. Bancroft
Davis. Charles H. Stanley. Edwin B. Hay.
William D. Baldwin and Chas. Albert.
Tellers were appointed as follows: Clergy,
Rev. Frank P. Willis and Rev. James L.
Smiley: laity, T. o. Ebaugh and Harry c.
Whiting.
While the teliers were counting the bal
lots business was resumed. On motion of
Rev. DR.. Harding a telegram Of greeting
was ordered to be sent to the convention
Of the diocese of Maryland.
A Discussion.
The discussion of the constitutional
change was resumed and Mr. W. A. Meloy
maintained that the proposed change ought
not to be defeated because 1t was not In
accordance with the old ways of the Mary
land diocese. He thought that the areu-
ment based on special conventions was
rather weakened by the fact that special
conventions In the past have seldom been
called. He asked If the convention ceases
to exist upon adjournment what becomes of
the offices appointed during the session of
the convention.
He referred to a statement made by Mr..
w. ID. Baldwin, which, he said. was 10 the
effect that while Mr.. Baldwin favored the
amendment yet. acting under the instruc-
TONS OF the vestry Of Epiphany parish. he
would vote against 1t.
Mr.. Baldwin explained that what he had
said was that while at first he had favored
the change. yet after the matter had been
discussed in the vestry he had changed his
mind.
Mr.. Meloy. continuing, called attention to
the provision In the proposed amendment
which requires that delegates must be
enc sen from among the members Of the
parish. Under existing conditions, he said,
a member OF another denomination could
be elected delegate to the convention, and
II this amendment was defeated that i'm
CuANBe WOulQ NOT De maze.
Mr.. Chas II. Stanley said that delegates
to the convention are required to subscribe
TO the declaration, and ne did not see how
q member of another denomination could do
that II elected q delegate, as has been sug-
gested. He maintained that the conven-
ton would be q continuous body If 1t met
every three months. and besides 1t was q
corporate body. which. IN law, never dies.
He said the laity ought to have all the
rights OF representation, and be enabled
to say who shall represent them either
in the annual convention or at special con-
vention.
In the opinion of Mr.. ]. C. B. Davis the
proposed amendment simply expresses the
meaning OF the constitution. He said that
the first convention OF the diocese OF Mary
land In adopting the constitution followed
the constitution OF Maryland. In provid-
ing for the election Of lay delegates. he
said. 1t was the undoubted intention that
they should continue in office for the term
OF the life Of the convention. When the
time came to make the constitution Of the
diocese of Washington 1t was thought wise
to make this meaning plain and unmisrak-
able All the members OF the committee,
he said, appointed to draft the constitu-
ton, with the exception OF DR.. McKim. ia
yored this change. 4
Mr. Charles King said that he favored
the proposed change, and MT. Charles
ALERT placed himself ON the opposite side.
A recess was taken at 1 o'clock for
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