The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-08
CHURCHMEN AND THE CANYONS.
SPIRITED DEBATE OVER CHANGES
IN THE CONSTITUTION.


Priests and Lnymen Divided over
the Substitute for the Canon Rel
alive to the Calling of New Rec
tors Uader the Substitute the
Vcstrymcn Would Have Power 10
override the objection of the
Bishop To a Rector-BishOp Nelson
Grows Very Emphatic at One Point
in the Proceedings.
Macon. Ga. Nav THE third day OF
the diocesan convention opened this morn
1rr. The celebration OF the holy com
munion was followed by morning PRAYER
ana the htany service.
The minutes of yesterday session were
read and confirmed.
~he convention then proceeded to con
e-deration of the constitution and canons
OF the church. The changes in the con
sutution were of such nat0re as TO pro-
woke a long and warm discussion. The
uriests and Iaymen are divided as 10 the
substitute for canon 90. which came up IN
the report of the committee. The original
canon reads as follows NO clergy man
shall be called as permanent rector OF any
Uartsh in the diocese until he shall nave
first been nominated by the vestry OF the
parish. and the nomination approved oy
the Episcopal authority Of the diocese. The
nomination and approval shall be in writ
ing and shall be recorded on the minutes
NJ The vestrv before the call is made. The
substitute is as follows: Upon the elec-
ton of a minister to the reetorsnlp oil
narisb the vestry shall give TO the eccle-
eiastical authority of the diocese notice
If the same. If the ecclesiastical author
itv shah approve Of said election the
minister may thereupon be called by the
xestrv If the ecclesiastical authority
shan not approve of the election. reason
,herafore shall be given in writing to the
vestrv. who may then proceed 10 ahotHeI
election or by two-thirds vote rauty their
farmer action and issue call, ana il shdll
h final. Notwithstanding such ACTON py
the ecclesiastical authority.
It will be seen that under the substitute
a rector of parish may u caIeu "I.Aou Is
the consent of the bisho& UhueI 'he oiu
canon this was not so.
Frank Miller of Augusta moved that
the order of the day be suspended uhtll
the convention had disposed of the arn-
cles Of the constitution. The motion was
carried.
The convention then proceeded 10 con-
sideration Of the constitution.
Frank Miller offered a resolution pro-
vidirg that in case of the adoption Of any
articles at the convention and the amend
rnent of others the articles adopted to be
suspended of operation until the adoption
of other articles a the next convention
motion was offered giving Rev. Thorn
as Stafford a vote in the convention as
representative. A lengthy discussion arose
over this point. and the resolution was
finally lost
The convention then took up the pro-
posed constitution. The articles were
taken up separately and voted upon The
amendments in a majority of cases were
not material. The third article, however,
IN which provision is made for the repre-
eentation in the convention was amended
so as to read that clergymen economically
residents in this diocese regularly settled
shall be members a proviso at the end of
the third article was stricken out.
In the fifth article provision is made for
the admission of self-supporting congre-
cations in Atlanta in union with the ca
thedral to the convention. 1t seems that
there exists in the diocese a feeling that
the self-supporting parishes in Atlanta
must 90 into union with the cathedral,
whether they wish to or not.
AT this point of the proceedings the bish-
op. as president of the convention, arose
to make a statement on the article. Rev.
DR. A. G. p. Dodge Of ST Slmons called
the bishop TO the floor, and the president
said: Il am bishop Of this diocese, as well
as president OF the convention, and will
speak from what place 1 like"
Then. said Mr.. Dodge Il move that
members of the convention addressing the
convention shall do so from the floor"
Mr.. Williams OF Augusta pointed out
that the motion was out OF order.
Il simply desire to state what the chair
can state said Mr.. Dodge.
Il do not ask your opinion" very en-
phaticaliy announced the bishop.
This heated colloquy was followed by
profound silence Of minutes
After several breezy spats, the conven-
ton adjourned until tonight at s o'clock.
The convention resumed its session at
the hour designated. Rev. A. p. c.
Dodge donated the rectory property at
Fraderica to the diocese in trust. he be-
ing appointed trustee.
Several church matters were acted upon.
and then revision of the constitution was
taken up. Several sections were changed
and adopted. The new constitution was
left to the next convention for final ac-
ton.
Parish matters of several churches were
submitted to the convention and disposed
Of
After the adoption Of the usual reso-
lutiOns. the Diocesan convention adjourn
ed TO meet In Savannah on May IS. 1898.
The proceedings of the convention have
attracted much interest among the MEM
beers Of the Episcopal church The revis-
ion Of the constitution was the most i'm
portant matter before the body, and caus-
I'd much discussion, as the opposition TO
some Of the substitutes was strong
The sessions were well attended by the
public generally. and the delegates were
giN On hOspitable entertainment.
HIS BRAINS BEATEN OUT.