The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-12
REFORMED EPIsoOrAL1AN ROW.
Action ON the Vcstment Matter
brings DiSscnsiOn

New York, June u.-At to-day's session
of the general council OF the Reformed
Episcopal church a resolution Of congrat-
ulation to Queen Victoria on the com
pleton of her sixteth year of reign was
passed.
At the afternoon session the vestment
question. which has been under discus
sion. was taken up
Rev. J. S. Mobley. colored. Of Columbia,
:. c., asked leave to make the motion that
the substitute offered by Bishop Campbell
IN favor of liberty in vestments be in
definitely postponed so as to bring the
original motion in favor OF the black gown
before the council.
a motion was passed to table Mr.. Mob
ley's motion.
The substitute in favor of liberty in the
use of vestments was lost by total vote
of IS to n. Rev. b. T. Noakes of Cleve-
land o., refused to vote.
The council then proceeded to vote on
the original motion to make the black
gown the vestment to be used on all oc-
casions except by those who are now US
ing the surplice.
1t was voted on by Orders" and the re-
suit was victory for the black gown by
% to 10 among the clergy and 81 TO u
among the laymen. The joint vote was 81
to a.
Bishop Cheney of Chicago then announc-
ed that he would read a letter which ordi-
narily should be read by the secretary
but which under the peculiar circum-
stances he should prefer to read To the
council The letter, which was addressed
to the presiding bishop, was TO the effect
that the author resigned his position as a
member of the special church extension
trust, as trustee of the the
oil n ntWerar
committee on doctrine and worship, and
any other place which he may hold by the
authority of the general council The let
ter was signed by Charles Edward Che
ney, bishop of the synod of Chicago, who
claimed that the vote on the Vestment
question had laid the ak at the root of
all Christian liberty in this church."
Bishop Latane, with an expression of re-
greet at Bishop Cheney's action, had hard
ly secured the acceptance of the resigna-
ton by the council, when c. NJ. Morton
OF Philadelphia announced to the council
that Miss Harriet S. Benson had delegated
him and William Tracey to state that on
account of the action of the council in re-
gard to the vestments she
would withdraw without further
notice the income from her contribution
to the special church extension trust and
the special synod trust Those trusts
provide an income to the church of SIS
600 year. A hush fell over the council
at this announcement IL was followed
quickly by the resignation of a number
of prominent clergymen and laymen from
important committees. The old presby-
tiers of the council showed their concern
In their faces
Presiding Bishop Fallows' eyes filled
with tears as he said to Secretary Hem
bricks, whose face was pale: 1T seems to
be the beginning of the end" The pro-
ceedings of the council were at a stand
still for fully fifteen minutes, while men
left their seats and whispered to each
other
FINALLY Bishop Fallows called for an i'm
mediate meeting of the general committee
OF the church and an adjournment of the
session. The general committee after adj
Journing for dinner reconVened at 8
O'Clock, the night session of the general
council being adjourned 10 allow the meet
ing. The committee meeting was held
behind closed doors. Conversation with
clergy and officials of all shades of opin-
ion in the church showed that while it is
the general sentiment that the church will
feel the result of the action of the council
there is little danger of it's disruption.