The Portland daily press., 1897-06-10

move an amendment that the secretary
send to the Maine Bible Society letter
simply acknowledging the receipt of the
letter"
The Bishop put the que stion and de-
clared it carried, but when yea and nav
vote was called for by Rev. Mr. Shep-
herd, the motion to amend was lost by a
vote of 90 to 10.
1T call for vote by orders,' said Rev.
Mr.. Hudson, but several cries of "No,''
'sOh, no Brother Hudson" caused him to
refrain from pressing that move.
Canon Foster of Bangor continued the
discussion. Said he: Statements have
been made against certain clergyman to
the effect that he is opposed to the Protes-
tant Bible. We have no right to censure
him, but it is the province of this conven-
ton to state just what views this church
holds. I believe it is our duty to utter
strongly what the views of the church
are
Rev. Mr. Sparks Agents of the Bible
Society have been to my parish. l gave
them list. of parishioners and they col
lected 81. So far as know the agents
were courteously received there. y
Rev. WI. D. Thomas of Calais vigor-
ously defended Mr.. Papineau. He referred,
to some misstatements that had been
made by representatives of other denomi-
nations against the Episcopal church, and
said if the clergy attempted to make
people take back everything in that line
they would be kept very busy. This reso-
luton, he declared, was brought up in the
way OF censure. If people have personal
contests to fight out they should do SO
alone, rather than in an open convention.
The newspapers are glad enough to stir
up just such a controversy as this. The
measure was introduced by those who do
not fully understand the position of the
clergyman accused. Mr.. Thomas object
ed to the convention ''sitting down on a
man who has the backbone to stand up
for just what he believes .
Rev. DR.. Dalton-"This discussion
seems to have branched out even more
0loesdAJ VIGIL l. ued COileCIilPitutSNs
desire was to prevent the sitting down on
any member without giving him chance
to speak in his own behalf. That the
Maine Bible Society has any hostility
or that it's agents have perverted any
children of this church, deny. have
been connected with that society many
years, and I challenge any man to cite
an example of hostility on the part of
that organization toward the Episcopal
church,
Rev. Mr.. Sparks-"Mr. Chairman, 1
move that this whole matter be laid on
the table,
The Bishop-"Such motion is not in
order when member has the floor. DIR.
Dalton, you may continue to speak"
J.. DIR. Dalton, resuming, said. "Why
such sensitiveness on the part of some Of
the members of this body? We don't
want motives ascribed to the action of
this convention in passing that resolu-
ton. 1t is time we fully understand the
feeling of our church on this matter. If
any great growth, progress or influence
is to be accomplished by the Episcopal
church in Maine, it must come as Pro-
testant body, and with the help of clergy
who are not ashamed of the word Protes-
tant. have heard reports that this MEM
Der in question is not alone in his senti-
ments, but the others have not acted in
the same manner as he. The ZIP iscopal
church will never be built up by those
who oppose the spirit of these resolu-
tions.''
Rev. Mr.. Sparks" This thing seems
to have been sufficiently threshed out.
There is an implied censure in the motion
before the[convention, land move it be laid
on the table"
The motion to table the question was
lost, by a vote of IA to II.
At this point Rev A. B. Papineau, the
accused Clergyman, arose and was recog-
nized by the chairman. Everybody list
ened attentively to him He is about 3s
years of age, ii clear complexioned sharp
eyed man, with pompadour hair. His
cheeks were flushed, and there was
slight tremor in his voice, as he thus adj
dressed the convention: "Mr. Bishop, I
think this is not the time or place for
such discussion. I wish to call attention
to one fact, that clergyman has been
called discourteous, without any investi-
cation of the facts. The convention has
asked the clergy to treat agents courteous
ly. If I have not been courteous am
willing to be censured by those whose
authority it is to censure. hope am
humble in saying that this body has not
right to pass resolution which might
be twisted to a meaning that a clergy
man of this diocese was discourteous.
Rev. Mr.. Stuart read the Objectionable
clause in the resolution-that relating to
the Bible Society's agents being entitled
to courteous treatment at the hands of the
clergy-and waving the paper above his
head, said: Everybody can see the mig
ger in the fence in that resolution
Canon Stills reminded the convention
that the resolution was not under consid-