Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-12
REFORMED EPISCOPALIANs TORN
Up OVER THE GOWN QUESTION.
BLACK GOWN WON THE DAY.
BISHOP CHENEY AND OTHERS
THEREUPON RESIGNED.
Income TO the Church of $4,000 q
Year withdrawn by Miss Harriet
;. BensOn-BishOp FnlIOw
Thinks Ii Won't Wreck
the Church.

New York, June Ii.-At to-day's session OF
the general council of the Reformed Episco-
pal church. the substitute motion Of Bish-
op Campbell. permitting any presbyter to
use either black or white surplice, and, in
the case Of bishop, a rochet. in place Of
DR.. Asher's motion, which allows only those
, now using the white surplice 10 continue to
do 50, was taken up. and a lengthy discus
sion ensued
At the afternoon session the yestment
question was taken up again. and after a
long debate the council proceeded to vote on
the original motion to make the black gown
the vestment to be used on all occasions
except by those who are now using the sur
pLice. 1t was voted on by ORDERS" and the
result was victory for the black gown by
% to Is among the clergy and 81 to Y among
the laymen. The joint vote was 81 to g.
Bishop Cheney. OF the synod Of Chicago
then announced that he would himself read
letter which ordinarily should be read by
the secretary. but which. under the pecu-
liar circumstances. he should prefer to read
to the council.
The conclusion Of the Letter was as fol-
lows:
Such a destruction OF the larger lib
erty which this church has enjoyed from
It's birth hour and such departure from
the solemn pledges Of Bishop Cummins
compel me 20 enter my earnest protest.
office in the gift Of the council which I
am convinced has laid the ak at the root
Of all Christian liberty in this church.
i, therefore, most sadly, but positively,
resign my position a member Of the
special church extension trust, as trustee
of the Theological seminary, as member
Of the committee on doctrine and worship
and any other place which 1 may hold by
the authority of the general council"
Bishop Iatans. with an expression % re-
gret at Bishop Cheneys action. had hard
ly secured the acceptance Of the resigna-
tion by the council when Mr.. c. NJ Nor
ton. 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 coun-
withdraw, until further notice. the income
from her contribution to the special church
extension trust and the special synod trust.
These trusts provide an income TO the
church of $4,000 A year.
A hush fell over the council at this an
nouncement. 1t was followed quickly by
the resignations OF a number Of prominent
clergymen and laymen from important
committees. r. W. Hare. OF Chicago. re-
signed from the committee on Sabbath
schools eS r. Rsy y William Farley; RT3f,essC,r
phia, resigned from the committee on con-
stitution and canons. Rev. F. J. Waltmer,
OF Chicago, left the board Of trustees Of the
publication society. James Van Epps. OF
Cleveland. o.. resigned from the commit
tee on constitution and canons-
The old presbyters of the council showed
their concern in their faces.
The proceedings of the council were at
a standstill for fully fifteen minutes. while
men left their seats and gathered together
to whisper to each other.
Finally Bishop Fallows called for an i'm
mediate meeting of the general committee
of the church and adjournment of the ses-
sion. The council then adjourned.
Bishop Fallows was asked what the pros
poets or the church were under the crisis
He was inclined to take hopeful view.
The trouble was serious, he said. but he
did not apprehend the breaking up Of the
church.