The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-12
REFORMED EPESCOPALS
SERIOUS PROPOSITION MEETS
THE GENERAL COUNCIL.
Financial Aid Being Withdrawn,
Many Officers of Importance Ten
der Their Resignations-A Crisis
at Hand.

New York. June u.-At today's session
of the general council of the Reformed
Episcopal church. q resolution of con-
gratulations TO Queen Victoria upon the
completion of her sixtieth year of reign
was passed.
After long debate. the council adopted
the motion OF Bishop Campbell 10 make
the black gown the vestment to be used
on all occasions.
Bishop Cheney of Chicago then an
nounced that he would himself read a
letter which ordinarily should be read by
the secretary. but which, under the pc
cuiiar circumstances. he should prefer TO
recd to the council
The letter, addressed to the presiding
bishop, BEGAN by saying:
LAS you are aware | have kept silence
during the debate upon the vestmeAt
question, not because | mad not profound
convictions, but because it seemed 10 me
useless to waste words when l foresaw
they would have no weight with the ma
jority.'
The conclusion of the letter was as fol-
lows:
erty which this church has enjoyed from
its birth hour and such departure from
the solemn pledges of Bishop Cummins,
compel me to enter my earnest protest
Il cannot. with good conscience. hold
any Office in the gift of the council, which
| am convinced has laid the AK ar the
root of all Christian liberty in this
church.
resign by position as a member OF the
special church extension trust. as trustee
of the theological seminary, as MEMBER
OF rlne committee on doctrine and wor-
shin and. any other place which I may
hold by the authority of the general
Without the slightest question of the
conscienIiousness of the majority taking
the action of today. and with profound
affection for yourself, am faithfully
yours,
CHARLES EDWARD CHENEY,
Bishop OF the Synod of Chicago
Bishop Latans. with an expression OF
regret ct Bishop Cheney's action. had
hardly secured the acceptance OF the res
ignation BY the council when Mr. G NJ
Morton of Philadelphia announced 10 the
council that Miss Harriet y Lenson had
delegated him and William Iracey 70
the council in regard TO the vestment she
would withdraw. until further notice. the
income from her contribution to the spec
ial church extension trust ana the Specldl
synod trust. These trusts provided an IN
come to the church of $4,000 year A
hush fell over the council At this an
nouncement. 1t was followed quickly by
the designations of a number of prominent
clergymen and laymen from important
committees. r. w. Hare OF Chicago re
signed from the committee on SaDoath
=
in the theological seminary al Philadel-
phia, resigned from the committee on
constitution and canons Rev: f: J. Walt
ner of Chicago left the board of trustees
of the publication society: James Van
Epps of Cleveland resigned from the COM
mittee on constitution and canons.
The old DresbyterieS of the council
showed their concern in their faces.
The proceedings of the council were at
a standstiIl for fully Is minutes. while men
left their seats ard gathered together TO
whisper to ezch other
Finally Bishop Fellows called for an
immediate meeting of the general commit
tee of the church and adjournment of the
session.
A member of the council moved that the
secretary do not put the announcement
of the withdrawal of the trust funds on
the minutes He said that the council
should refuse TO receive any such notifl-
cation except over Miss Benson's own
signature. The Rev. DR.. Tracey said that
he was in favor of leaving the announce
ment OF the minutes. 1t had been made
until further notice only as notice to
certain parishes VINO had made aDplica-
ton 10 the fund that they would be I'M
able to draw from IL this year. II would
be best to wait for further communication.
The council then adjourned
Bishop FaIlows was asked what the
prospects of the church were under the
crisis. He was inclined to take a hopeful
view. The trouble was serious, he said,
but he did not apprehend the breaking up
of the church.