Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-10-11
EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.

There was no abatement yesterday
in the public interest attending the
Triennial Council of the Episcopal
Church in session in Washington.
The expanding influence of the
church was indicated by the memorial
from the Japanese diocese urging the
creation of southern jurisdiction IN
that country, and from the Anglican
Church in Honolulu, heretofore foster
ed by the English church, asking that
in view of the annexation of Hawaii to
the United States the Church OF Ha-
wall be amalgamated with that in this
country, becoming missionary juris'
diction. The propositions were refer
red, the Hawaiian subject going to the
committee on the increased RESPONSE
bility of the church.
The divorce question came up and
was placed on the calendar for discus
sion following the resolution on the
Cars peace conference. The resolu-
ton to close the doors when the di.
vorce question came up led to spirited
debate. Several deputies criticised the
move towards secrecy. The question
Of closing doors finally went over until
the divorce subject was considered.
Among the resolutions presented and
referred was one expressing thanks tor
the sympathy Of Great Britain toward
this government during the recent war
with Spain, and hoping the time would
come when the two great nations
would stand shoulder to shoulder and
flag to flag" in the progress of the
world.
This cleared the way for the main
discussion of the day-on the amend
ment of the constitution. This related
mainly to the internal organization OF
the church and to the amendment OF
Article for the establishment Of stand
Jag committees in each diocese.
Article in relation to standing
committees" OF dioceses, was agreed to
after the adoption OF an unimportant
| amendment.
Article 5, governing the formation of
new dioceses, led to considerable de
bate. Delegate Lightner, OF Minnesota,
moved to strike out that feature OF the
article which provides that no city shall
form more than one diocese, except
| when the civil authorities consolidate
into one city portions Of territory be-
longing to different dicceses, in which
case each portion of said territory
shall remain attached to the diocese TO
which it previously belonged, until a
change is made by the consent of the
N a
ment finally prevailed. Article .
was then recommitted for further
consideration by the committee. Article
6 was adopted on vote by dioceses. Ar
licle led to sharp division over the So
i. called provincial system. The commit
tee report provided for the uniting dio.
ceses into provinces" DR.. John H.
Egar, of the committee, presented .
minority report, holding that the civil
division OF the country into States
should be followed by the church, with
out the creation OF strictly ecclesiasti-
cal provinces. The subject went over
till to-day
The deputies agreed to a resolution
of the bishops, repeating the canon es-
tablishiDg the prayerbook distribution
society.
1t was decided to create new mis-.
sionary district in Japan, to be known
as the Kioto district, which is cotermi-
nous with the Japanese diocese. The
missionary will be elected by bishops.
| For an hour the bishops considered
the proposed new canon relating to the
question of marriage and divorce, but
adjourned for recess without taking
action.
The house of bishops devoted the
afternoon to discussing the divorce
question but no decision was reached.