The times., 1898-10-19
TIE NATIONS NEW DUTIES.
Porto Rico's Advent Commemornted
In Prayer.


+ In Prayer.
The members Of the House of Bishops
OF the triennial Episcopal convention
joined In the commemoration of st. Luke's
Day by celebrating holy communion at st.
Johns Church. corner of Sixteenth and III
streets northwest. at 7:3O o'clock yesterday
morning. the ceremony taking the place
OF the usual divine services held at the
Church of the Epiphany before the begin
ming OF the daily business sessions.
An Important and interesting feature of
the services was the recognition, In ac-
cordance with a resolution passed by the
house, of the transfer to America by Spain
of the Island of Porto Rico, and In this
connection special prayer on the in
creased responsibilities of the nation, pre-
pared by Bishop Satterlee, was read.
Bishop Doane. of Albany. was celebrant,
and read the prayer. He was assisted by
Bishop satteriee, Bishop Davies and the
Rev. DIR. Morgan Dix. Many of the bish-
ops and deputies and a number of mem
bers of the congregation of the church
as well as those from other churches, were
present. AT the conclusion of the COM
munion service Bishop Doane read the
prayer which was as follows:
20. God. whose providence ordereth all
things in heaven and earth, and whose
will controlleth the issues and events of
the life of nations, we acknowledge Thy
| goodness. which has guided and blessed
| the council and the arms of our nation to
the relief of an oppressed people and to
the victories of peace Guard US from the
| sins of self-seeking and vain-glory
Fill us with the spirit of wisdom and
| of Thy holy fear. Humble us under the
burden of the new duties with which our
| Govynment is charged. Strengthen the
hands and sanctify the hearts of those
| upon whom must come the solemn deci-
sions of this hour. And in the new coun-
! tries and among the alien races to which
on this day and from this day our rule
Is to extend grant US grace to establish
| upon the best and surest foundations the
| sovereignty of good government. true lib
erty, justice and righteousness and love.
that, seeking in all things TO do Thy will,
we may be Instruments of Thy glory.
through Jesus Christ. our Lord Amen -
The house met IN business session at 10
| O'Clock. and after disposing OF the MORN
ing routine. took up the report of the
| committee on canons. The canon refer
ring to the examination Of candidates for
ordination to the diaconate was passed
and certain provisions in the amendment
OF title /. canon IS. section Z, relating to
the transfer of clergymen from one do
cese to another. were adopted.
A resolution was offered and adopted
commencing the work OF the Church Stu
dents Missionary Association. and the in
vitation from the trustees of the Corcoran
Art Gallery. extended to the House OF
Bishops and the House OF Deputies, Ia
attend a reception at the gallery on Tues
day evening, was received and accepted.
In the afternoon the house agreed to the
canon reported by the committee in ref
erence 10 the election OF the rector of a
parish. The canon provides that the cleo
tion shall not take place within thirty
days of the nomination of candidates,
without consent of the bishop of the do
cese. After the expiration of that time
the election may be held at the will of the
congregation.
\ petition was received from the An
glican Church, in Brazil, asking for the
conservation of a bishop to take charge
OF the church in that country. The prop
osition advanced in the petition was that
bishop be consecrated here and sent to
Brazil as the bishop OF the church in a
foreign country, but 1t was suggested
that a missionary bishop be sent from
here. as is done in China and Japan. The
| petition was referred to committee
composed OF the Bishops of Kentucky.
Chicago. West Virginia, Maryland. and
the Coadjutor Bishop of Rhode Island
The petition states that there are twelve
| parishes in Brazil not remotely separated
from each other. They have been visited
by the Bishop of Virginia and the Eng
lish Bishop of the Falkland Islands, who
is in charge of the English Church in
! South America. There are some Ameri-
can clergymen and several natives who
have been ordained by the two bishops
| named.
The House of Bishops will consider the
nomination of new missionary bishops on
Thursday. when the report of the COM
mittee on nominations will be formally
presented. The matter was discussed yes
terday afternoon, but no action was
| taken.
The bishops nominations will be sent
to the House of Deputies as soon as they
are acted upon, and the election of the
candidates depends upon the latter body.
Nomination by the bishops is, as a rule.
equivalent to an election. but there have
been instances where the nominations
have been rejected by the lower house