Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-10-14
EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.

of the House Of Deputies Of tbs Episco-
pal Council, among the resolutions
presented end referred we're those pro
posing an appeal to Congress for an
amendment to the federal constitution
providing for uniform laws on marriage
aud divorce; extending the causes on
which coadjutor bishops may be chosen;
providing for depulation to attend
the next general synod Of the Church
OF England in Canada.
The consideration of the constitution
was resumed. and article 10, of the re-
vision, providing strict limitations on
alterations of the prayer-book, was
adopted unanimously.
The important question ofunity came
up on the resolution of Rev. DR.. Hunt
ington, of New York, extending ar
tice 10 so as to permit any bishop to
take under his spiritual guidance any
congregation accepting certain essen
tial tenets of the church.
Chairman Morgan Dix said be could
not conscientiously change his views of
three years ago, when be opposed the
amendment He had fears as to the
result and doubt as to the practical
working of the plan.
Mr.. Butler, of Pennsylvania, said this
was a great year for unity, and he ask
ed that it be signalized by the great
American church extending welcome
to all Christians.
Rev. DR.. McKim, of Washington,
said the proposition was not to touch a
line or letter of the prayer-book, but on
the contrary, to make it better known,
better learned, and more influential
over the whole land.
The debate on DR.. Huntington's
proposition was continued throughout
the afternoon session of the House
without action, some arguing its utility
and others advising conservatism in the
matter.
The chief work OF the House Of Bish-
ops was to agree to a Encouragement Of
five of the missionary districts in the
West. The new districts are as fol-
lows: District of Laramie, District OF
Salt Lake, District of Sacramento, Dis
trict OF Boise and District of Spokane.
No additional districts are created.
The House of Bishops will select
bishops for these Jurisdictions, but in
those jurisdictions having already a
bishop he will take charge OF the cor
responding new jurisdiction. The
jurisdiction of Northern California,
Idaho, Wyoming and North Dakota
are vacant and new bishops will be
appointed for them.
vrb;ob 70 ban tho
House OF Bishops Immediately before
adjournment Wednesday evening on
the marriage and divorce canon stood
81 to 81 for the adoption of less
stringent canon than was reported by
the joint committee. The argument
came up upon the question of adopting
the canon proposed by the joint com
mission on the revision Of the constitu-
ton, which reads as follows: mo min,
lister Of the church shall solemn
izs the marriage OF either party
to q divorce during the lifetime OF
the other party" The substitute pro-
posed in the minority report permitted
the remarriage of the innocent party il
a divorce obtained for the cause Of
adultery when the party filed the rec
ord of the court showing the divorce
to have been obtained on that ground.
: The two sides in the debate were led
By Bishop Doane, OF Albany, and Bishop
Potter, OF New York. Bishop Doane,
as chairman OF the joint commission on
the revision of the canons, had charge
OF the presentation of the majority re-
port, while Bishop Potter, as the lead.
ing dissenter from the majority report,
had charge of the opposition.
When the Bishop of Springfield moved
to amend the canon as proposed by
Bishop Potter by inserting provision
that the innocent party to divorce
for cause arising before marriage should,
IN addition to the innocent party to q
divorce for the cause of adultery, be
eligible to remarriage under the laws OF
the church, it was accepted by Bishop
Potter, incorporated in his substitute
for the majority report on this section
of the canon and the section, as amend,
ed, was adopted by the vote of 50 to 81.
About four hundred members of the
convention will 90 to Richmond this
evening under the auspices of the
Churchman'S League OF Washington,
and will take dinner at the Hotel JEFF
ferson in Richmond tonight. On Sat
urday morning the delegates will go TO
jamestown, and commemorative SER
vice will be held in the historic church
there They will return to Washing
ton Saturday evening,