The Portland daily press., 1898-10-03
EPISCOPAL CONVENTION
Will he Attended by Bishop Neeiy and
Dean Silis
who Will Go From Maine-some of the
Topics to be Discussed.

l
of the Protestant Episcopal church Of
Maine, will leave for Washington to at.
tend the general oonyen lion of the Epis
oopal church which sits every three years.
The convention will be in session three
weeks, and Bishop Nicely will be in con-
slant attendance during all of that time.
Rev. Dean Sills will accompany the bis.
hop, and he will be the only other clerical
represen tatiye from this city. The only
Law delegate from Portland is Gen. John
Marshall Brown.
| There are thres other clerical delegates
from other parts of Maine, and three other
lay delegates. The convention is made up
of two houses; the house of bishops COM
posed of about sixty bishops and the house
of deputies, which is composed of four
clerical and four lay delegates from every
diocese. For six years Bishop Nicely OF
this city has presided with signal success
over the house of bishops. This year Ri.
Rev. John Williams Of Connections will
preside.
"Of the many questions which are to
come before the convention" said Bishop
| Nicely. "for discussion and action, the
most interesting and the most important
to The church at large will he the propo.
sition to revise the canon on marriage
and divorce, so as to make it impossible
| for Clergyman of the Protestant Epis
copal chGrch to marry either party to q
divorce. Over this canon it is expected
the most protracted debate of the conven-
| ton will take place. The sentiment In
the Episcopal church, at least among the
clergy appears to be insfavor of the church
| setting It's face firmly, against divorce.
| The proposition to adopt a stringent
canon it is said will receive the undivided
support of the high church ministers ano
finds many supporters among the low
church ministers. In making its report
which will be presented to the general
convention, the joint commission on ths
revision OF the constitution and canons
will feeommend that the following canor
shall be adopted in lieu of tho one now
| in force: mo minister of this church
shall sole1nnize thu marriage of either
party to a divorce during the life of the
other party
s'The joint commission which consid-
ersd this question during the last thres
years was composed of some eminent bis
| hops, some twenty members. As NIGH
be expected in commission of this size
and representing SO many shades o.
opinion, the commission could not agres
on the canon regarding the marriage Of
divorced persons, in consequence of which
there will he minority on this question
submitted to this convention.
''Will there be any effort made tt
change the maine of the church," asked
the reporter.
Eyes, this effort will occupy much O.
the convention" said the bishop. sit il
held by some that the name, Protestant
Episcopal, does not reallya indicate what
the church purports to be. This name
they say, makes it appear that the Pro
testant Episcopal church is a sect or de
nomination, like the Methodists or Bap
lists, while it is really the holy catholic
church, or part of the holy catholic
church in direct line with continuity
from the apostles, just as the Roman
| Catholic church and the Greek Catholic
church. They suggest that our church'ir
| the future shall be known as the Ameri
can Catholic church. They realize, how
ever, that this title might bring abou
Some confusion between the Roman
| Catholic church in this country, which !!
| every day becoming more and moreAmer
lean. ass
"The proposition is, therefore. put out
that the Protestant Episcopal church bs
hereafter known simply rs Church In
America This title will undoubtedly be
thought presumptuous by other denomi-
nations, but as some Of the churchmen
hold to the theory that the church has
ever changed from the time of the apostles
and that 1t is part of the holy Catholic
church, it is, therefore, part of the
church (which dates back to the apostles
and which has preserved intact the teach
ings of the apostles, according to the
word of God, and 1t Is consequently just
and proper that 1t should have the title Of
The Church so it is claimed, the swords
lin America being added to distinguish il
from the Roman Catholic church, the
Greek church and the church of England.
Personally, however, am not in favor Of
making any change, preferring the old
title, defective as it may be-"