The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-05
EPISCOPAL COUNCIL OPENS
Impressive Cenemonies Mark
the Proceedings Today
In Washington.


WASHINGTON, Oct. ), 1s9s.-With i'm
ell of the Protestant Episcopal Church of
| the United States opened at II o'clock this
| morning, at that old landmark of Epis-
copal worship at the National capital,
Epiphany Church. The sessions Begin
ming today have far-reaehing interest
and Importance to the Episcopal organi-
zation of the country, and indeed to the
church world at large.
A great concourse of people gathered
for the opening services, far exceeding
the capacity OF the church and overflow
ing into the adjacent street. Conspicuous
in the throng were the silTer-haired,
black -garbed Bishops forming the House
OF Bishops, the chief governing body of
the church. The actual participants in
the council including bishops, clergymen
and Iaity was so great-some 800 or more
that but scant space remained for the
congregation not officially connected with
the proceedings.
Inside the chancel We're arranged the
seats of the Bishops. Immediately i'll
front of the cllancel were the seats of
the surplieed choir of 55 voices, while the
body OF the church was occupied by the
clergy and laity a few pews still remain
ing for the great crowd
Notable among the Lay delegates were
observed Chief Justice Fuller of the
United States Supreme Court of the Lay
delegation from Chicago; ]. Pierpont
Morgaf, William Bayard Cutting, Francis
Linde Stetson and Captain A. T. Mahan.
representing New York; George c.. Thom-
a e7af,,
willie the clergy was represented by Iirany
country, including Rev. Morgan Dix OF
New York. who will probably otfieiate as
presiding officer of the House of Clergy
and Lay delegates.
Promptly at II O'Clock the strains of
the great church organ and the mixed
voices of the choir foated through the
editice initiating the council with the I'M
posing entrance of the Bishops. They en-
tered according to their length of SER
vice as Bishop, walking in PAGES to the
chaneeI. The venerable Right Rev, DR..
j. Williams. of Connecticut, the Patriarch
of the body, was necessarily absent by
reason of his advanced age and
infirnity, and so too was Bishop Clark of
Rhode Island.
First in point of service, came that
white haired pillar of the Episcopal
Church Rt Rev Bishop Whipple, of
Minnesota, somewhat bowed with his
years Of eminent service in the church,
but still vigorous in action and strong in
intellect TO the white robes and wide
black collar of his office, were added to
the crimson academic hood, hanging like
a cape down his back. and the purple cap
of the Senior presiding Bishop. Follow
ing him came Bishop Wilmer, of Ala
bama; Bishop Nooley. of Maine; Bishop
Tutt1e, of Missouri; Bishop Whittle, OF
Virginia, and the other heads of the
church, the young and new members of
this high office closing the procession.
Bishop Whipple conducted the service
ana in fervent tones led the opening
prayer Then followed the service of the
Episcopal Church. Bishop Neeley reading
the Enistle, Bishop Wilmer the Gospel
and all the Bishops uniting in repeating
the Greed. Rev. DR.. Mcl&lm, Of Epiphany,
made the announcement of DR., Williams
absence and that Bishop Whipple would
preside over the assenlblage OF Bishops
until a presiding officer was chosen. The
business sessions of both Houses were
announced to begin at $3.50 P. NJ.