The National tribune., 1898-10-13
piscopaI Triennial Convention.

Washington has many brilliant gather
| ings within her walls of earnest men anC
women working for the world s good. bu
none more dignified, intellectual, and forci
| ble-and picturesque as well-aS the con
clave of Episcopalian Bishops and Depu-
i ties at present in session in old Epiphany
| Church. The town is filled with Bishops
The first day of the conclave they came
out in all their glory, and the prcces-
sion from the nearby house where the
| business is discussed to the church was
watched by hundreds of people, and nc
more brilliant procession has been seen in
our streets.
| The Bishops as rule are venerable and
godly-loOlling men; some are very old with
snowy hair and thin fine faces other sarc
great giants of men; some are sturdy and
bearded, and others are slight and weak,
and only the power Of godlineSS shines forth
from their faces. On the first day they
wore, besides their robes, their capes--
sometimes the scarlet cape Of Oxford would
flash by and sometimes the red cape that
marks degree from one Of our own Uni
veTSitieS. Some of the Bishops from the
English Church wore the knee-breeches
and the aprons and some were Just in the
decent black-and white that the Order re-
quires.
The conclave was opened with a full
communion service; the Sac; ament being
taken from the gold vessels of the Bishops
service. Tie gray walls, the arches, and
the screen OF the church were bright with
goldcn-rod and palms, and the music was
the stately harmOnicS OF the service.
Epiphany, by the way has a vested choir
OF men and wOmen-an innovation in the
Episcopal Church, and one not favored by
al! of the bishops, SO the women of the choir
we're not allowed to come IL with the men
n the cao. isters, the clerey Y and Bishop.
ut were sent in first by themselves.
The ours ions before tn, Conclave are
n No nf
ilacnlncTy C Government, and while
n, ,cessa y, are n 4 OF gre It Importance to
he wo-ld o,i:siCe exc for their results.
Othcr questions are questions OF ethics,
am tiic d., iai,Hs of these c lnrchmen will
t;i..e the part in the striv.n - of men and
NO ..cn all o.c: our land 20 better life.
i'ron the very fret wor IS + he opening
se.n,s, hich had -: il, L xt the sug
"eot.ve tc It rom ISlia " /. llarge the
Peace If thy tent and Let tIcm stretch
for h the cart i;ls oi t!iino babitations;
spare not, Iengthon ,hc cords AMI
been strongly ii favo: of polt ca cxpan-
sion, as it is now termed, and that the
Cross shall be with the Flag wherever it is
furied. Bishop Tutt.e in this opening
sermon spoke with no doubtful meaning OF
the duty Of the United States and the duty
of the Church in the faraway fields of
Cuba, Hawaii and the Philippines.
This question brings up interesting dis
cussions of the separate fields # the Eng
lish Episcopal Church and the American.
There is one particular case in Japan
fields where it is proposed to turn one
diocese entirely over to the English Chur, h
and take another Divorces eniieely for our
Church work, SO that both may have the
opportunities.
Another point brought up was to give
delegate rights to missionary clergy. Apol
other that will be discussed is the ques 4
af Il
so far has irowned on this as the Romailyf
Catholic Church has prohibited its sarjc
ton for such marriages, and it is likely.
that the decision will be in favor Of them.