The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-11
DIVISION OF THE DIOCESE.
IEPIsCOPALIANs WILL SOON KNOW
WHAT WILL BE DONE.

Diocesan Committees Circular to tho
CIergy-PrOpOsition VIII BE Voted
Upon by Vestries and Reports VIII
BE in Bishop Nelson's Hands by
July 1-QuestiOns to 30 Answered
by the ParIshes-In Case of a Di-
vision II VIII Have to BE Ratified
by the General Convention.
The question of the division Of the Epls-
copal diocese Of Georgia into two dioceses
will be practically decided at the end of
this month. BY that time there will be
sufficient information in the hands of the
committee. OF which Rev. c. H. Strong
is chairman, to permit of a definite opin-
ION as to whether It Is the wish of the
church In Georgia that the proposed divis-
ion be mado.
The committee, which is composed of
Rev. MIR. Strong, Rev. A. G. p Dodge,
Jr., Rev. A. w. Knight and Messrs. Frank
II. Miller and George b. Whlteside, has
prepared and is now sending out a circu-
lar letter to every clergyman In the do
cese, accompanying 1t with copies OF the
committees report presented at the re-
circular letter Is, in part. as follows
The committee ask that you will lay
this report before your vestry and call
their attention to the attitude Of the
bishop. the increase In the work OF the
diocese, and tho table of comparison with
other dioceses, all matters contained in
the report, and necessary to be studied be-
fore wise decision can be reached upon
so important a subject. In case you have
no parochial charge the committee ask
that you will make known to your congre-
cations the action of the convention and
distribute among them copies of the re-
port.
After such parochiaI or congregational
action has been taken, the committee de-
sire that you viii notify them of the result
at an early date mot later than July y.
so that they can determine the question
submitted to their decision as to advising
the bisnop to call a special convention to
take final action.
THE committee are not unmindful of
the fact that under the constitution of the
general church, the bishop has the right
OF election as to which diocese he viii
choose, even after a decision is had and up
TO the time Of the organization of the
new diocese.
bearing these facts in mind a proper
provision must be made for the support
of the new episcopate conformable to the
constitution of the general church. If
you will look at question No. 2 on the
hnal page of this letter, you will ascer-
tain what would be the assessment upon
your parish or mission If the division of
the diocese should take place.
Questions are appended to direct the at
tention of your vestry and Pensioners
TO the matters at Issue, to which we
respectfully request an answer yes or no,
followed by such additional remarks as
IN the wisdom and judgment of the pa
rochial authorities are deemed advisable"
Two questions are TO be answered Each
parish or mission Is to state positively
whether 1t wishes "A division of the exist
ing diocese, in order to promote the well
fare and growth OF the church therein"
and I'm case of division" whether 1t would
accept an assessment for the support of
the Eplscopate," the proposed assessment
being specified, "an If not what assess
ment would 1t be willing to accept2"
Replies are to be sent TO Rev A. G. P.
Dodge, Jr., at st. Simons as Rev Mr..
Strong expects TO leave on his vacation be-
fore July. All replies VIII be compiled by
the committee and sent to Bishop Nelson
with its recommendations. If the major
ity of replies are favorable to a division of
the diocese, and there is willingness ap-
parent to provide the necessary funds for
the support of two dIoceses, the bishop will
then call the diocesan convention together
to make formal provision for the change
If the division is determined on IL must be
ratified at the general convention at Wash
ington in October.