New-York tribune., 1898-10-09
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL.
GREAT INTEREST IN THE TRIENNIAL
COUNCIL OF THE EPISCOPALIANS.
WI TING FANG AND CHANG YEN HooN-A

1riennial Council of the Protestant Episcopal
Church Is greater than expected.
The convention did not open until Wednes-
DAY. but for week preceding delegates
were constantly arriving, and days before the
ofhcial opening Of the Council the hospitality
OF the city was tested to its utmost. Washing
ton churchmen rejoice that the capital was
chosen as the meeting place for this years con-
vention. not only because it is the centre OF
political and National life, but because 1t is the
youngest diocese OF the Church. and they are
doing everything in their power to make this
convention a memorable one.
Grave matters occupy the official sessions of
the House Of Bishops and the House of Depu-
ties, such as the revision of the constitution and
canons Of the Church. but outside Of business
hours the delegates are handsomely entertained
Indeed, il is impossible for them to accept all
the attentions levished upon them. The mem
bership OF the Episcopal Church in Washington
Is large, and every churchman in town, rich or
poor, has contributed in some way toward pro-
vdng for the comfort and pleasure of the visit
ors. young priest from the West who has
been much sought after socially, sm;lingly ex-
claimed the other day he feared they would all
be killed by Kindness.
Besides the reception given by the President
terlee has been the host at two receptions-one
on Thursday evening to all the delegates and
the clergy OF the diocese and one this (Satur-
day. afternoon to the Wolnan's Auxiliary j.
Pierpont Morgan has taken the Carpenter house
in Sixteenth-s;., just off Seett Circle and has
as his guests many of the bishops and clergy
this spacious mansion will accommodate.
Every night several dinner parties are" given.
J: c. Bancroft Davis. who is always active in
church matters, and Mrs. Richardson Glover
are among those who have entertained in this
way, and altogether the capital is keeping up
its reputation for hospitality
The services Of the annual council Of the
Guild Of ST. Barnabas for Nurses were held al
s.. Pau's Church in Twen :hird-st., Of which
the Rev. Alfred Harding is rector. They began
Sunday last, and were extremely interesting.
AT the opening services, Bishop Whitehead, of
Pittsburg, conducted the devotional exercises.
The sermon TO the nurses was delivered by the
Rev. Father J. O. S Huntington, o. II. c., of
Westminster. Nd and was most happy one,
The meeting Of the Trennial Council will last
three or four weeks. Before it is finished. be-
ginning october II, the annual conference OF
the Archbishops of the Catholic Church of the
the sessions of which to be held at the
Catholic University. will be a most important
one since the main topic for consideration will
be the position of the Roman Catholic Church
in the former Spanish possessions recently ac-
quired by the United States.
In all these acquiSitons Catholicism was
formerly the religion OF the State. A change of
government, therefore. makes necessary
change in the status of the Church. which will
Immediately take the sa ne relative place as
free religion of the people that it occupies in the
United States. No difficulty is apprehended in
establishing the Church in the Spanish coun-
tries that have come under American rule on
new lines, although there are alarmists. both in
side and outside the Church. who predict that
1t will be impossible to make the Spanish Catho-
lies conform to the new order.
The Catholic Archbshoprics will rot be dis
turbed except in cases where il is made neces
sary by death or retirement. They will, how
in America instead of Spain the bishops and
archbishops will attend conferences here when
called and will be in every sense a part of the
Catholic Church of the United States.
Archbishop Keane has returned from Rome
to take part in tie conference, and other lead
ers in the Church expected. No Catholic
c;,reyman ever attained the popularity here
that Archbishop Keane enjoys. He is not only
an erudite scholar and accomplished man OF the
world but a man of most magnetic personality,
and as generally liked by Protestants as Catho-
lics. His return was made the occasion for an
ovation from his friends and admirers. and St
patr;ct,s Church when he preached there on