The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-26
EPISCOPALIANS ADJOURN
END OF A THREE WEEKS SESSION
OF THE TRIENNIAL COUNCIL.
Resume OF the Work Accomplished
Missionary Bishop Rejected-Pas-
tOraI Letter--sffssions.


of three weeks the Episcopal Triennial
Council of 1898 came to an end to-day.
Probably never before at one convention
has the council transacted more business
than at this meeting, or so much of vital
Importance to the cuhrch. The work ac-
complished includes complete revision OF
the constitution, with many important
amendments; also the adoption of num-
Der of amendments. most of them of a
minor character, TO the canons. The new
constitution will have to be ratified by the
next succeeding convention three years
hence before it becomes operative. A mat
ter which has received the earnest atten-
ton of the council has been the question
Of church unity. A readjustment has been
made of the boundary lines of the mission
airy district in the west ana northwestern
parts i'm the United States. a new diocese
in Indiana has been created, six mission-
airy bishops elected. one for the church in
Brazil, and discussions had bearing on the
question of the church work in Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines The feature of
the new proposed canon on marriage and
divorce caused considerable surprise, but
this has been left to a committee of thir-
teen members to prepare a report to be
made public nine months before the next
convention.
The Rev. George Calvin Hall, archdeacon
of Wilmington, Del, nominated by the
house of bishops of the Episcopal Council
yesterday for missionary bishop of Kioto,
Japan, failed of election to-day by the
deputies. The highest testimonials were
paid to the character of DIR. Hall. but, in
the opinion of the deputies. his age, fifty
two years, is bar to the successful con-
duct of active work in the new field and to
ready acquisition of the Japanese Lam
guage.
The deputies appointed members of the
special commission which is to examine and
report on resolutions pertaining to mar
riage and divorce, and prepare and print
the same nine months before the meeting
of the next General Convention are: Rev.
Drs. Hoffman of New York, Davenport of
Pennsylvania, Eccleston of Maryland Lob
dell of New York, and Messrs. Il. A. Lewis
Miller of Georgia, Stanley of Washington,
Lightner Of Minnesota, and Bradford OF
| Delaware. The presiding officer. Rev. Nor
gan dix Is ex officio chairman of the COM
mittee.
In the house of bishops to-day a commit
tee was appointed whose duty 1t will he
to consider the question of a memorial 10
Bishop Thomas j. Claggett, whose remains
are now buried in Prince George county,
bishop consecrated in this country and IL
the committee deems tit his remains may
De olS1nterred Tor permanent deposit IN the
new Episcopal Cathedral. The election OF
bishop for the missionary district of
Kioto, Japan. will be filled during the re-
cess according to canonS provided therefor.
Tonight both houses sitting in joint SEES
sion brought the convention to close with
devotional exercises and the reading of the
pastoral letter. The service a most
impressive one, the bishops appearing in
their full robes of office. Rev Morgan Dix,
Bshop whppe @ Ing prayHr
The pastoral recounts briefly the work done
by the council; asks that next Whtsunday,
the Book of Common Prayer, be observed
in the churches: halls with satisfaction
the wonderful harmony with which this
General Convention, by the adoption of an
amendment to our constitution has, with
out weakening the use or lowering the value
training congregations of Christians unused
to our liturgical forms, to accustom them
selves by processes of education, to APP
proach and desire them; says that I'VE
are glad while insisting upon the impor-
lance or Keeping the public school system
of education free from political intrigue or
denOmnatlOnal intrusion, to urge all the
more that it must be complemented and
consecrated by the more careful and def
mite training in religious truth in the family
and in the Sunday schools, in the church
schools and colleges, and in the careful
teaching of the clergy of the church;
recognizes the earnest and effective work
of the various organizations of the church
and calls attention to the fact that the list
of communicates has grown 10 per cent
lions during that time exceeded those OF the
like proceeding period by s1,150.104. while
this record Is encouraging on the one hand,
yet" the pastoral says, lit leaves US inn
pressed, almost we may say oppressed with
the sense of duties left undone and OF
opened doors into which we have not en-
tered. We dare not face the future with
out a recognition of the fact that this
church needs the stirring up of the wills
of the faithful to the penteous bringing
forth of the fact of good works. of the
giving Of their substance and themselves
to further the Masters work. If the fact
that Christ is the captain of the missionary
hosts were infused into the belief of
christendom. christendom would revolution
ize its Christianity. For our own church II
would mean less luxury, less extravaganza
of expenditure on SELF less social ambition
less pride of wealth, less self-indulgence Of
every kind. 1t would mean more prayer.
more unselfshness land self-denial: more
sympathy with the poor, the ignorant, the
vicious, the outcast the heathens; more
cathoIicity of evangelism and less ecclesias-
tical self-suffieiency; more of the power of
the Holy Ghost, and therefore. the trans
formation of apathy into the spirit of con-
sequential.