Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-11
EPISCOPAL COUNCIL.
DIVORCE QUESTION CONES Up.
Proposition to Close Doors Causes
sharp Debate-The sO-Cslied Pro-
vincial Observation-Disclosures to the
Constitution.

| WARRINGTON, October 1O.-Ihere was
no abatement to-day In the public interest,"
| attending the triennial council or the
| Episcopal Church, and large crowds JOIN
| ed in the religious services at Epiphany
church. which preceded the business oil
the day. The expanding influence OF the
| Church was indicated by memorial from
| the Japanese diocese urging the erection
| Of southern jurisdiction in that country
| and from the Anglican Church In Homo
| lulu, heretofore fostered by the Enghsn
| Church, asking that in view Of the an
nexation 10 the United States OF Hawaii
the church OF Hawaii be amalgamated
| with that in this country. becoming a
missionary jurisdiction. The propositions
were referred I'd committees.
The Southern Florida jurisdiction sub
mitted a proposition that each missionary
Jurisdiction be represented in the council
by one clerical and one lay delegate. The
proposition was referred.
The divorce question came up, and was
placed on the calendar for discussion al
ter the resolution on the Cars peace
conference. The resolution TO close the
doors when the divorce question came up
led TO a spirited debate. Several deputies
criticised the move towards secrecy. The
motion for closing the doors went over
until the divorce subject shall be con-
sidered.
AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION.
This cleared the way for the main dis
cussion OF the day-that on amendments
TO the Constitution This related mainly
to the internal organization of the Church
and to the amendment OF Article 4, for
the establishment of standing commit
tee in each diocese. This article was
agreed TO after the adoption of an unim-
portant amendment.
Article s. governing the formation Of
new dioceses led 10 considerable debate.
1t was explained by DR.. Dix, the chair
man Of the committee. that the article
contravened no existing regulation, but
laid down broad principles governing the
whole Church.
Delegate Lightner, of Minnesota, moved
to strike out that feature Of the article
which provides that no city shall form
more than one diocese. except when the
civil authority consolidates into one city
portions Of territory belonging TO differ
ent diocese, In which case each portion
OF said territory shall remain attached
10 inc uioCtSe 10 WHICH IL previously De-
longed until a change is made by con-
sent Of the general convention. This
amendment was finally adopted At the
afternoon session.
Article was then recommitted for fur
Their consideration by the committee.
Article was adopted on a vote by do
ceses.
PROVINCIAL SYSTEM.
Article Z led to a sharp division over the
so-called provincial system. The COM
mittee report provided for uniting do
ceses into provinces. DR.. John II. Egan,
OF the committee, presented a minority
report holding that the civil division of
the country into States should be follow
ed by the Church, without the creation
of strictly ecclesiastical provinces"
The debate was carried on by Rev. Drs.
Taylor of Springfield. and Fulton, of
Pennsylvania, and Rev. G.. II. Ward, of
Florida, in support of the provincial sys-
TEN, and Rev. DR.. Huntington, OF New
York, and Rev. John ]. Faude, Of Mime
sofa, against it. The subject went over
until tomorrow.
The House of Bishops devoted the en-
tire afternoon to discussing the divorce
question. Secretary Hart announced that
considerable progress had been made but
no decision had been reached.
Before adjourning for lunch the House
of Deputies agreed to a resolution of the
Bishops, repeating the canon establish
ing the Prayer-Book Distribution Society.
This organization was formed for the
purpose Of accomplishing the free distri-
button of prayer-books, but its work had
been completed and this branch OF
Church labor is now attended TO by do
cesar associations.
It 1a1 20
sionary district in Japan, TO be known as
the Kyoto District. which is coterminous
with the japanese diocese The mis-
sionary will be selected by bishops.
A resolution was agreed to providing for
a general committee, to which shall be
referred the resolutions presented by the
Lambeth conference.
The chairman, on behalf of the presid-
ing bishop, announced the appointment
of the following commissioners of the
American Church building fund; Rev
Messrs. Morgan Dix, d. D.. of New York;
William r. Huntington. d. D., of New
York; Walton b. Battershall. d. D.. Of
Albany; Charles 7. Olmstead, ID. D., OF
Central New York; Henry Anstice, D. D.,
of Philadelphia; Edmund d. Cooper, ID.
D., of Long Island: John III. Elliott, ID. D.,
of Washington; David III. Greer. ID. d.,
OF New 1Orh' reese +. Alsop. IL. ~, OF
New York; Douglas o. Kelley. d. D.. of
California; Samuel Hart, ID. D., of Con-
necticut; Charles II. Strong. of Georgia,
and Gilbert II. Sterling, d. D.. OF Central
Pennsylvania; Hon. l.. Bradford Prince.
of New Mexico. and Messrs. John A. King
of Long Island; Robert Treat Paine. of
William Lightner. of Mini
nesota Alfred Mills, OF Newark; John
Wilkes. of North Carolina, and James
of Chicago.