Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-10-20
EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.


The attendance at the Episcopal
Council in Washington ia beginning 10
fall off, and deputies are leaving for
home. Delegates were urged yester'
day to get through with important
questions before the membership thins
out. The question of marriage and di-
vorce has not yet been considered by
the House of Deputies.
The division of Indiana into three
dioceses, the Southern being mission
ary jurisdiction, raised spirited de-
bate IN the House Of Deputies. The
committee on new dioceses divided on
the subject, the majority reporting
against the Southern Indiana mission.
ary Jurisdiction and the minority favor
ing it. The majority report was finally
adopted.
When consideration of the constita-
ton was resumed article 6, relating TO
the establishment of missionary dis
tricts, aud article 2, relating to bish-
ops exercise of his office outside OF his
diocese, were agreed to, with amend
ments made by the bishops.
The morning session OF the House of
Bishops was important in bringing
about the adoption of what is known as
the Huntington amendment, looking
toward church unity. The amendment
authorizes bishops to take under their
spiritual guidance congregations which
accept the essential tenets of the church,
although they do not strictly observe
the church ritual. The amendment was
adopted, with minor changes, as part
of the canons instead of the constltu'
ton. The canons also were amended
in requiring one years time before or.
dinaton, instead OF six months. The
revision of the constitution progressed
by the adoption of the title and articles
10 and y, also articles Z and 2, as
amended by the deputies. A resolution
defining the boundaries of Bishop
Graves territory in China was adopted.
An interesting debate occurred in the
House OF Deputies during the afternoon
on a proposition by Rev. DR.. Hunting
ton, of New York, to insert a preamble
in the constitution. The proposed pre-
amble began with devout aspiration,
and affirmed the faith of the church in
the Holy Scriptures, and its adhere nee
in the Apostles Creed and Nicene
Creed.
DR.. Huntington explained that the
purpose was to introduce the name OF
the Almighty in the fundamental law
of the church, and also to sum up in
this preamble the spiritual order, as the
preamble TO the United States Constitu-
ton summed up the social order. The
proposition was sharply opposed, on
the ground that it restricted and mini
mzed the faith and doctrine of the
church. After lengthy debate the pro-
posed preamble was tabled. Another
proposition of Mr.. Wilder, Of Mime
sofa, for the words, SIN the name OF
God, amen" as The preamble to the
constitution, was adopted.
Concurrence was given to the minor
amendments made by the bishops in
the so-called Huntington amendment,
thus giving final approval to this i'm
portant step toward church unity.
A resolution was introduced and re-
ferred for final adjournment Of the con-
ventiou on the 18th instant.
The Dean of Hereford. England, was
present at the afternoon session, and
was invited to seat on the platform.
At the afternoon session of the
bishops final action was taken on the
establishment of bishop in Brazil.
, There has been division of sentiment
as to whether this bishop should be di'
rectly responsible to the church 10 the
United States, or should be free from
responsibility here. A compromise was
finally adopted, by which the church in
Brazil will remain directly responsible
to the authorities here until it has adj
vanced to the point of having three
bishops, a. which time, by the joint &C.
ton of these three, national church
for Brazil, independent Of supervision
by the United States, may be estab-
lished.
I