The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-11
EPISCOPAL COUNCIL
The Divorce Question and
Closing of Doors,
A SPIRITED DEBATE
STANDING COMMITTEES IN EACH
DIOCESE TO BE ESTABLISHED
ARTICLE 5, FORMING NEW DIOCESEs
Recommltted for Further Consideration. Article
6 Adopted. The Seventh Article Led
10 Sharp Division Over the
Provincial System.

Washington. Oct 10.-There was mol
abatement to-day in the public interest
attending the trieunial council of the
Episcopal church. and large crowds join
ed in the religious services at Epiphany
church. which preceded the business of
the day
The expanding influence of the church
was indicated by memorial from the
Japanese diocese urging the creation of
a Southern jurisdiction in that country,
and from the Anglican church in Homo
lulu heretofore fostered by the English
church. asking that in view Of the an
nexation Of Hawaii to the United States,
the church Of Hawaii be amalgamated
with that i'm this country, becoming a
missionary jurisdiction. The PROPOSE
tions were referred to committees.
The Southern Florida jurisdiction sub
mitted "A proposition that each mission
airy jurisdiction be represented in the
council by one clerical and one lay dele
gate. with voice The proposition was
referred.
The divorce question came up and was.
placed on the calendar for discussion,
following the resolution on the Gar 81
peace conference The resolution to.
close the doors when the divorce question:
came up led to spirited debate. Several.
deputies criticised the move toward
secrecy. The question of closing the
doors finally went over until the divorces
subject was considered
This cleared the way for the main dis7
cuseion of the day on the amendment of
the constitution This related mainly t6
the internal organization of the church.
and to the amendment of article for
the establishment of standing commit
tees IN each diocese. This article was
agreed to after the adoption Of an un-
| important amendment.
Article > governing the formation OF
new dioceses led to considerable debate.
| 1t was explained by DR.. Dix, the chair
man of the committee that the article
contravened no existing regulations, but
| laid down broad principles governing the
| whole case.
| 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 cons0lidates into one
| city portions of territory belonging to
| different dioceses. in which case each
| norton of said territory shall remain
attached to the diocese to which 1t
previously belonged until a change ls
made by the consent Of the general con
| yention. This amendment was finally
| adopted at the afternoon session
Article was then recommitted for
| further consideration by the committee
Article was adopted on vote by
| dioceses.
| Article Z led TO a sharp division over
| fhe~so-caIed provincial system, the com
mittee report providing for uniting dlo-
! ceses into provinces. Dr. J0hn H. hsah
| of the committee, presented minority
| report. holding that the civil division OF
! tbe country into States should be fol-
| lowed by the church without the crea-
! tion of strictly eccleseastical pro-
| vinces."
The debate was carried on by Rev.
| Drs. TAYLOR. of Springfield, Fulton, OF
| PENNSYLVANIA. and Rev. q. ii. Ward,
of Florida. in support of the provincial
system and Rev. DIR. Huntington, of
| New York and Rev. John j. Faude, OF
| Minnesota. against it. The subject went
| over until tomorrow. The House OF
| Rishops devoted the entire afternoon
session to discussing the divorce ques-
/ ton. Secretary Hart announced that
/ considerable progress had been MADE,
| but no decision had been reached.
Before adjourning for lunch the
/ House of Delegates agreed to a resolu-
ton of the Bishops repeating the canon
establishing the prayer book distrbu-
ton society. This organization was
formed for the purpose of accomplishing
the free distribution of prayer books.
but it's work has been completed ana
this branch of church labor is now at
tended to by the diocesan associations.
1t was decided to create new com
missary district in Japan to be known
as the Kyoto District which is confer
minous with the Japanese diocese. me
missionary will be selected by the blsh-
OBS.
A resolution was agreed to providing
! for n general committee to which shali
he referred the resolutions presented ny
| tbe Lambeth Conference. The chair
man on behalf of the presiding bishops,
| announced the appointment Of the fol-
| lowing commissioners of the American
! Chnrch Building Fund: Revs. Morgan
| Dix. ID. D., New York; VIM. X. Hunt
ineton. DID. New York: Walter n.
| RosbaH. ID. Albany; Chas. T. Ohm
sted. DID,. Central New York; Henry
| Anstice. ID, Philadelphia; Edmund ID.
| Cooner. DID, Long Island; John II. FL
+, lott. DID. Washington: Davis II.
| Greer. ID. New York: Reese r. Al
sop DID, New York; Douglas o. Kol-
, Low u d California. SamueI Hart