The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-02
yriennial Convention Of the Church in
Washington.
A MOST IMPORTANT MEETING.
vital Question 20 Come Up for CoDsid'
cration-Proposcd Change Of Name
Revision of the Constitution.
Admission of New Territory


ginning wednesday October SIN, and last
sng three weeks Fully 5000 people viii
he attracted here by II, the nOtaOies IN
,luding all the bishops of the church ana
otber distinguisncd men in private walks
OF life.
The meetings will be held in Epiphany
church, the large auditorium beihs al
lotted to the House OF Deputies whose
sessions are public, and the Sunday
school room CHOSEN for tho House OF
Bishops. which meets behind closed doors.
A large platform extending across the
church proper will be erected this week.
ahe chancel curtained off and number OF
front seats removed 10 make room Tor
secretaries. speakers and press represen-
aafives The platform will be constructed
so as 10 permit It's removal during the
usual church service on the sabbath ana
SITS restoration the following day TWO
buildings on G. street opposite the church
have been leased and VIII De fitted up as
committee rooms. offices for the two sec
retaries Of the convention, and as gem
sral headquarters for the delegates. A
number Of auxiliary church organizations
also will hold their meetings during the
general convention. the most prominent
among them being the Woman's Auxill-
ary and the American Cnurch Missionary
Society. There will also be Sunday
school rally and interesting services by
the afternoon Sunday school. The Wo-
snan's Auxiliary will convene In Trinity
church. but the business sessions there
nffer vii be held I'm National Rifles Halt
WEALTHY LAY DELEGATES.
The social side Of the occasion VIII, as
usual, be a prominent and agreeable
feature. Many of the lay delegates are
very wealthy. among them being j. Pier
pont Morgan. Of New York ex-senator
George r. Edmunds now Of Philadelphia;
Henry r. Pierrepont. Of Brooklyn, presi-
dent Of the Long Island Trust Company;
John r. Triplett Of Missouri David =.
LYMAN. Of LaGrange. ILL.,. president of
ahe Chicago Title and Trust Company
Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller, or the
Supreme Court of the United States. JUS
lice Charles Andrews. Of the supreme
Court OF New York William Wade
Hampton. Of Florida, Judge II. S. Maxey.
of Texas. and Justice John u. Suness OF
the Supreme Court Of Rhode Island. Geo.
II Sewau. OF shipbunding fame, James G.
Riddle of Philadelphia. Joseph Bryan,
editor Of the Richmond Times; Robert
Treat Paine, OF Boston, and Ex-Governor
r. B. Bullock. Of Georgia. Cornelius
Vanderbilt used 10 be a frequent delegate,
hut III health forbids &c now J. Pierpont
Morran following his custom. has rent
ed the Carpenter mansion on Sixteenth
street for October. and will entertain his
friends and felow-delegates with lavish
hospitality.
The arrangements in this city for the
convention have been actually going on
DOR several months. The work has been
made easy and productive OF perfect re-
: suits by the organization OF a number
OF subcommittee. Little remains to be
done now except to welcome the DELEGATES
who are expected TO reach here In large
numbers as early as Monday, october 80.
VIRGINIA'S REPRESENTATIVES,.
In the House Of Bishops the Virginia
representatives are: Right Rev. Francis
Men. Whittle. y. D., Richmond Right
Rev. Robert a. Gibson, j. D., coadJutor'
Richmond.
The Virginia clerical delegates are
Rev. G.. w. Nelson, Rev. Cornelius Walk
er. D. D.: rev. J.. X. Mason, Rev. VIII
liam Meade Clarke.
The lay delegates from Virginia are
Mr.. Joseph Bryan. Mr.. l.. NJ. BlacMord
Mr. John G. Williams, Mr.. Joseph WI
mer.
The general convention is organized
like the COngrejs Of tie United states
There IS a house of bishops and house
of deputies. In the latter sit four cleri-
cal and four lay delegates from each
diocese. The missionary diocese send
one clerical and one lay delegates each
who can debate but cannot vote
The presiding officer Of the house OF
bishops should be the senior bishop who
IS Right Rev. John Williams. Of Con-
necticut; but as neither he nor his imme-
date successor is TO be present the
duty will fall upon Bishop Whipple, of
Minnesota, or, in the event of his alb
eence Bishop Wilmer OF Alabama. Rev.
Samuel Hart. D. D., viii be secretary OF
the house Of bishops. The house Of dep
uiies elects its presiding officer, but Rev
Morgan Dix the rector Of Trinity
church, New York city. will probably be
the choice. as It has been the custom for
some years past TO honor him with the
office. Rev. G. l.. Hutchns Of this city
will be the secretary. In all there VIII
be COO delegates TO the convention, rep
resenting every part Of the United States,
and also men from the missionary do
cese In Hayti. Japan. Brazil. Mexico IL
IBERIA, and various parts Of Europe
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
The convention will consider the re-
vision of the church constitution and
canons. which was begun several years
ago. and IL Is believed final action VIII
be obtained. The need Of eXpansio
which many leaders OF the church recog-
nize will be discussed. together with
measures TO contract the work In the ne
cessary directions.
Nest important and far-reaching OF all
the questions TO come before the gath
ering Is the proposition 10 revise the
canon on marriage and divorce so as TO
make II impossible for a clergyman Of
the Protestant Episcopal Church 10 re-
marry either party 10 a divorce. II will
probably receive the undivided support
Of the high church ministers and many
advocates among the low church follow
ing The sentiment OF the clergy in the
church seems 20 be against divorce, and
a petition 20 the convention. asking that
II adopt some stringent rule against re-
marriage under such conditions, has al
ready received the signatures of about
200 Of the ministers. The canon apply
ing 20 this point IL as follows:
Canon b. under title 2 section 2-No
minister knowingly after due inquiry,
ShaI solemnze the marriage OF any per-
son who has a divorced husband or wife
rtnl living. II such husband or wife has
been put away FOR any cause arising
after marriage. but this canon shall not
be held to apply 20 the innocent party in
a divorce for the cause OF adultery, or 20
parties once divorced seeking 20 be unit
cd again
COMMISSION OK REVISION.
The Joint commission on revision which
considered this subject during the pai
three years is composed of Bishop
Doane OF Albany. Bishop Dud-
ley. OF Kentucky. Bishop McIaren. OF
III Of