The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-07
THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
Amendments Considered by
 the Btshops and Deputies.

important Amendments SOhetUeHou oy
 the Bishops and Deputies.
 Washington, D. C., Oct. 6.-The amendments acted upon by the house of deputies of the Episcopal conven- tion in session to-day were those adopt ed by both houses of the general con- vention in 1895. The first of these af- fects head for the title of canon, etc. and provides as follows: "Constitu- tion and canons for the government of that portion of the Catholic church known in the law as the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States of America, etc." The amendment made by the last constitution incor- porated In the title of the following words: That portion of the Catholic tion of final action led to an hours de- bate, those participating including AL sop of Rhode Island and Egar of New York. It had few advocates, but many opponents who asserted that the change made the title Cumbersome and awkward" that the word portion" indicated cutting out or dismember- ment; that it was unnecessary to de- clare that the Episcopalians were a part of the Catholic church and that some wag would nickname the Episco- palians the ''In law" church. The amendment was defeated by vote of 10S nays to ayes.
 The next amendment, which contem- plated the substitution of article 'one' for articles 1, and 3, of the old consti- tuition, and which was adopted almost unanimously by the last convention, was also defeated by vote of 92 to IT.. Meantime messages had been received from the house of bishops that they had adopted both the amendments re- jected by the house but in each case a motion was made in the deputies that they refused to concur in the action of most of the time was consumed in the action on the amendments to the con- stitution already referred to. A mes sage of sympathy was directed to be conveyed to Bishop Niles of New Hampshire, who is seriously i'll. The report of Presiding Bishop Williams for the past three years was submitted. Petitions were presented for the crea- tion of a new diocese in Indiana and also for the division of the Japanese district into two dioceses.
 The afternoon session of the deputies was consumed in the consideration of an amendment originating with the committee on constitutional revision which incorporated in the constitution that provision of the canonical law which requires that the selection of bishops shall be sanctioned by a major ity of the standing committees in all the dioceses of the church. It gave rise to interminable debate and the deputies adjourned without acting up- on it. Most of the speakers favored the change. They argued that the pro- vision would have a tendency to bring the people together in better church re- lations than if the selection of the bishops was left to the diocese alone The opponents of the change contend ed there was no demand nor necessity for it. The main speech in opposition was made by Dr. Waller of Fond-du- lac, Wis, who said that when a bishop was elected there was always a minor ity in the church opposed to his con- firmation and they covered the whole land with scandal It was not a ques- tion of larger laity representation but of larger liberty and freedom in the church. If you want to wash the churches in the city linen, he conclud- ed put this provision in the constitu- tion. It was announced that the wo- mans auxiliary, also in convention here, had reported collection of $60, 400 for missions which is $25,000 more than last year. Adjournment was then talk en.