The times., 1898-10-05
WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 5, 1898.
The Anglican Convention.

At no time in the recent history of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in this
country has there been as keen and
wide an interest in the general eonven-
ton as now. The triennial meeting.
which will begin this morning in this
city. viii attract an unprecedented
number Of clerical and lay visitors 1t
is not only that the stirring events Of
the past few months have stimulated
the zeal Of the people in every direc-
ticn and withdrawn their attention
from exclusive conce-n for their per-
sonal affairs, but also because number
of movements of great Importance to
the church viii reach their final trial
al this convention There has been no
lack of criticism as TO the failing spirit
uality OF this and other ecclesiastical
institutions, in the course of the last
dozen years, but the fact that standing
committees have the courage to urge
measures that were formerly Of doubt
fuI popularity. indicates their conf
dence in the loyalty of the great body
OF communicants and their belief in a
renewal Of faith.
this is 10 foster spiritual growth and
provide means for the extension of the
power Of the church over the daily life
of the nation. This is the object of all
the movements and discussions. Yet in
the preservation and Strengthening Of
q great institution there are many sub
ordinate affairs that require the most
vigilant care. From time to time the
church is forced 10 take account OF this
or that social tendency in order to
check what appears to be a growing
evil and to promote the cause of virtue
Perhaps the most difficult and perplex-
ing problem to a Protestant church leg
5slative body, as to the secular Iegisla-
tive organizations, is that of divorce.
Because there is sn much to be said on
both sides. this country has almost as
many diverse laws relating to divorce
as there are States That there has
been an increasing Hberality, tending in
scnle cases to positive looseness. is ap-
parent TO the most careless observer.
The Protestant Episcopal Church has
not drawn the line followed by the Ro-
man Church, and often the practice of
the clergy has been more liberal than
the strict wording of the canon would
warrant Three years ago the question
OF return TO TIE law Of the Roman
Church was placed in the hands of a
particularly strong committee, which
will present a majority report against
the re-marriage of either party to a di-
Vorce, and minority report in favor of
retaining virtually the present canon,
which does not bar the innocent party
fTom subsequent marriage. The dis
cussion Will be memorable, and not
without its uses 10 the State legislator
and not without interest to society in
general.
Another question that is not new. but
which has acquired new interest from
THE political changes now being effect
ed-such as the acquisition of new and
remote territory by the American ma
tion-is that of the change of name
from the Protestant Episcopal Church
10 THE Church in America" While
there appears to be some reason for the
suggestion, those who oppose it urge
that il is not merely an assumption Of
power not warranted by the strength of
ollci StNllsAoSAiSo9 bpAiSSs OuN IL us
sOciatCs tle church from that product
OF the Reformation. the English Church.
with which it formed relations with
great difficulty. The history of this in
stitution, as a part of the Protestant
State Church Of England, is a just
cause of pride, extending so many CEN
turies into the past and having it's
sometimes intimate relations with
movements that have shaped the des-
tiny of the English-speaking peoples-a
race that has grown from thirty mil
lion souls only eighty years ago to fully
one hundred and twenty millions today
Among the clerical and lay delegates