New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
TIE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.

The Episcopal General Convention, when VIII
begin its sessions in Washington on Wednesday
will be n large body representative OF all that Is
best in the Episcopal Church There are now
fifty-eght regularly organized dlOceses in the
Church and thirteen domestic missionary juris
dictlons. In addition to this the Church main
tains missionary Jurisdictions in Africa, China
and Japan The Episcopal Church in Hayti is
under the protection and cure Of the American
Church, which also maintains missions in
Greece Mexico. Cuba and Brazil. The General
Convention consists of two houses having CO.
ordinate power, analogous in many respects to
the Senate and House of Representatives. The
House Of Bishops consists of all the bishops of
the Church, numbering now little more than
seventy, and 1t sits with closed doors. The
House Of Deputies is made up of eight deputies
from each diocese. four clergymen and four lay
men. and two delegates from each of the mis-
siOnary jurisdictions. 1t will thus he seen that
1t has membership Of nearly five hundred. 1t
is felt by many Episcopalians that this is alto
gether too large a membership for deliberative
body. and efforts have been made, thus far I'M
successfully. to reduce the representation from
each diocese. While the unwieldiness of the
House of Deputies is generally admitted it is
felt that a large membership makes the Con-
vcnton more truly representative Of the Church
and less liable to be carried away by crotchety
ideas The personnel of the Convention is con
spicuOusly high. many of its lay deputies being
men who have made name for themselves in
various walks of life. Owing to the impaired
health Of the venerable Presiding Bishop. DR..
John Williams, Of Connecticut, Bishop Whipp!e
will preside over the House Of Bishops while
the Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix. of this city. will prob
ably he reelected President Of the House of
Deputies
For many years It has been generally felt that
the constitution and canons of the Church need
to be revised. proposed new constitution and
bylaws came up for discussion In the last Cen
eral Convention but it failed to be adopted.
In discussing the question this year there will
have TO be considered the expansion of the
Church's work made necessary by the acqusl-
ton Of new territory. In Hawaii there is a do
ccse of the English Church established. and
steps will have to be taken to reorganze it
diocese of the American Church. The Church
has already established n mission in Cuba.
under the supervision of Bishop Whitaker of
Philadelphia This mission reports one native
clergyman. the Rev Pedro Quartz, Of Matan-
zas and Mr. Jose r. Peha, lay reader. ar Ha-
vann: but owing to the war all work has been
suspended. While the Episcopal Church has al
ways felt some hesitation in sending mission
aries 10 Roman Catholic countries. il has never
thcess been compelled by public opinion in the
Church TO do so. and doubtless the extension OF
American Influence and interests In the new
possessions viii make II seem advisable for the
Church 10 enter upon policy of ecclesiastical
expansion. Curously enough. the assumed de-
STABILITY of policy Of Church expansion Is be-
ing used as an argument by the ritualists who
want to change the name of the Church II
would be absurd, they say to 90 to these new
peoples with a message from the Protestant
Episcopal Church. They would NJ once say it
was merely one of the many sects in this coun-
try. But message from the American Church
or the American Catholic Church would be
listened TO with respect. The argument. if
such it may be called. will hardly stampede the
Convention. 1t is more likely that the reaction
airy and lawcss course OF certain rtualists, al
ready condemned by number of influential
bishops, will lead the Convention to take more
sympathetic attitude toward Protestant Chris
tianity.
An attempt will be made 10 enact a more
stringent divorce law for the Church. making
divorce unlawful under any circumstances
There has been much discussion of this QueS-
ton for many years. and the advocates of the
proposed law believe that they will be strong
enough in the coming Convention to enact ii.
II is noteworthy. however, that some Of the
most influential men in the Church have an
nounced their opposition TO the measure The
Episcopali1ns Of Washington are making clabo-
rate preparations for the entertainment Of the
bishops ard deputies. 1t is the first time the
Convention has ever been held in the capital
which is now the see city Of diocese and this
fact will add much 10 the interest of the
meeting.