The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-07
rHRIST'S CANON SHOULD RULE
HIS LAW AS TO MARRIAGE AND d.
VORCE HIGHEST AUTHORITY.

thurch-A Notable Gathering Dis
tiuguiShed by Its Conservative
spirit-A Review of the Position
of the Church in Regard % the
Marrying of An Innocent Party in
Divorce suit ON scriptural
Ground.
There were large congregations at st.
Johns church yesterday. Many strangers
were in attendance at both the morning
and night services, and there was quite a
shrinking of uniforms noticeable. The
exc lent music is drawing many soldiers
to die church, and their number will
doubtless be steadily increased.
Rev Charles H. Strong preached two
interesting sermons, each growing out of
the recent general convention of the
church at Washington. In the morning he
reviewed the convention and its work as
far as it could be done within the scope
OF one sermon. The convention, he stated.
wa justly considered one of the most
no,lbe church gatherings this country
has ever seen, notable not only for its
hieh personnel, but for the conservatism
that marked its actions, coupled with the
widest liberty of discussion.
In the convention were men of note in
every path of activity The chief Justice
Of the United States, judges and attor-
neys Of prominence, senator's, congress
men and others of note in public life, mer-
chants of the highest standing, educators
Of more than national reputation, these
men sat for three weeks considering with
the clergy the welfare and highest in
terests of the church. In the
House of Bishops were seventy bishops
while in the other body were about 500
delegates. Probably a thousand other
clersymen not delegates and many hum
dreds of laymen were drawn to the capi-
tai by the convention, and were in fire.
quent attendance on its deliberations In
all discussions there was the utmost free
dom Of speech. No delegate was too hum.
bic not to secure recognition. fun oppor-
unity to express his views, and a courte
GUS ana attentive hearing. Mr.. Strong
regarded the convention as a grand object
lesson in this respect, of the broad. liberal
spirit that characterizes the Episcopal
Church. Another feature of the convan-
ton that has been widely and most favor
ably commented on was the absence Of
any exhibition, OF partisanship There was
no display of feeling over such lines of
DIVISION as are Indicated by "broad church
man, high churchman," etc. Whom tba
names OF bishops who had been nominat
ell were received by the delegates for con.
sderation there was no question asked &C
TO whether they We're low or "hiqb
cnurchmen." What was asked was whetb-
er they We're able physically, Intellectual
w. spiritually, TO do the work that if was
proposed to entrust to them and on their
quaIiucatons In this regard they were ap-
proved or rejected.
Mr. Strong passed lightly over ,nanv
minor details of the convention rafarra5
TO the various allied bodies Of the cburc6
lnat We're in session at Washington at
'he same time and the important works
'ney are carrying on, and took I'D the So
eldl side. The convention, indiyiduallv
ana IN the aggregate, was delighted with
me courtesies extended to il. SneaI,inp
Oh the reception at the Corcoran gallery
MI strong dramatically described the
scene IN the room of the presidents. with
me portraits of all the Presidents up to
NJ harrison on the walls and on either
s,ue OF the door life size paintings of Gems,
hooert E. Lee and Stonewal jackson. To
a
reunited country. The pilgrimage to the
runs at jamestown was told of. On this
spot the Episcopal prayer book was first
used three hundred years ago
me growth of the church. as brought
OUT IN the triennial reports was shown to
De gratifying. In the past three years
mere has been an increase of 10000 COM
luncants while the donations
!. lot missionary purposes were
NSO0O greater than ever be-
lore The missionary work of The
church is progressing favorably, and the
iutu1e is rich in promise. While discussing
ms important work of the church, at
nome, among the negroes and the Indians,
and in the foreign fields, Mr.. Strong graph
lcally described features of the work
brought before the convention. He told of
'ne twenty-five years work of Bishop Hare
among the Indians, and of the loving cup
Vi god and silver presented by the con-
Venuon, through Bishop Potter, in COM
memoraion of his services. In presenting
me cup, Bishop Potter remarked that it
was to contain nothing stronger than tea,
out, said Mr. Strong, the ladies thought
otherwise, and filed it with $1,000 to aid in
NE great work of evangelzing the In
uIanS.' In this connection a glowing trib-
u'e was paid to the heroic, self-denyng
incident that illustrated the worldwide
ACTIVITY of the church in missionary work
Is The uniting with the church in England
N sending priests to educate the members
u the ancient Syrian church in
me true meaning of the sacraments
ana liturgy which they have preserved
through the ages, despite persecution and
outchery, but the significance Of which
mas been lost through ignorance bred OF
,ne conditions that have surrounded them
III succeeding generations.
ne convention did two things that were
% especial Importance, and two other
, "-Hss on which public interest was large
~ conferred ii refused TO do. 1t provided
-of me liberal extension of its mission
WORK and it also made it the law of the
oHuIch that congregations outside of the
N"reh recognizing the quadrilateral ba-
So Oh unity promulgated by the church,
van De brought under the spiritual super
son OF the bishop of any diocese by re- !
Z guest and be permitted to retain their own
, 'rsy. In the Northwest, especially in |
minnesota, a number of Scandinavian !
% sIegations have become affiliated with |
'e church in this way, being permitted |
~ continue the use Of their ovyn liturav