The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-06
P. E. TRIENNIAL COUNCIL
DISTINGUISHED PRELATES AND lay
MEN IN ATTENDANCE.
Sermon by Bishop futile ON Church
Board of Foreign Missions.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5-with impressive
ceremonies the triennial council of the
Protestant Episcopal Church of the United
States opened at IL o'clock this morning at
that old landmark of Episcopal worship at
the national capital Epiphany Church.
The sessions beginning to-day have far
reaching interest and Importance to the
Episcopal organization of the country, and,
indeed, to the church world at large, for,
aside from the distinguished personnel of
the bishops, clergymen and laymen, the
subjects which will engage the attention of
the two governing bodies Of the church have
present and vital interest to the church
in general and to the Episcopal Church in
particular.
A great concourse of people gathered for
the opening services, far exceeding the
pacity of the church and overlooking into
the adjacent street Conspicuous in the
throng were the silver-haired, black-garbed
bishops forming the House of Bishops, the
chief governing body of the church. The
actual participants in the council, including
bishops, clergy and laity, was so great
some five hundred or more-that but scant
space remained for the congregation not
officially connected with the proceedings.
Inside the chancel were arranged the seats
of the bishops. Immediately in front of the
of fifty-five voices, while the body of the
church was occupied by the clergy and
laity. a few pews still remaining Tor the
Notable among the lay delegates were OBJ
served Chief Justice Fuller, of the United
States Supreme Court, of the lay delegation
from Chicago; ]. Pierpont Morgan, William
Bayard Cutting, Francis Linde StetSon and
Capt. A. I: Mahan, representing New York;
George c. Thomas and James S. Baddle, of
Philadelphia; while the clergy was repre-
scented by many prominent In the church
Dix. of New York, who will probably OH
ciate presiding officer of the house of
clergy and lay. delegates. Promptly at IL
o'clock the strains of the great church or
gan and the mixed voices of the choir
fioated through the edifice, initiating the
council with the imposing entrance of the
stately body of ecclesiastics occupying the
highest places in the church. They entered
bishops, walking in pairs to the chancel;
The venerable Rt. Rev. DR.. j. Williams. of
Connecticut, the patriarch of the body, was
necessarily absent by reason of mis- adj
vanced age and infirmity, and 70, too, was
Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island. First in
point of service came that white-haired
pillar of the episcopacy, the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Whipple, of Minnesota, somewhat bowed
with his years of eminent service in the
strong intellect. To the white robes and
wide black collar of his office were added
the crimson academic hood. hanging like a
cape down his back, and the purple cap of
the senior presiding bishop. Following him
came Bishop Wilmar, of Alabama; Bishop
Nicely of Maine; Bishop Tuttle of Missouri:
Bishop Whittle, of Virginia, and the other
heads of the church, the young and new
members of this high office closing the pro-
Bishop Whipple conducted the service and
in fervent tones led the opening prayers
Church, Bishop Nicely reading the epstle
Bishop Wilmer the gospel and all the bish-
ops uniting in repeating the creed. Rev.
nouncement of Dr. Willialns's absence and
that Bishop Whipple would preside over the
assemblage of bishops until a presiding Off
GER was chosen. The business session of
both houses were announced to begin at $3.50
p. m. Bishop futile, of Missouri. then as
Bishop futile chose his text from Isaiah
liv, 2. Enlarge the peace of thy tent and
let them stretch forth the curtain of thine
hapitatlons; spare not, lengthen thy cords
and strengthen thy stakes" He then made
plea that the church should stand for
breadth and put aside all narrowness. ray
ing: Wide-aye-wide the work of the
church should be. Extension is in the air
for US Americans now. If we fall into line
be to our risk and harm, that it is an UNI
wonted call, an unfit call to such as we are
BE that as 1t may. the logic Of events is a
force not to be counted out, and it may
take the sounding of bugle calls and the
rolling forward of the chariot wheels of
destiny, things that we cannot stop if we
would. We who think, are startled, and sub
dued, and awed at the responsibilities de-
volved upon the Union now. If the things
WHICH VIC dIC lOOhlHS at as cltlZenS are
wide, and far, and deep, how shall we bear
1t If the church covers and draws back and
lies down? We ought to be, we want to be,
the hammer and the arm driving II to strike
hard Hawaii. Porto Rico-go forward TO
possess the land The Philippines-if the
flag We honor and love is TO float sovereign
there-go we in there also And IL the force
full logic OF events that we wot of lift the
flag into prominence over other regions
yet-go we there, too, to bide. and work and
help, and save. We may find China TO be
our neighbor. even in the ordinary sense Of
mundane locality. So for China we
shall be constrained more and more in
heart and conscience to let Christ's gospel
light In. For Japan. a stage of awakening
from her blindness Is upon her. Africa is
to be helped and other places nearer at
home on our continent"
The actual business of the council began
at $3.50 o'clock, when the two houses met
separately. the house Of deputies. session
being open TO the public. Tire Rev Dr.