The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-07


NEW YORK Oct G.--There IS proposed
q no less radical hing than a change IN
the Presbyterial goyernmnt Of churches
calling themselves Presbyterian. This
change is an important one in The method
of administration, and if ii be adopted
will have. i is claimed, much 70 do with
the future progress of the denomination
The last General Assembly, upon recon-
mendation OF the judicial Committee,
President Fisher. of Hanover College,
chairman, named special committee 10
sit during the year and prepare Tevis-
ion OF the judicial chapter or the Book OF
Discipline This special committee was d.
rected to find out all it could about It's
duties previous to November neXt, and
10 publish its finding not later thah
next March, IN order 10 give churches op-
poriuRity to consider them before me
meeting of the next Assembly. The com
mittee consists of the Stated Clerks OF
the Presbyteries of Philadelphia, Washing
ton and New York, and Ruling Elders
Judge tanning, Of Trenton, and j. e
Cray. of Pittsburg.
1t is learned that this Special Com
,nittee mas under consideration, IN re-
Spouse TO general demand from the
churches. proposition 10 create a lu-
dietary that VIII form part OF all Pres
byteries. Synods and the General AS
Se-lDly. Inc Importance u ms r.
ZION will he understood by the lay mlnd
when ii is recalled that the Presbyterian
system of government is wholly JUDI
cial one in that the bodies named are
series of courts But each court now
possesses executive. legislative anu Jud1-
ciai functions. /. is claimed that one
cause of friction in recent famous ana az
so in some little known cases is the
manifest inability of the average Tres
byterian court 10 sit as 9naicial oous
MANY appellants admittedly fail TO get
5,,stfca because it is charged, the court
IS incompetent to grant the same.
has been an old form Of complaint salhst
Ibo Presbyterian system that 1t faxed IN
this important respect
what is now proposed is to RECOMMENDS
Tho injection into Presbyterian organic
law and practice a judiciary, to be com
r,osed of picked members OF the reg
courts. Such judiciary Will be urged loi
Presbyteries Synnds and General As
senb.y and the same 10 nave 3urisute az.
&, cases falling within the respective nm
IFS as named, but 10 have no power ~
dortrnal cases. since change oil doc
,r,,e inyolyes change in organic law.
The recommendation Will be 'iis'
~, i,,diria,.ies be small. perhaps I'VE
~, seven in each case. The Special .Soiil-
ci,taa IS about to hold meeting 10 io'iii-
ulatc the proposition, ana lnat !. W.. :.
a+rread IN is considered certain. since II IS
the proposition OF the ,, c@In.Rt.lSs t'-i'
-rbara Is a proposition 10 create in the
s+,,o of NeY York two additional Protest
an, Episcopal 6ioceseS, one 10 be known
as the Diocese of Troy and the other 'he
,;ocese of Rochester. The chief purpose
is 10 re-arrange limits OF the dioceses, aflo
in doing SO to relieve the Bishop OF Ne"
York. whose jurisdiction is the ola Guy
OF New York and seven Hudson river
counties. from his present Overwhelming
burden of duties. The Diocese OF Troy
viii If made. comprise the northern part
OF the State. now comprised IN the l'io.
cese of Albany. and The new Diocese OF
Rochester will be carved out of CentEai
and Western New York Jurisdictions.
Then the limits OF Albany VIII be eNlehoe"
sonth 10 include The Hudson river couh-
ties. making the new Diocese OF New y ORR
comprise only the old New YORK, Win
Staten Island alone added. The propose
ton comes from the Diocese of New York
and will be made formally to the Bishops
and standing committees of the other Jn-
rIsiictiors. The Diocese OF Long Island
IS unaffected
New York was Tire first STATE in the
Union TO be divided by the Protestant
fptscopal administration. and in order TO
accomplish it the constitution of The
church had to be changed, since Up 10 lSaS
the word state" occurred in every place
In that document where the word Diocese
now does. The first division. made in the
wear named, created the Diocese Of West
err New York. The present division was
effected in 1865. and the three diocesanss
elected at that time are still living, al
though all are well advanced. Some relief
IS held TO be absolutely necessary for
Bishop Potter. OF the New York iurisd:c-z
lion. for the duties devoiving upon him
are beyond those that any one man. how-
ever strong and able. can possibly perform,
Through no fault Of his. vast interests are
suffering, It IS said. Besides the work of
an ordinary diocesan In large juris lic-
ton, many questions affecting. the admin
istration OF the whole chl-sh come upon
him, not TO mention ini.amerable local
obligations az trustee. director AMI part