The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-06
WORK OF CONVENTION
TWO NEW MISSIONARY DISTRICTS
CREATED.
PORTO RICO AND PHILIPPINES,
ENGLAND GIVES WAY TO AMERICA
IN THE FIRST.

Cash From the Old One Besides
other Valuable Property-Much
Discussion of Proposition Looking
to the Taking In Charge by Bish-
ops of Congregations Not Wholly
in sympathy with the Church.
Bishop Nelson and Rev. MIR. Reese
Named on Committee to Select
Place of Next Convention.
San Francisco, Oct. 5.-The general
convention of the Episcopal Church ac-
complished considerable work to-day,
although the session of the House of
Deputies was ended shortly after 1
o'clock. The House of Bishops, how
ever, remained in session later and
| their action will be far-reaching in its
effect. In recognition of the import
ance of the new possessions of the
United States two missionary districts
were constituted. One Of these, which
consists of the islands of Porto Rico
and Viques, has long been controlled
| by the Bishop OF Antigua, who owes
allegiance to the Church of England.
| BY the terms of mutual agreement,
| $3.50, the Bishop of Antigua withdraws
his right to the religious control of the
church in these islands and transfers
all church buildings to the Protestant
Episcopal Church of America.
The second new missionary district
is that of the Philippine Islands, which
are recognized as being well worthy the
attention of the church.
The house of bishops also effected an
important change by concurring in the
action of the house of deputies in con-
senting to the division of the diocese of
Massachusetts. A fact worthy Of note
| is that the old diocese gives 500, 900
| in cash to the new one, besides turning
over to it much valuable church prop
erty.
The gift was raised entirely by vol
| untary contributions.
| The bishops also took action on the
| first seven amendments to the con-
stitution already adopted by the depu-
ties. all Of them being affirmed with
the exception of the fifth, which was
temporarily held in allegiance. Consent
| was given to change the name of the
diocese of Indiana to that of Indianap-
oils, as all the state is not within the
boundary of the diocese. This, with
the appointment of a committee to take
into consideration the question of ex-
animation of candidates for admission
to holy orders, constituted the chief
work of the bishops. II
An interesting feature Of the day
| was the discussion created in the
house of deputies by the reading of
proposed amendment to the constitu-
ton. which provides for "the tenn
porary use of other forms and direc-
tories of workship by congregations not
in union with the church who are will
ling to accept the spiritual oversight
of the bishop of the diocese or mis-
sionary district"
Some of the opponents of the meas
ure professed to see in II a menace to
the solidity of the church through the
extraordinary individual power 1t
would confer on the bishops, while
others declared it would open a way
for the introduction of mass and 9TH
er forms of Romanship worship.
It's champions ASSERTED that the
whole purpose of the proposed amend
ment was to give the missionaries a
freer scope in their efforts to bring
within the church those coherts who
may be unable or unwilling to accept
the book of common prayer. Consid-
erable eloquence was developed by the
| debate and when the hour of adjourn
| tired of listening to the arguments.
Proceedings of the Convention.
After calling the House of Deputies
to order the chair appointed the fol-
lowing committee to select the place of
meeting of the next triennial conven-
ton: j. Pierpont Morgan, New York;
| Alexander Mackay Smith, ID. D.. of
Washington: F. P. Reese, D. D.. of
Georgia; John r. Triplett of Missouri;
l.. o. syrnons, d. D.. of Connecticut.
The House of Bishops later appoint
| ed the following committee: The Bish-
| ops Of New Hampshire, West Missou-
ri, Georgia, Lexington and Los Angeles.
The committee on division of dioceses
recommended that the application for
the division of the diocese of Massa-
chusetts be granted. The report was
| adopted, especial note being made OF
the fact that 100000 had been raised
as an endowment for the support of
the bishop of the new diocese.
T. L. Ringwalt of Nebraska offered
a resolution in substance as follows:
Resolved, That the house of bish-
| ops concurring, 1t is the sense Of this
convention that good citizenship should
be encouraged and promoted by this
| church, and the church mindful of
the great tendency to vice and corrup-
ton throughout the United States and
llulIIeFenC6 10 CIVIL HOneeLy ana mo
rality. expects her sons to take an ac-
tive part at the ballot boxes and else
where when occasion permits"
To Choose Presiding Bishop.
An amendment to section 3, article /,
was offered by Mr.. Chase of Nebraska,
providing that there shall be a pre-
siding bishop OF the church, to be NOM
mated by the house Of bishops, from
among the bishops having Jurisdiction
IN the United States, to the house of
deputies for its action. This will have
TO be passed upon by the convention,
end then go through the process pro-
vided, or to be provided for amend
ments to the constitution.
Action on amendments to the con-
stitution were then taken up and ar
ticle was adopted, prescribing quail
fications, testimonials and examina-
tions of those seeking ordination as
bishop, priest or deacon. II requires a
renewal of the declaration OF belief in
the Holy Scriptures and loyalty to the
doctrine, discipline and worship OF the
church by candidates for the priest
hood and the episcopate, which is first
made at the ordination to the deacon
ate.
Article was then taken up. II
provides that the general convention
may by canon establish court for
the trial OF bishops; that courts for
the trial OF presbyters and deacons
may be established by diocesan con-
| ventions, and the general convention