The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-30
GREAT MEN ATTENDED
Not q Vacant Seat in the North Caro-.
lima Delegation.
DISPOSITION OF THE MATTER OF DIVORCE
Review Of the Action Of the Convention on
This Subject With Which Bishop
Cheshire is Not Dis
satisf.d

SauSile u
Knowing the keen interest that is felt
throughout the State concerning the
great meeting of the General Conven-
tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church
Of the United States, which has just
been sheld in San Francisco, the News
and Observer obtained an interview
with Bishop Joseph Blount Cheshire,
who returned few days ago, bearing
upon the results of the meeting.
Bishop Cheshire has some most in
teresting things to say of the conven-
ton. and synopsis of some Of the i'm
portant matters of the meeting will
be read with interest. In regard to the
meeting the Bishop said:
1.-THE General Convention, which met
October End in Trinity Church, San
Francisco, was a very notable gathering,
containing many men eminent in church
and State.
1T was the first meeting of this body
ever held in the far West, but this fact,
which it was feared would cause a
small attendance, had rather the oppo-
site effect. 1t was a much larger gath
ering than usual The Diocese OF
North Carolina was fully represented,
not one of the appointed members be-
ing absent, and from all sections of the
State clergymene, laymen and members
of the Womans Auxiliary were present
in that distant city. There were thirty
or forty persons from this State alone.
Besides twenty Bishops of the AM
erican church, there were the English
Bishops of Newcastle, the Bishop of Co
lumbia in British America. the Bishop
of Honolulu, the Bishop of Southern
Brazil and the Bishop of Hayti as visi-
tors. The Bishop of the Greek church.
who resides in San Francisco. was in
vited to be present, but absence from
the city prevented him from accepting.
"ln the House Of Deputies, composed
of representative clergymen and laymcn
from all parts Of the country, were
many notable persons: Drs. Hunting
ton End Greer, of New York; DR.. Fulton,
Of Pennsylvania; Dr. McKim, of Wash
ington; DIR. Lindsay, of Boston, among
the clcrgymen, and Mr.. Packard, Of
Mary land, Vice Chancellor Virgins, of
Sewanee, Mr.. Morgan, Of New York.
Mr.. Bryan. of Virginia, and our own
Mr.. Battle. of Raleigh. of the laity
were some of the leading men in the
convention. The Rev. DR.. Marshall, of
Christ church, was chairman of the
committee on credentials.
1.-THE legislative work of the cOnven-
ton was not as aggressive and radical
as some had hoped for. 1t has frequently
been said that the House of Bishops is
an ultra conservative body. OF late
years, however, the House Of Deputies
has been most frequently the drag on
the wheel, the conservative force in the
legislation of the church. This was
notably the case in regard to the pro-
posed caucus on marriage and divorce
The Bishops passed two Canons dealing
with these matters, but they were both
defeated IN the House of Deputies
Bishop Cheshire, however, expresses
himself as not dissatisfied with the re-
suit. He thinks the present Canon sets a
high standard. But the growing agita-
tion shows that the Christian mind and
conscience of the whole community are
waking up to the dreadful evils of our
present system of almost free and I'M
limited divorce. Though the conven-
tion failed to enact the proposed Canons,
perhaps it took more important step
in the appointment of joint committee
of the houses to CO. operate with other
Christian bodies in an effort to bring to
bear upon our civil legislation the
weight of Christian sentiment for the
reform Of our divorce legislation.
TN the matter of what is known as
the Huntington amendment the greater
reluctance Of the House of Deputies to
S.-x< of WI 10cr
islatfon was strikingly exhibited. The
Huntington amendment proposed pro-
vision in the constitution to allow any
Bishop to receive under his spiritual
jurisdiction congregations who were
willing to receive the essential prin-
ciplcs of this church, though not pre-
pared to Csc the services of the Prayer
Book. The Bishops readily passed this,
but after long and warm debate it
was rejected by the Deputies. Before
the close of the session, however, the
same end was accomplished by an
amendment so framed as to avoid some
of the objections which had been urged
against the first proposed.
1.-THE most interesting part of Chris
tian work is the work of missions. The
missionary spirit was strongly manifest
ed through all stages of the proceedings
of this convention. At one of the mis-
sionary meetings, held in large public
hall, not less than six thousand people
were present. Vested chOirs from San
Francisco churches and from many of
the neighboring parishes to the number
of several hundred, each headed by it's
cross bearer, made beautiful and i'm
posing sight as they marched into the
crowded hall, and brass band accom-
panied the hymns, which went up in
mighty waves of melody from that i'm
mense congregation. Eloquent address
es were made by the English Bishop of
Newcastle. by Bishop Potter and by
Bishop Partridge, of Japan.
Important missionary work was done
in appointing DR.. Brent, Of Boston, one
of the ablest divines of New England,
to be Missionary Bishop to the Philip
pines; Mr.. Brown, Of Brazil, to be