The San Francisco call., 1901-10-16

that would justify itself to the mind and to
the conscience of the convention am frank
satisfied with any form in which our work has
been cast. The great difficulty is that it Is
dangerously easy to put down something that
looks right on paper. and 1t is awfully difficult
when the concrete case comes up to say that
you have done what is right in the sight of
God. In doubtful cases we invite those who
are penitent to come to the holy communion.
We not allowed to define their penitence for
them In this matter since we have no courts
to try it, and the ultimate court at last is the
court of conscience, 1 should hesitate to sub
stitute the authority of this convention for
the conscientious verdict of the soul of the
individual face to face with God. Therefore
must entirely and positively object to the pro-
sumption of guilt for presumption of inno-
cence That Is to subvert a primary principle
OF Anglo-Saxon justice. This Is probably
matter of pastoral relation but here it is pro-
posed to make 1t penal regulation, the most
extreme which man can impose
DIR. GREER MAKES A SPEECH.
The Rev. DR.. Greer of New York followed,
and said:
cause am reluctant to intict speech upon
the committee when 1 think it is prepared to
vote upon the question; but l wish simply to
state my own position In this matter. And,
first of all, that am one of those few, if you
please. theorists, if you please. who believe in
(Cries Good, Good''). 1 believe that that shas
been and is the attitude taken by large part
of Christendom to-day with regard to what that
relation and which it regards indssouble.
But 1 should be glad to have this church put
itself simply upon record as believing and de-
claring its belief in that great high and sa-
cred principle I believe that whether 1t does
it now the time will come when it will do it.
when all the religious organizations of Chris
tendon will do it; yea, when Christian civ
ilization will do it, and We will come to rec
ognize the fact that it is expedient not simply
because it Is expedient, but expedient because
1t is right And yet, having taken that position
and made that solemn declaration to its be-
church go further; and, therefore, I would
favor the substitute offered by my friend from
Long Island to strike out this canon with ref
erence to discipline. 1t is true the canon pro-
vides that the Bishop of a diocese or a district
may adjudicate that matter. that it be re-
Bishop is high office in this church; the duty
Of Bishop is a high duty In this church; but
it is the not the duty of the Bishop 1t is the
toral relations to deal with the circumstances
and the details of the case of every Individual
strike out this canon Of discipline altogether
because 1t is a canon Of casustry. and casuis-
try cannot deal with the individual circum-
'It has been said that the preacher in the
pulpit occupies the sublime strategic point in
the moral universe: T,;s.,. No, sir: not the
Verse, Verse but the minister. or the priest
with the history, with the pathos. with the
sorrow Of the individual penitent soul occu-
Let this church put itself upon record as be-.
lieving in the great principle. then strike out
the canon Of discipline ,, and put itself record
ners and eateth with them" (Cries of Hear
hear.")
The Rev Dr. Spalding arose at this juncture
to ask IL a certain portion of the amendment
were stricken out in what condition would it
leave the church's legislation on the subject ?
The chairman replied that each member Of
the committee must determine that for him
SELF
delegate from Minneapolis. laboring under
the impression that message No. &c of the