The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23
WORRYING OVER A NAME
EPIsCOPALIANs CONSIDERING A
CHANGE IN OFFICIAL DESIGNATION.
"American Catholic Church" Favored
by Many-Dr. j. M. Buckley's
Sarcastic Suggestion.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, Nov. 22-The machinery
has been set in motion to find out whether
the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States of America-that is its pres
ent official OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to change
it's name. This machinery consists Of
committee appointed by the last General
Convention, and request to all diocesan
conventions, about eighty in number and
covering every part of the United States.
to canvass the question and the next time
they meet to take a vote. Reports of these
votes are desired to be in the hands OF
the committee some time in advance of
the next meeting of the General Conven-
ton, In order that an intelligent and repre-
sentative recommendation may be made.
The present name was a growth, and was
adopted at time when it had meaning.
The claim is made that 1t no longer has
a meaning; that it is cumbersome, and that
it is a misfit. Those who favor a change
are persistent in their aim. How numerous
they are is what the committee wants to
find out. Some say they are growing in
numbers, and indications seem to point
that they are.
The name that appears to be favored by
most of those who ask for change is
1.-The American Catholic Church." Almost
every other name under the sun, appropriate
and otherwise, has been suggested, but
the one just given is the only one that
has attained much degree of popular sup
port, or that has been officially Endorsed
by any number of official bodies of Episco-
palians. The Rev. DR.. James NJ. Buckley has
said that If the Episcopal Church adopts
the name THE American Church." with or
without the word Catholic" that it ought.
in view of its small numbers when COM
pared with other religious bodies in Ameri-
ca, to be dubbed in derision THE Church
of the Assumption" To this it has been
replied that the Rev. DR.. Buckley assumes
to run American Methodism to the extent
that he is often called the Pope" of it.
The other name that has attained the
largest hearing is 1.-The American Church."
emitting merely the word Catholic. Still
others that have been proposed are The
EPisSeopal out mp of the
| Apostles" THE Holy Catholic Church
| and many others. A weakness of the move
ment in favor of a change Is the fact
that so many names are favored and opin-
| ion within the church has not fixed upon
any one.
name comes with persistency from pretty
near everywhere. That Is. the change Is
not the fad of any particvEgss partisan
school, 1t is true that the ptesent com
mittee was named upon a petition coming
| TO the General Convention from the diocese
| of Milwaukee. This petition was taken to
| San Francisco by an earnest Reputation.
/ and there most urgently pushed. The do
| cese of Milwaukee is committed TO the
| Catholic" position. although IL has In IT
| some parishes that are distinctively OF the
l opposite character. Nevertheless, the de-
/ mands for change of popular name come
/ from all partisan schools. Men who stand
| on other questions both together and apart
are found standing one on this matter.
Parties are split up. The word
| which would have frfghtnec the low church
i people If suggested twenty years ago, is
| no bugbear at all now. Some do not favor
caf,se IL is the word Catholic" Their OPP
| position rests on other grounds. In re-