The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-11
.NAMEOF THECHURCH
As an Individual, Bishop Edsall Fa-
vors Changing Name Of
Episcopal Body.
He Thinks "The American Catholic
Church Would Be the
Ideal Name. !

Episcopalians throughout the country
are again Sagitating j the question of
changing the name of the church as it has
been known In America since Revolu-
tionary times. The ton OF
the Illinoins diocesan council yesterday to
adopt the word Catholic in place OF
protestant" is being widely discussed
and Is meeting with general favor among
Episcopaians in Minneapolis. Y + -,
Right Rev. S. c. Edsall approves
changing the present name, which. he be-
lieyes misleading as well as misnomer.
Bishop Edsall fully explains his view OF
the question In the following statement: :,
| 1.-THE last general convention Of our
church appointed a committee to consider
the long agitation Of changing the name
Of the church, with instructions to re-
port at the next convention, which
is to- meet. s in = Boston in 1904.
This committee has decided to
dioceses III, order that the next conven-
tion may be given some light as to the
wishes of our clergy and laityr throughout
the country. AS + understand it, they
want our opinion on four propositions:
'First-1s the present name, salts
."Second-If not. is it desirable that the
name should be changed?' ~:
Third-1f change Is desirable. is it
expedient that the process of changing the
name should be entered upon at the next
general convention?
"Fourth-If SO, to what name should
we changer?
II am not willing. at this time, to give
expression to my views in any formal
and official way. do not myself know
how l should vote should the question of
Immediately changing the official desig-
nation OF our branch Of Christ's church
come up at the next general convention.
But speaking not as a bishop, but simply
as an indiyidual member of the Protestant
Episcopal church, will say that 1 do not
like our, present name. I think that it
Is not an accurate definition Of our his
toric and doctrinal position; and I sin
cerely hope that some time we NAV be
able. with substantial unanimity, to agree
upon some official designation which will
more accurately and positively express
our claims and platform as an ecclesiasti-
cal organization,-that is, as a part OF
Christ's great universal catholic and
| apostolic church.
After the American revolution, it was
necessary that the scattered parishes Of
the Church of England should form q
new national organization which. while ir
communion with the church in the mothe,
land, should yet be independent Of it
and Of course to this new organization
mad to be given some name which should
show that 1t was still spiritually and his
torically a part Of the ancient Catholic
church. through descent from the Church
OF England, and yet which should alst
show that this continuity of life an6
spiritual unity did not mean that we were
under the dominion Of the pope of Rome
the archbishop of Canterbury or any othe,
foreign bishop.
lnasmuch as the principle of epis
copacy-that Is, that the church should be
governed by bishops in descent from tn.
apostles, and that this third and highes
order Of the ministry should alone have
the power Of ordination and confirmation
seemed to be the leading catholic. anc
historic principle which needed assertion
and v1ndication in the colonial and post
revolutionary period, it was. decided tc
put the word Episcopal into the title as
best asserting the catholic and historic
character of the new national organiza
ton. But as the people of that period il
America were filled with Intense pre-.
| judice against 'papacy' and 'prelacy,
as institutions which threatened thei
dearly bought independence-so much S,
| that the citizens Of some states said If {
bishop came there they would throw hin
! into the sea, it was deemed expedient t,
ward off prejudices by inserting the wore
| protestant in the official designation O.
the church. There were great man!
wise men in this colonial church, VIII,
George Washington, Alexander Hamilton
John Jay, James Madison, as we'll as Will
| liam White, the first chaplain of the con
tinental congress-; and while the patriot
| ism of such men was not open to qles
| ton, il was felt that it was best to adop
| name which, while standing for til,
Catholic truth. Of Episcopacy. should no
| needlessy inf1an1e the passions OF tn,
| hour. And so the name Protestant Epis
| COpap was adOnteG.
PERSONALLY. think the times hav,
| changed. am not afraid that anybody
would want to pitch me into the Mtssis
! sippi because am a bishop. And som.
| day / hope that our people will agree
| with substantial unaninlity upon som.
| more accurate and positive definition O
| our position and claims If we cannot b,
called the American Catholic church,
| which would be the ideal name, at leas
I would be glad before die to see a stel
| taken in the right direction by dropping
| the word protestant and substituting tn.
word American, so that our. .officia
desgnation!woul be THE American Epis
| copal Church. -.