Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-05-23
THE EPISCOPAL MEETINGS
Diocese Councils of Two Virginias
Now In Session
QUESTION or CHANGE or NAME
VIII Probably Came Up for Discussion a
Both Meetings History Of the
Name In America.
Name in America.

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The twentv-sixth annual meeting OF
the Protestant Episcopal diocesan
council OF West Virginia. connected
with which is the silver jubilee Of
Right Rev. George w. Peterkin, open
ed In Wheeling Thursday 200 delegates
being present. Rev. John p. Douglas.
pastor Of the Episcopal church here,
is in attendance, accompanied BY Mr..
and Mrs, Jacob Gassman and Miss NJ.
G, McSherry, who will remain during
| the meeting.
/ The first business session of the one
! hundred and eighth annual council OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church of
Virginia began in Winchester at noon
Yesterday. with Bishop r. A. Gibson.
of Richmond, presiding. On roll call
70 delegates answered.
The question of changing the name
of the Protestant Episcopal church
will probably be brought up at these
conventions.
The final vote on the subject will not
be taken until the next general conven-
ton of tile church in Boston in 1904.
The movement to change the name
of the church originated i'll the do
cese of Milwaukee. From the begin
ming it seemed to be of chief interest
to the high church portion of the clorgy
and was at length presented to the
last general convention, which was
held in San Francisco. AS result a
committee, consisting of bishops. pres
byters and laymen, was appointed to
study the question and prepare re-
port. This committee has referred
the matter to tile individual dioceses
in order to ascertain the sentiment at
large in regard to the proposed change.
Thus far the names which have been
proposed in place OF the present an
pellation are the American church. the
Church in the United States, the
Catholic church in America. and the
American Catholic church. Objec
/ >.
against all of these. With regard to
the first and second. it is argued that
their adoption would seem to involve
an unwarranted assumption Of su.
perioritv over the other denomina-
tions of the country. several OF which.
especially the Methodists and Bap-
lists. are stronger than the Episco-
palians. The thi I'd name is not looked
upon with favor, because MANY think
| it will cause the church to be con-
fused to some extent wit the Roman
Catholic church.
The advocates of the proposed
change of name say that the present
name is not appropriate, ipasmuch as
it sacrifices the claim of the church to
be part distinctive of the Holy
Catholic church. spoken of in the
creed. which was founded by the
Lords Apostles. The argument is
that the Lord appointed apostles. who,
in turn. had the power of appointing
other ministers by the laying on of
hands. In this way the Protestant
Episcopal clergy have become the
spiritual descendants of the primitive
church. The Episcopal church unlike
the Roman church, distinctly recog-
nlzes that there are other bodies which
are also parts of the true church.
The term Protestant Episcopal was
found in use in MARYLAND as early as
1866. But the first general conven-
ton. met in Philadelphia September
81. 1885. That body was composed of
deputies from New York, Pennsyl-
vania, New JERSEY, Delaware, Mary
land, Virginia and South Carolina.
There was no House of Bishops, FOR
Seabury, the only bishop i'll the United
States. did not attend. though he.
with his diocese, afterward ratified
the constitution, with some changes.
Bishops White and Provost we've not
consecrated until 1887, Bishop Madi-
son in 1880 and Bishop Clagett, the
first bishop consecrate d in the United
/ States, in 1892.
/ In six of these seven States, Della
! wars being the single exception, the
: name Protestant Episcopal had been
: officially recognized before the meet
ing of the general convention, and il
had been deliberately adosted by two
of MARYLAND, in 1880, and Penn
slyvania. in 1885.
In Virginia. late in 1884. an act o
> the general assembly authorized con
' vention to regulate all the concerns
of the Protestant Episcopal church
u That convention met. and among 9th
er things resolved that this conven