The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-03
NAME OF The CHURCH
Question Of a Change Occupies At.
tention Of the Forty-sixth An
nual Episcopal Council.
Bishop Edsall Favors a New Desig-
nation-Review Of Church
Work the Past Year.


diocese Of Minnesota assembled to-day in
st. Pauls church. The attendance was
large. including 81 clergymen and 100 lay
delegates The attractive new auditorium
OF the church was filled for the religious [
service that opened the meeting at 1890. /
The morning was occupied with the re-
ligtous exercises, the annual address Of
Bishop Edsall and the celebration of the
Holy Communion. Luncheon was served
at o'clock by the women Of the parish in I
Lowry Hill Congregational church. All |
business was deferred until the afternoon
meeting owing to the large number who |
received the communion. The afternoon
was devoted to organtzatto of the council
a reception for the clerical and lay dele
gates and their wives will be given by
Bishop and Mrs. Edsall at the episcopal
residence, 2642 Portland avenue.
The annual address Of Bishop Edsall
was an able review Of the conditions and
prospects Of the diocese that was full OF
announcement. It also dealt at length
with the important problem now engaging
attention Of the entire church, the ques-
ton Of change Of name. Action upon
the bishops recommendation in this mat
ter will be the chief business Of to-mor-
rows meeting.
Upon the subject of the much-mooted
change In the name Of the church, the
bishop spoke as follows:
1t has already become apparent, from
far held. that no change is likely to be
made at the next general convention.
While large majority of the clergy may
be dissa tisfied with the present name, be-
cause 1t hampers them In some phase OF
their work or for other reasons, 1t is prob
able that an equally large majority of the
laity are opposed to a change at this time.
and especially to such a change as has
been widely advocated.
While. therefore, it is highly improb-
able that any change In the local designa
ton of our branch of the church will be
| made at the approaching general conven-
ton, STILL as the question is before us and
our opinion has been asked, think it is
| highly desirable that we should take some
| fair method Of ascertaining the exact sem
| timent as near as may be. Of every mem-
| Der OF this council, and Of communicate ting
! the result to the committee Of the general
1 convention. I would suggest, therefore,
/ the passage Of the following resolution:
Resolved That at the conclusion of
/ such period Of debate as may be desig-
mated by the council. the secretary be and
is hereby instructed to call the roll Of
clergy and lay delegates three times, as
| follows:
First, upon The proposition, Is change
in the name Of this church desirable?
l1Second, upon the proposition, Is a
change desirable at this time? Third,
to give opportunity for each clerical and
lay delegate to write upon ballot such
name Of the church as he may individually
prefer.
II will confess that, for one, I have
: never been satisfied with our present
title; first, because it is too long, and,
second, because 1t has placed unneces-
sary embarrassment in the way of the
definite assertion and maintenance of our
claim to be. a true, national branch by
historic descent thru the Church of Eng
cafh III md
apostolic church, It has helped the
Roman communion to arrogate, to itself
In popular speech the exclusive use Of the
I. designation .eatholic.,. But. is It neces-
sary that either die Of, the .adjectiyes,
catholic or protestant should form a
part Of our name? The ideal name Of any
, claimed to be the national branch of the
church In its own land, would consist
{ simply OF the necessary geogra phical des-
:. ignation; as, for example, The Church In
/ the United States Of America" but, un.
:. fortunately, christendom is divided-ever
catholic christendom (using the term Ii
} its historic sense) is divided. There are
: many bodies Of christians in this land
nearly each one Of which possesses some
! portion, at least, of the catholic heritage
even tho 1t be nothing more than an at
:, frmation Of belief in our Lord .Jesu.
Christ as the Son Of God. In view q
: the facts as they exist in this land, it Il
:
!, whatever may be It's claims, must fay,
some specific designation by which
may be identified and under which til
, corporations may safely receive and holt
. property.
2 The Episcopal Church.
: '"The name should be as nearly accurate
= as circumstances may permit. It should
> as far as it goes, be consistent, and il
some sense descriptive of It's claims. I
should, moreover, be as short and a!
easy to speak asEis consistent with rea
2 sonable accuracy. It should also, as
! matter OF christian charity and as ;
: help to ultimate unity, be as little often
! sive in its terms Ito our fellow christian
/ Of any name, as is, consistent with oul
loyal assertion OF the truth for which W,
!. believe we stand II respectfully submit
/, that The Episcopal Church, in the United
States. of America comes nearer an
:, swerins all Of the above requirement.
= than does any other name which has beer
suggested. The Episcopal Church is tn,
q name which has, in fact, been awarded
to us, both by our own general usage ant
Is by common consent Of all christian PEG
4 pie in our land. No matter whether w,
= still retain In our formularies our presen
: name, or whether we try to adopt som,
at ma ETnfs