The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-15
NO CHANGE IN NAME
DIOCESAN CONVENTION STANDS BY
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL
BY VOTE OF SO TO IS.
PRESENT TITLE DECLARED COR
RECT, EXPRESSIVE AND
SATISFACTORY.

ton TO IndOrse the Present Title,
Carried by Large MnjOrity-Rev.
j. l.. ScuIIy's Vigorous speech in
Favor of New Name-Great In
terest in the Debate and Christ
Church Filled.
By a vote of SS 1-3 to is 1-3 the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the
Diocese of Georgia, by its representa-
tlves in Diocesan Convention placed it
self on record yesterday as opposed
to a change in name at the present
time
There was no recommendations or
suggestions attached to the resolution
which will be sent the the secretary
of the General Convention of 1901,
from which the request came to the
diocese for an expression of opinion.
The decision was not reached with
out considerable discussion, and the
vote upon the resolution was by no
means unanimous. The majority was
large, however. and those unalterably
opposed to the change of name were
strong in their belief and speech re-
garding the correctness and value OF
the title by which the church is now
known.
The discussion of the proposition re-
garding the change of name, both in
the committee and in the convention,
was spirited and the speakers evinced
considerable enthusiasm in their argu-
ments, for and against. That portion
of Bishop Nelson's address referring
to the proposed change of name was
taken up and his words were endorsed
by some and criticised by others.
Christ Church was filled during the
debate, with a large audience in which
many visitors, ladies and citizens were
interested listeners.
After the report of the Committee of
the Whole on the change OF name, the
convention proceeded to other bust
ness and heard the reports of various
committees. At the afternoon session
routine business occupied the conven-
ton and last night officers and boards
were elected. The convention accepted
the invitation of st. Lukes Church,
Atlanta, to meet there for the next
will likely conclude it's labors this
morning.
Name of the Church.
Immediately after the assembling of
the convention in the morning at the
conclusion of morning prayer, Bishop
Nelson called attention to the fact that
the special order of business was the
consideration of the request from the
committee of the General Convention,
regarding the proposed change of the
name of the church. The convention
then resolved itself into a committee
of the whole, and Mr.. II. c. Cunning
ham was made chairman. The Bishop
first appointed himself as chairman,
but this being decided out of order,
Rev. C. c. Williams of Augusta, was
appointed, but declined, on the ground
that the place should be occupied by
a lasman. Mr.. Cunningham was then
appointed and took the chair.
Rev. DR.. WHY'S Rede, who had Civ
en- notice the day before that he had
resolution to offer, in connection with
the change of name, took the floor at
once. After reciting the question pro-
pounded by the Committee of the
General Convention and Indicating, in
the preamble that it was inexpedient
at this time to make such change, he
moved that 'the words Protestant
Episcopal Church be stricken from
the book of common prayer"
A misrepresentation of the construc-
ton of the resolution caused the loss
of considerable time. The chair finally
ruled it out of order as there was
nothing in the resolution offered bear
ing directly upon the question at
point.
Mr.. Swayne of Cedartown, offered
a resolution which was divided into
two parts. The first was to the effect
that the General Convention Commit
tee be informed that the Diocese of
Georgia is opposed to a change of
name at this time. The second part of
the resolution suggested that any ac-
tion on the matter of changing the
name of the church be deferred until
the parishes be given an opportunity
OF expressing their opinions.
Title and Name.
Rev. J. L. Scully offered as an amend
ment that an answer be sent to the
General Convention Committee stat
ing that it is desired that the legal
title of the church be changed He eX-
planned at some length that there was
a distinction between the words
name" and title and that while the
convention could not really change the
name of the church, which is the Holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church, it could
change the legal title of the church in
America.
Then followed lively discussion of
the question. Mr. S&ayne was asked
If his resolutions could be divided and
acted upon separately, and he said
that it could be done.
Mr.. c. Lucien Jones wanted the mat
ter submitted to the parishes and was
in favor OF Mr.. Swayne's resolutions.
The resolution of Rev. Mr.. Scully was
also discussed. and it was suggested
that the portion about title and name
be made more clear
Mr.. Aston of Atlanta offered a sub
stitute for both resolution and amend
ment, which was simply an answer to
the committees request that the Dio-
Ieese of Georgia does not desire n
change in the name of the church at
this time" This was later withdrawn
Rev. Mr. Ottmann said that the name
will be sooner or later changed, wheth-
er Georgia wants it or not, but at the
present time he would like to see Mr..
Swaynes motion carried, especially
that portion which suggested the refer
the church a name that is not ambigu-
indicated is the case with the words
Protestant Episcopal.
MIR. sculIy's Resolution Defeated.
The question then came up on Rev.
Mr. Scully's substitute and by a large
vote the substitute was lost. The con-
sideration of Mr.. Swayne's resolution