Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-07
THE CHANGE IN NAME
Diocesan Convention Votes
Against Proposition.
ACTION TAKEN TODAY
DELEGATES VOTED ON MAJORITY
AND MINORITY REPORTS.
The Former Adopted-Bishop Satterlee
Expressed View That Change
is Not Advisable.
ACTION TAKEN TODAY

BY decisive vote the members of the
eighth annual convention Of the Episcopal
diocese Of Washington, in session at st.
Pauls Church on 23d street northwest
today declared against the proposition for
change at this time in the name of the
Protestant Episcopal Church Of the United
States in America.
This question was the one Of paramount
Importance in the deliberations Of the pres
ent annual convention of the Washington
diocese, and perhaps the most important
matter that has ever come before an an
nual convention Of the church here, with
the exception of the election Of bishop to
preside over the ecclesiastical jurisdiction
at the time of its organization in 1895.
From the fact that there was . minority
report Of the committee on change of name
and from the prolonged discussion of the
subject and the personal views expressed
on the matter by both clergy and laymen.
1t was evident that there are a large num-
Der Of churchmen in the diocese who favor
change in the title of the church in this
country. But the sentiment seems to be
quite general that the time for such action
has not as yet arrived,
The members Of the Washington diocese
officially expressed their views on the Ques-
ton by the adoption Of the majority re-
port of the special committee on change
of name which was appointed by the
bishop yesterday.
The substitute resolutions presented by
the min y division Of the committee diff
fered principally from those OF the majority
members in that the former resolutions eug-
gested that the members of the conven-
ton were dissatisfied with the present name
of the church and desired a change at some
future time
The total vote Of clerical lay delegates on
the adoption Of the majority report resulted
tn vote foy- ov,6 rot
After the result OF the vote was an
nounced recess was taken shortly before
2 o'clock. when the Daughters Of King,
Of st. Paul's Church. served luncheon to
hall.
The afternoon will be devoted to hearing
reports and routine business.
Change In Name Made Special Order.
Preceding the opening of the convention
proper this morning a prayer service was
conducted in the church by Rev. Thomas
P. Baker and Rev. c. J. Wingate. Bishop
Satteree called the convention to order at
IL o'clock. when Rev. DR.. A. s. Johns. the
secretary, read the minutes Of yesterdays
sessions Immediately following the read
ing Of the minutes. upon motion Of Rev.
DR.. r. H. McKtm, the subject OF changing
the name of the church was made the spe-
cial order Of business for the day, and was
taken I'D at once.
Before the presentat ton of the majority
report OF the special committee on change
Of name Bishop Satterlee stated that he
desired to explain more definitely his DO
sition on the subject as indicated in his
annual address delivered yesterday. He
said:
Il believe that the name Protestant Epis-
copal Is true name. SO far as it goes,
but that beyond this point it is unsatis-
factory because inadequate. In view of the
great responsibility resting upon our church
as regards the question of reunion, be-
lieve it would be unwise to change the
name of this church at the present time
The report of the majority of the COM
mittee was read by Rev. DR.. McKim, the
chairman. 1t presented historical data con-
corning the origin of the present name and
arguments in favor of its retention. The
majority report was submitted by Rev. DR..
McKim, Rev. Thomas ]. Packard and
Messrs. L. Allison Wilmer and H. e. Pei
lew. and the text was as follows:
Your committee remarks in the first
place that they do not find any sufficient
reasons suggested for SO radical a PROPOSE
ton. The assertion SO frequently and posi-
lively made that the present name Of the
church was fastened upon 1t by a sort Of
accident appears to them entirely desti-
tute of historical foundation. A review Of
this subject by our esteemed and revered
presbyter. the Rev. John H. Elliott, 8. T.
D., has shown beyond the possibility of
contradiction that the name Protestant
Episcopal was carefully and deliberately
adopted after full consideration.
Not New Name.
'Your committee is also Of opinion that It
was not a new name invented. as has been
alleged. in the year $780, On the contrary.
it was in use in Maryland as early as the
year 1860, and in England 1t was familiar
ten years before that time. It was In IA
mliar use in the colonies previous to the
revolution. 1t appears in an act of parlia-
ment on the date 1900, enacting that the
~h, @Lon oy,1 md Trn1 tod
into one Protestant Episcopal Church. 1t
was the generic term recognized as descrip
tive Of the doctrine and polity OF the two
churches. Protestant Episcopacy was
term in familiar use in England and
Scotland at the revolutionary period.
1T appears to your committee that the
name was deliberately adopted by the faith
ers of our American church as descriptive
Of the doctrine and polity of the church.
I'm our opinion. it is still necessary to
emphasize the Protestant position OF this
church. Such has been the growth OF doc
trines and practices repugnant to the arti-
cles and liturgy OF the Church OF England
that 1t appears to your committee that
there was never a time when 1t was more
needfut to stand firmly upon the great
positive truths indicated at the reforma-
ton than at the present time. We can
find no reason which upon Investigation
appears to give any ground whatever for
abandoning the standard under which for
more than q century the battle for catholic
truth and apostolic order has been waged
In this western land by this church. We
repudiate the idea that 1t is necessary
for US to reassert our catholic position.
1t is asserted emphatically in the creed.
with the reformers Of the sixteenth CEN
fury. with the great Anglo-Catholic divtnes
OF the seventeenth century, we affirm that
this church is both Catholic and Protestant.
Catholic because loyal to the primitive
faith; Protestant because refusing to sur
render that faith.
1.-THE Church of England in order to re-
main Catholic was compelled to become
Protestant, and today for her and for US
Professionalism is an Indispensable note of
true catholicity.
ION the other hand, we believe that to
surrender our present name for any name
that has hitherto been proposed would be
to raise a new barrier between US and our
Protestant brethren Of other communions
and to postpone indefinitely the hope OF
Christian unity. 1t would also grievously
offend multitudes in our own communion.
I'VE understand that this diocese Is called
upon to say whether she desires the change
Of the name OF this church to be initiated
at the approaching general convention. We
do not understand that this diocese Is asked
to consider this question as an abstract
question. but as a concrete, definite, living
question. which the approaching general
convention is to make announcement upon
one way OF the other.
I'VE therefore offer the following resolu-
tons: