The Brunswick daily news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1903-1906, 1903-05-17
HE DISCUSSES INTERESTINGLY
THE QUESTION OF CHANG
ING NAME OF CHURCH.
S0NE NEW IDEAS ADVANCED
The Brunswick Pastor Throws Some
Very Badly Needed Light on
Thoroughly Interesting
Question.
BY WHY'S Rede, D. D.

The recent convention Of the do
cese of Georgia, held in Savannah,
had before it a question of unusual
interest. For many years there has
been desire upon the part OF the
many members Of the Episcopal
church that the title, Protestant
Episcopal, under which she has been
known in America during the last
century should be dropped. This de
sire is based, not upon wish tor
any change of her doctrinal position,
which remains the same, but upon the
belief that this title has been out
grown is negative rather than posi-
tive is too much identified with the
dead issues of the past, and hinders
the growth of the church both among
those at home who feel no interest
in the religious controversies OF med
iaeval Europe and those abroad to
whom the Protestant idea does not
appeal Tney think that il the chufch
will lay aside this name, which is not
borne by any other branch of the an
cient historic church of Christ, she
will take long step in the direction
of Christian unity and will place her
self in "a much stronger position be-
fore the world The number of these
whoslheS L@G views mas been m
,s the past fifty years,
Encrease during the last
,,,,Yxy last
general convention of the church, held
at San Francisco, found that the move
ment had become so strong that II
could not be ignored. In order TO
find out the wishes OF the people OF
the church throughout the United
States, it requested that the subject
should be discussed in the convention
of every diocese and that each such
convention should report to the gen
eral oonventonwhether it desires any
change in the name OF the church
at the present time, and, ii so, what
the change should be. In response to
this request the diocean conventions
are taking up the question and de-
fining their attitude towards it. VI
those who have thus far acted upon
it a majority have expressed them
selves as desiring a change, while
strong minority desire no change at
the present time While this move
ment is not sectional, it is evident
than its chief strength lies in the Mis-
tI,,
the older dioceses along the Atlantic
cossst take a more conservative view
of this, as they do of all other ques-
tions. Among those who desire
change there is considerable diver
sity as to the final settlement OF the
question Two dioceses have put
themselves on record as desiring the
name american Catholic; several
as wishing simply to drop the the
words protestant Episcopal and put
nothing in their place, the rest have
suggested variety Of names The
great majority of those who advocate
a change, do not wish to adopt any
sectarian name. The whole question
what name if any, should be adopted,
remains to be worked out. We have
not vet really got beyond the prelim-
mary inquiry whether any change IS
desired If that is answered in the
Affirmative by a large majority OF the
dioceses, the general convention VIII
probably take into consideration the
CHI
be substituted But there is not the
slightest ground for any hysterical
anxiety lest some sudden and unde-
sirable action be taken. This church
is conservative through and through;
she never does things in hurry, and
she always gives all her people abund-
ant opportunity to make their wishes
known There is no disposition upon
tbe mart of any of her members to
force upon the church something
which she does not want, nor to any
rash and dangerous step, II any
thing is done, it will be only after ma
ture consideration and with due re-
gard to the feelings and convictions
of all concerned.
The diocese OF Georgia, after
brief and animated discussion, voted
on Thursday last that it does not
desire any change in the name OF
the church at this time. Some OF
trc~r who voted to this effect desire
cnauge at some luftAer Lme y.