The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-03
DIOCESAN COUNCIL
 MEETS WEDNESDAY
Interesting Discussion on Name
 of Episcopal Church
TWO SIDES OF QUESTION
The Rationale of the old Name and the Rationale of the Proposed chanse-A Clergyman Pre-
 sents the Case.

The council of the Protestant Episcopal diocese of Alabama will hold its annual meeting in Demopolis this week, beginning on Wednesday, the 9th. The Right Rev. c. M. Beckwith will preside. Much bus mess of decided interest will come up for consideration. Said well known clergy man, in speaking of the forthcoming dio- cesan meeting:
 "A matter of general interest to be dis ousseb at the approaching council of the Episcopal diocese of Alabama is the pro- posed change of the church's name. The diocese Is not called upon to cast vote that would help make this change at this time, but simply to aid committee of the general convention in arriving at the mind of the church in the matter. This committee was appointed by the general convention of the Episcopal church held at San Francisco in october, 1901, and they have asked all diocesan councils to discuss whether there shall be any change in the name of the church, and If so, what new name might be proposed.
 Scope of Agitation.
 "Some facts as to the scope of this agi- tation might prove of interest The pres ent official title is The Protestant Episco- pal Church in the United States of Amer ica,' a title that came to be adopted shortly after the Revolutionary war, when the Episcopal church had to adapt herself to, the new national conditions, having been formerly a colonial or mission church of the Church of England. The title came about naturally, having been used by the church in different colonies and then by the first general convention in 17S5 1t fitted very well into the condi- tions of the times when the church had to maintain her full communion with and heritage from the Church of England and yet identify lf-ecclesiastically, as her members had nobly done nationally with the new republic. It also fitted well with religious conditions as a title that was defense of her position viz, Protest ant, against the ecclesiastical position of the Church of Rome; Episcopal, as identi- fled with the threefod ministry of bishops priests and deacons. repudiated by many Christians in the new nation.
 Under this title the Episcopal church, as it Is known popularly, has continued for 11S years and has spread its great ln- fluence over the whole United States But with growth there has developed a change of attitude towards other Christian bodies. No longer is the Episcopal church under the necessity of defensive title. Her standing and influence Is of interest to American Christianity.
 Between Roman and Protestant.
 "Somehow the church has come to oc- cupy position, enthusiastically midway between that of the Roman Catholic church and that of the great Protestant bodies. There Is no longer desire to as- sert that the church Is not to be con- fused with the Catholics on the one hand or the Protestants on the other, because she has come to know the reason for her own existence as being more than a pro- test against error, and as being more Catholic than the single ecclesiastical mark of Episcopacy. The position, so far as can be judged by the general discus sions thus far, is an assertion of a real position rather than of a relative posi- tion
 ''The title most frequently proposed Is The American Catholic Church. Its ad- vocates claim that this will identify the church with it's nation and with it's his- torical and actual condition.
 "'The pressure brought to bear upon the church for this change is largely In the northwest, where Swedish and other immigrant population confuses the church by reason of its title Episcopal with the many Protestant churches having titles descriptive of an emphasis placed upon a characteristic teaching.
 The Word Catholic.
 Those opposed to the new title do not deny its correctness or the weakness of the old title, but feel that an assertion of the word Catholic would confuse, In many Protestant minds, the Episcopal church with the great body of Christians popu- larly known as Catholics, and conse- quently would injure the generally un- derstood, independent Catholic character of the Episcopal church. It Is argued that this old name might be preserved for the present generation at least, until the cause of unity among Christians is more advanced, especially as the Episcopal church is an earnest advocate for church unity Meanwhile, she should be con tent with the assertion of her faith in the apostles creed I believe in the Holy Catholic church. The attitude of the dio- cese of Alabama will be watched with in- terest."