The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-13
PAN-ANERICAN COUNCIL
FACES GRAVE TOPICS
Question of Negro Mission
aries for Negroes.
PRIVACY IS NOT AN ISSUE
Many Bishops Averse to ANY Greater
Capitalization in Episcopal
Church.

Shall the Episcopal Church send out
negro missionaries among the negroes OF
America? This is one OF the principal
topics Of discussion TO come before the
Pan-American council OF Protestant
Episcopal bishops which will convene in
Washington October 20. Hitherto the
Episcopal Church has sent white mis-
sionaries and teachers among the
negroes. The ACCESSIBILITY Of educating
negroes to replace these white workers
will be a question of interest In connec-
ton with the race problem In the
United States.
The feasibility OF sending agents to
Europe 10 learn the names OF irnmi-
grants 10 the United States with q view
to aiding them in forming church rela-
lions when they arrive In the United
States will also be discussed. II is said
there are many immigrants-church
members In Europe-who through ignOr-
ance of the country, fail to attach them
selves TO the church when they arrive
here
Other questions that viii come before
the American bishops are the relation OF
the church to the state: the evangelical
uon Of the Indians; marriage and di-
vorce; Sunday observances; the home
and family. and the relations OF the
American Episcopal Church TO the Poles
and Swedes, members OF the Episcopal
Church in their native lands.
The Pan-American council of bishops
is not a legislative body. but meets IN
order to discuss the best methods Of
dealing with American problems touch
ing the church. X is safe to say. there
fore that nothing will be done during
the conference toward changing the
methods OF selecting the presiding
bishop. This question viii, however.
probably arise in the general convention
Of the church al Boston next year.
Proposed Change in System
A change from the present methods.
which gives the office to the Oldest
bishop. has been urged for some time
on the ground that II is not good policy
TO burden the oldest bishop with the
additional labors attached 10 the office
Of presiding bishop
There has never been an archbishop
In the American church. and II is i'm
probable that the question OF a primacy
will become the question Of the hour
for many years. Nevertheless, a num-
Der Of the bishops have been questioned
on this subject
Opinions on the Subject.
Many OF the bishops. among them
Bishop Potter OF New York, are averse
10 such project. holding that central
tzation Of governing has many evils.
Bishop Seymour, OF Springfield. said:
The organization of the Church OF
Rome would be. on the whole. admir-
able. were It not for the crushing evil
OF its divine. infallible head, falsely
so called" Bishop Huntington. Of cen
tral New York. said he hoped there
would never be an archbishop Bishop
Morrison. of Iowa. expressed the same
opinion.
IL is held by some, however. that
the Capitalization Of the church gov
eminent would make the action Of the
church more efficient. Bishop Hare has
called the action Of the church. under
its present form. "Elephantine rather
than quick. precise. and efficient
Bishop Mann. OF North Daokta. holds
that the time has come for a change
in the methods of selecting the presid-
ing bishop. His Office. he said, should be
for definite term. Bishop Dudley and
Bishop Francis are also said 10 have
approved OF this plan Bishop Gillespie
said that the discussion OF the question
should not be COMPOUNDED with veering
toward the papacy. Bishop Leonard
pronounced the present plan of success
sion unsatisfactory.