Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-21
CHURCHMfN At The TABLE
Dinner Given Delegates to Diocesan Council
BY Omaha Brethren,
LEADING MINDS OF CHURCH PRESENT
Growth of Nebraska Diocese the
Chief Topic of Debat at the
banquet Given Last
Night.

The dinner given by the churchmen OF
Omaha TO the clergy and lay delegates to
the thirty-sixth annual council OF the Pro.
testant Episcopal diocese of Nebraska,
at the Willard hotel last night, was an
occasion for the assembling Of about 1OC
Members OF the church in Nebraska, rep.
resenting the leading minds OF almost
every parish in the diocese.
The POSTMASTER of the evening was Hon.
Matthew A. Hall, who introducing the
first speaker of the evening, Rt. Rev. A. l.
Williams. coadjutor bishop of Nebraska,
made a happy hit upon the law OF the
nativity of the bishop and his penchant for
hunting.
The bishop then gave the visitors warm
welcome to the see city on behalf of the
clergy and lsymen Of Omaha. He referred
to the change in name Of the church, which
he said would be the principal theme fot
consideration today and said that in spite
of the euphoneous name which appears on
the prayer book, the church is identical
with the historical, apostolic Catholic
church. He advocated the organization OF
a church club, having for its object the
increase in social and fraternal feeling
among the members OF the different par
ishes, first Of the see city and later OF the
other parts of the diocese. He referred to
the work Of the Chicago church club ana
the Minnesota church club, both of which
are doing much toward bringing the lay
men together in their church work. He
said hat he expects TO organize a club
next fall and would invite the secretarys
of the two clubs mentioned to be here to
explain the method of operation. He mem
toned Chancellor Woolworth, Walter
White Of P~Iattsmouth. John d. Goss and
To-.o. yraa RIoofran rs four iaVpaRn who
were delegates to the first diocesan coun-
ell, three of them being delegates TO the
present councils. He would have the do
cese. and not the parish, the unit OF
church effort.
Review of Diocesan Councils.
"A Third of a Century in the General
Convention was the theme of Chancellor
James M. woolworth. who has been a dele
gate to every convention since 1857. The
speaker said that the convention of 1868
was greatly agitated by a discussion OF the
subject of 'Ritualism," something that has
lately passed out of prominence. Then
there was a great deal Of feeling upon the
subject, the discussion being along lines
of ceremonies, modes of worship and meth
DDS, then thought to be similar to the
services of Rome, but which are now
adopted in almost all Of the churches OF
the United States The bitterness of the
discussion disappeared. At the next con-
vention the subject came up under what
was then imposed to be a difference OF
doctrine. At that convention was made
the speech OF DIR. DeKoven, declaring the
high ground of sacramental worship. 1t
was a sad day when the general conven-
ton said he was not At to be bishop of
Illinois. He was a man of the most pro-
found spiritual life and did much to lift
the church to the high plane 1T is approach
ing. The convention at Baltimore was held
at the time Of the Chicago fire. A col-
lection was taken for the sufferers and the
lord bishop of Litehheld. DR.. selwin, de-
livered an impassioned address. But the
next man to address the convention was
Bishop Clarkson, who came before the
audience n delivered an address which
carried the enthusiasm beyond anything
Bishop selwin could do.
In after conventions the subject of mis-
sions came forward. Missions today Is the
great question before the church. for it Is
the subject that calls out its energies and
devotions. Another subject which agitated
the church was the prayerbook revision.
and what is known as the Huntington
resolutions"