Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-06
lie position, that name Is giving increasing
disquietude to most churchmen.
The Protestant Reformation.

disquietude to most churchmen
The Protestant Reformation.
IT, for one, must believe that the Profess
tant reformation was a movement directly
inspired by God. yet it was a special move
ment to counterfeit special evils in the
church of God AS such it had, necessarily,
marked limitations. and therefore. however
true 1T may be in these special aspects.
Protestant Episcopal is very limited
name for this church of ours No diocesan
or general convention of these times would
adopt it. Protestant is a word with
negative. not positive, meaning and the
church of God Is not built upon negations.
Frotestant is modern term not an ancient
word. 1t is to be found neither in the New
testament nor in the primitive church; in
oeeo. 1t was unknown to all church history
at the time that Columbus discovered
Again, Protestant, as a name, is asso-
ciated as much with European political
controversies as with religious aspirations
and faith In Christ. All this. and more,
Episcopal
, But, however unsatisfactory it NAV be.
mere Is a marked distinction between
atuoplIns name for the first time and
cuahslns one which has been already
ADOPTED and in use for over a century. srhis
conphcates what would otherwise be a
9iianpie matter. with many other considera-
ions. not the least of which is this ones
uon: Has the time arrived in the nrovi-
ueiice Oh zoo, for such a CHANGE?
The Apostolic Warning.
Pause moment and consider IF ours
is true descendant of the anostol;c
church, then we must be mindful of the
apostolic warning: The letter kilIeth. but
the spirit giveth life' Think of the catho-
lie and apostolic spirit which our church has
manifested in this fair land of ours for a
century or more. Think of the great re-
sponsibility which God has placed upon her
BISHOPS clergy and laity in building upon
the strong foundations which have been
already laid for future church unity Above
all stand face to face with this ancient and
Interchangeable catholic and apostolic truth
regarding the oneness of the church on
earth.
If the Church of England. by her action
IN by-gone centuries, is so largely to blame
for the schisms in our divided christendom
OF america; and if we really hold, with
deep renglous conviction, that we are the
true and linear successor of that church
In this country, then we must accept the
consequences of this oneness of organic life
ana recognize that the inherited RESPONSE
piuty Ior these abnormal conditions falls
upon the daughter church just as surely
as the sins of the forefathers are visited
upon their children.
Before Christian unity can come we
nave work of expiation to do for our
mother. One may say that the mere re-
tentlon of name is but small atonement
Tor the past; but, II this becomes a cause
LOT real humiliation on the part Of devout
churchmen, then will not the name Prot
estant Episcopal stand as an honest and
sincere confession on our part of the
wrongs done by our mother church to these
lost sheep of the house of Israel?
Queries Propounded and Answered.
rs the reply made here that, with u.s. the
letter should conform more closely to the
spirit? Is the plea Of Inconsistency put
forth? Is 1t urged that our American
church has nothing to repent of, or that she
is to be held in no way responsible for the
sins either of the Church of England or of
the sects which parted from her?
Then l look back to the example of the
Head of the Church Himself, our Lord
Jesus Christ. l see Him, the holy. sinless
One-pure as the spotless Snow-coming to
John the Baptist. to receive the baptism of
repentance for sins which, not He, but His
people, committed.
eff His church is one with Him, she must
learn of Him, who was meek and Iowly IN
heart. how to repent for others; if she is
holy, it can only be by taking the yoke OF
His cross upon her and by being crucitied
with Him for those who know not what
they do; If she would become more and
more catholic and apostolic, then, His
own appointed witness to the truth she
must guard the New Testament ideal OF the
one. holy, catholic and apostolic church,
so that 1t shall not fall below the length
and breadth and height and depth of the
love of Christ which passeth knowledge
The subject will be taken up by the con-
vention tomorrow and will be thoroughly
discussed. The special committee on change
of name of the church appointed by the
bishop consists of Rev. DIR. r. H! McKim,
Rev. DR.. Alfred Harding, Rev. Thos. ].
Packard, Rev. l. w. Clark and Messrs. H.
E. Pellew. L. A. Wilmer and l. H. Chew.
The convention was presided over by
Bishop Satterlee, with Rev. DIR. A 8. Johns
as secretary. Rev. H. Allen Griffith and
E M. Thompson were appointed tempo
rary secretaries by the bishop.
Preceding the opening of the business
meeting religious service was held at 10
o'clock, when the holy communion was
celebrated by Bishop Satterlee. assisted by
Rev. G. l. LaRoche, Rev. w. r. B. Turner,
Rev. r. P. Williams and Rev. DR.. Mckim.
The epistle was read by Rev. DR.. Harding
and the gospel was read by Rev. X. F.
Williams. All the clergy attending the con-
vention appeared at this service in vest
ments.
Following the religious exercises Bishop
Satterlee delivered his annual sermon after
which the annual meeting was formally de-
clared in session
The forenoon session adjourned for lunch
con at 1:15 o'clock. The afternoon session
was devoted to the reading of reports and
routine business.
Officers Elected.
At a late hour this afternoon the diocesan
elected the following officers
for the ensuing year: Secretary, Rev. DR..
A. S. Johns; assistant secretaries, Rev. H.
Allen Griffith and Rev. Enoch M Thomp-
son; treasurer Rev. William c. Rives. 1t
was decided that the next annual conven-
ton shall be held in the Church of the
Epiphany.
There will be missionary talks tonight at
st. PauPs Church by Rev. DR.. c. Ernest
Smith Of St. Thomas Church and Rev. DR..
r. H. McKim of the Church of the Epiph-
any. A reception will be rendered at the
bishops house to delegates and ladies from
4 to 6 o'clock pm. today.
Demonstrated Power of Hypnotism.
Senior Miguel Roses Of q medical fa guilty