Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-05-20
DIVORCE EVIL.
Continued from page -

stood that only half that amount WdS
needed now, and had made it's pledge
ON that understanding.
Rev. c. F. Lee energetically declared
that the money must be raised, and
would be. secured in short order.
A motion that a committee Of three
be appointed to raise the funds neces-
sary for the purpose was made and
carried. The committee as appointed by
the bishop consisted of Rev. II. p. Sey-
mour, Rev. G. F. Degen and Col. W.
S. Glidden of Bath.
The convention then took up the
proposed cannons passed at last years
session. Some discrepancies in the
printed pamphlet were noted, and
motion was passed adopting the amend
ments passed by the last convention.
| A lively little debate took place at
this Joint, some of the members of the
convention being unwilling to accept
the Chairs ruling as to the precedence
Of the several motions before the
house. Rev. w. A. Sparks and Rev. u.
3. Nicholson We're most prominent in
their objections to the rulings of the
chair, but the bishop smoothed over
the slight friction by expressing his
anxiety that clear statement should
go on record showing exactly what was
approved by the convention on this
important subject. Eventually Rev.
Mr.. Nicholson's motion was put and
| carried, provided that the cannons as
printed in the pamphlet be approved
| with the correction of a clerical error In
| one section.
| A motion was put and carried pro-
viding for the appointment of COM
mittee of three to print 1000 copies of a
pamphlet containing the statutes OF
| the State having general application to
| the church in the diocese, the cOnSti
tuition and canons of the diocese, the
| order of business of the convention, the
constitution and bylaws of the Cathe-
| dral and the bylaws of the Missionary
| Society," The committee as appointed
by the chair were Rev. f. D. Johnson,
r. H. Gardiner and G. P. Sewall.
! Archdeacon Robinson precipitated
the most interesting discussion Of the
morning when he offered a resolution
| to the following effect.
| Whereas, there is a tendency In this
| State to countenance in the social life
| Of the churches or missions, ways and
means for raising money for church
| purposes that in essence are violations
of the laws of the State forbidding any
and all games of chance:
Be it resolved by this convention that
the church emphatically discounten-
ance all such practices within our COM
munion and urge all our clergy to so
state our position in all cases where the
| aforesaid tendency shall manifest it.
self among us.
Rev. Mr. Nicholson wanted to know
if it was a fact that such methods were
in use in the churches. If so. he
thought the mover should prove 1t.
Archdeacon Robinson said it was a
common practice in the churches to
raise money by games of chance. The
people did not mean it for gambling,
but it was. For three years in Milli-
nocket he had refused to accept money
raised by such means, but when he
turned the work over to another man,
the practice was resumed and his three
years efforts fell to the ground in a
month.
Rev. w. A. Sparks corroborated Mr..
Robinson's experience; and told of
case where the ladies had made a puff
that they intended to sell by ticket. He
was asked to approve of it, but refused.
The sale was carried out in his absence,
however.
"Is the Episcopal church so strong in
Maine that 1t can afford to lecture the
whole community on such matter?"
asked a lay deputy, sarcastically.
Lay Deputy Cleveland said that the at
titude of the church on this matter should
be so clear that no finger of scorn could
be pointed at the diocese. 1t was not SO
much necessary that the convention
should instruct in the matter as that the
| sentiment of the people should find eX
preston in the vote.
Col. Glidden ,thereupon offered an
house. stating that 1t was the sense of
the convention that the discountenancing
in games of chance be approved.
The amendment brought Archdeacon
Robinson to his feet in moment:
| This is serious matter" he said.
"Only one position is open for the con-
| vention, and it must make a positive
statement. Either the standard of the
clergy must be upheld or no action at all
should be taken"
Col. Gliddens motion was carried on
vote and substituted for Archdeacon Rob
insons, but the discussion continued when
it was before the house, and Rev. G. +.
Degen offered a substitute for it. resolv
ing that the convention put itself on rec
ord as emphatically disappearing all
| games of chance as a means of raising
funds for the church. The clergy did
not need any approval from the conyen-
| -
The proper course was for the convention
to go on record against all such prac-
tices.
Col. Glidden disavowed any intention to
impute participation in such things to the
clergy themselves.
Rev. Z. II. Newbegin said that putting
the convention on record did not indicate
widespread condition of such means of
| raising funds. He did not believe that
such condition existed. 1t would be
good idea for Archdeacon Robinson, who
had said on the floor of the convention
that he was in the habit of using Roman
Catholic methods in governing his flock,
to use them in this matter and tell his
people that he would not have such
| things done. He was competent to say
what he would or would not permit and
could save the convention from publicly
declaring that gambling practices exist
in the church.
Archdeacon Robinson promptly dis
claimed any use of Roman Catholic
methods; except those of moral suasion.
he could not drive them. The people
told him they had always done such
things and they did not see any harm
in them. He wanted the convention to
make declaration 50 that he could show
ii TO the peOple