The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-02
81: RS BISHOP

CLOSED doors In 1S47 an effort was
made to provide that no diocese should
have more than one representative In
the House CT Bishops, as the view pre-
vailed that the bishops sit, not as
representatives OF dioceses, but by vlr-
tue OF their Office" Hence bishops-
;coadjutor have seats and votes as we'll |
as their principals. as do also bishops
having missionary Jurisdictions. The
Occupations OF one Clergyman and one
layman from each missionary district |
nave seats and the privilege OF debate.
but not that OF suffrage.
Organization.
In the House OF Bishops the rule
adopted in 1888 providing for the presi-
dency according to seniority OF conse-
Grafton has changed, and rotation, be-
ginning from the North" substituted.
The senior bishop. according to the
time Of conservation. was made the
president of the House OF Bishops and
presiding bishop for all other council
] purposes by Rule OF 1882. In the 1904
1 convention modification of this rule
/ was adopted.
The House Of Clerical and Lay Depu-
ties elect a president from the clergy
| in that chamber. a secretary and
! treasurer.
4 The system OF parliamentary prac-
tice Is bicameral. The concurrence OF
4 both houses is necessary to the validity
/ of any legislation. But the General
Convention is different from the Con-
gress Of the United States in that its
4 action Is completed; there Is no veto
power. It is interesting to note that
4 In 1883 lay deputy from Virginia OPP
posed proposition which would have
invested the House OF Bishops with
:, a full negative on the proceedings of
the House OF Deputies. The Eastern
States, 1t was said. solicited the giving
OF the absolute negative" to the
House of Bishops. and In 1895 pam
phlet was circulated entitled "Stric-
= lures on the Love OF Power in the
Prelacy." An investigation was made,
, and one decision reached which estab-
!, lished an important precedent. l. e..
!, permission to place q protest" on
!, record was denied Not until 1908 was
the constitution amended so as to give
an absolute negative to the House OF
. Bishops. and there was now ratified
' (May, 1sos,) the long proposed amend
: menttof the constitution annuling the
3 provision by which four-hfths Of the
House Of Clerical and Lay Deputies
: could accomplish measure without
9 1.-The concurrence of the bishops. It is
e q curious fact that Bishop White.
i Of Pennsylvania, feared that on ac-
9 count of peculiar circumstances
y he would be the only bishop present
n at the 1908 convention in Baltimore.
= In his memoirs he tells us that he de-
= termined If no other bishop was pres
I ent, to be the House Of Bishops him
i self, SO that the constitutional method
3 Of doing BUSINESS might be carried out
= In the 1855 House of Deputies de-
= cision OF the chair was made and sus-
: talned that question lost by noncon-
!. currence of orders was not Determined
7 in the negative and could be pre-.
Z, scented essentially in an altered form
= In connection with the signing of DR.
= r1awks's testimonial in 1874 another
= Important precedent Was established
:, that members might be excused from
! voting, but leave to have their reason.
:, entered on the Journal might not bt
:. granted.
" Time Of Meeting,
The commission changed Its time O
a meeting at the meeting in 1904 cpl
ID ldemit diseases having prevailed in thu