The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-05-03


ferson, Marshall, Patrick Henry. Rob
ert Morris and James Madison be
longed to its communion. Most a
the clergy. however. had come from
England in mature life, and all o.
them had been ordained there. AS q
natural consequence the great major
ity Of them opposed the revolutionistI
and strove to uphold the government
( from which their church had always
received its support
The triumph of American independ.
ence wrought complete change in the
organization of the church. Prior to
this it had been the Church of Eng.
land in America" now II became the
Protestant Episcopal church of the
United States" with a special term
form of government of its own admin
lstered by its clergy and laity. The
preliminary meeting of this conven-
ton was held in Philadelphia, Sept.
%, 1885. The second meeting was
held in the same city in 1889, in the
same room in the state house where
the national constitution had been
signed, and where now the church con-
stitution was adopted.
Like National Government.
Dean Hodges finds that these coin
cidences correspond with a remark
able likeness between the new nation
al and church governments, which he
thus describes:
Each was founded on a written
constitution. BY adopting this con-
stitution, thirteen independent eccle-
provinces became the dioceses
of one church. as thirteen Independent
colonies had become the states OF
the nation. Diocesan conventions an
swered to state conventions, and the
general convention to the congress OF
the United tSates. The house of cler-
ical and lay deputies was like the
house of representatives. and the
house of bishops was like the senate, |
except in the matter of tenure, Of of. |
ice. The principles Of representa- !
tive government controlled the church |
as they controlled the state. The conf
sregation elected the vestry; the YES
try, sometimes with the formal ap-
prevail of the congregation, selected
he rector. The rector and certain
elected deputies from the congrega-
ion represented the parish in the do
'esan convention. The representa-
ives jointly chose the bishop. The
bishop and certain elected deputies,
clerical and lay, from diocesan con-
'entions, represented the diocese in
he general convention. In that con-
ention no change could be made In
he constitution or in the prayer book
Mess 1t was first enacted by one gen.
raj convention, then reported back
0 all the dioceses, and then at the
ext general convention re-enacted.
a one respect the church was more
emocratic than the state; 1t gave No
ian executive authority. There was
presiding bishop, but no president.
his likeness of the administration of
lie church and of the state came nat
rally from the fact that the same
len were engaged In the two trans
ctions"
Steps Of Progress.
The organization and form Of church
which was thus adopted in
lie first days of the American repub-
:, controls the Episcopal church to- "
~ practically without modification.
radical dierence between this and =
e Anglican form of government lies II
the admission of the laity to the u
uncils of the church. Fifty years II
ter the first general convention an
her great step was taken in the do '
lopment of the church here, when It "
rs officially proclaimed that "the "
lole church is missionary society "
d every baptised member of 1t
ssionary." From this movement ..
ly be traced the beginnings of the a.
eat institutional churches" which ~
} pointed out as being the most sig :,
icant and increasing feature of the "
with OF the church. -
i
I EcTI0N COMMITS