Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-27
From the Baltimore Sun

From the Baltimore Sun
The for-v-ffth convention OF the Prot
estaut Episcopal Church IN The United
States Of America, which net in Rica-
mond, Va. from October to October -,
has adjourned after one Of TIE most no
table gatherings in the history Of that
church BODY.
From historical and pictorial stand
point there were scenes enacted in ana
about Richmond within tce last three
weeks that viii never ne forgot-s-- by
any one who participated in them.
Through the publicity given these events
by boch the church and secular press The
beginning % the church life IN the
United States IS made known as never
known before. and an impression made
upon III who visited Williamsburg and
jamestown Island that viii never be es-
faced.
The most striking feature ot all these
ceremonies vas that they were conducted
with such entire simplicity and Impress
i've dignity that they became reality in
stead Of pageants, and a deep religious
feeling was created that will forever
strengthen the power o. the church it.
self.
The social features Of the convention
were worthy of the southland that Offered
them. and from the governor OF virginia
TO the hunbest citizen OF the state the
attitude of the Virginia people was one OF
genuine and untirjng Welcome. which al
the conclusion of the convention mad@
the departing guests feel they were sepa-
rating from kindred rather than
strangers.
In addition to ecclesias tical and lay
deputies TO the convention. many OF
whom were accompanied BY wires ann
daughters tha womars auxiliary of the
board OF foreign missions hald at tie
Same time its triennal meeting. as did
also the Order OF Daughters of the King
and the Junior Auxiliary.
X
The legislative sessions Of the conven-
ton We're Interesting and important and
narked---one Of the Oldest delegates said
"by the most remarkable spirit of &C
cord" that he had ever witnessed In that
body. Every diocese seemed TO have
sent its most representative men, and on
every side was heard praise of the Mary
| land repre- sentatives. on prominent man
was heard to remark thar there was not
| a finer delegation of men sent from any
diocese than those who were ssnt from
Maryland and that the same men wera
| so frequently chosen to appear tor Mary
| land that by right OF seniority IN point Of
service they We're elected TO fill most I'M
portant Offices on important committees,
! % which duties they acquitted them
! selves most WOrtfnN.
| The business Of the sessions resulted N
many important conclusions. The spien-
did ard rapidly progressing work of the
church in mission fields. domestic and
foreign. was presented. and several new
missionary districts were created.
a preamble to tn. constitution. which
has been q long-feIt want and which rep
resents years Of thought by some of the
most brilliant minds of the church. was
finally adopted. A revised code of rules
of order was considered and adopted. and
good and very essentla, work done In
perfecting the canons adopted three
years ago BY the church. M. Joseph
Packard OF Baltimore was chairman %
the committee upon the revision of the
code of rules, and Rev. DIR. ]. II. Eccles-
ton 81 Baltimore was chairman Of the
committee on canons.
The proposition 10 establish az ultimate
court of appeal upon matters Of doctrine,
| faith and worship pertaining tC clergymen
who should be subject to tra, in the
church was rejected. while an important
plan proposed by Dr. Wilkins Of Los
Angeles. to raise 81 900 900 for the pur-
pose of caring for disabled and aged
cle~gyrnen was accepted and Rev. Dr.. J.
s. B. Hodges o. Baltimore was made one
Of the committee to raise il.
A proposition 10 present 10 the next
convention the subject Of increasing the
salaries of clergymen was also carried.
Very important reports were presented
from the Joint committee on Sunday
school instruction. of which Bishop Tai
bolt is chairman. Plans proposed fer
forwarding Sunday school WORK provide
for better instruction, Improvement in
course of study. better grading o. classes
and more complete equipment of schools
and also for keeping the children Of the
Sunday schools in closer toGch with the
church and requiring the church to con-
tribute more richly 10 the life Of the
child; also providing special training Of
students for the ministry. The canon per
tanning TO the rsmarriage OF divorced per
sons remains unchanged, although fine
and serious points Of discussion were
raised III the house of bishops. The ear
-2estlv advocated amendments proposed
by Bishop Doane TO forbid Protestant
Episcopal clergymen TO marry any d.
v0rced persons. whether the innocent or
guilty party. whose former husband or
wife vas living, was defeated, but a con-
terance of able nan. Of whom M Joseph
Packard of Baltimore is one. was ap-
pointed to continue work upon the sub
ject with orders to report to the next
convention.
The raxed problem of whether Or not
the church should create negro bishops n
the several dioceses wes most happily
surrounted BY The adoption of a resolu-
ton which was a medium between the
radical plans proposed WIich would give
TO a comparatively 'IrJeYeloped race
power ard influence which the church
considered few qualified 10 exercise ana
the very conservative views of those who
were inclined to LEI well enough alone
and DO nothing toward satisfying the