Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-02
Trace QUESTION UP;
CHURCHMEN ATT ODDS
Opening of Great Episcopal
Convention in Richmond.
NOTABLE DELEGATES THERE
Conservative Sermon Delivered by
Bishop of London.
MLNY FUNCTIONS PROJECTED
Question of Caring for Colored Con-
gregations Is Uppermost Topic
of Discussion.
NOTABLE DELEGATES THERE
MLNY FUNCTIONS PROJECTED

RlCHMOND, va, OCTOBER 2.-taclng all
of the problems that have been discussed
and passed over in conventions gone by
and a number Of new questions Of great
Importance, the Protestant Episcopal
today for it's forty-fifth triennial conven
tion, which Is expected to be one of the
most interesting in the history of the
church.
The Rt Rev. A. F. Winnington-In-
gram, Bishop Of London, was present and
preached the sermon at the celebration
Of the holy communion in Holy Trinity
Church, this being the opening cere-
monial. The only business sessions today
were for the purpose of organization, the
house of bishops meeting at $3.50 pm. in
the state capitol, and the house OF depu-
ties at the same hour in st. PauIs
Church.
A warm welcome has been given the visit
ing churchmen. The business section of the
city Is decorated with flags and bunting
and by night is brilliant with an ele9Tica!
display The Bishop of London, who
reached here yesterday and went to the
| residence of Bishop Gibson of the diocese Of
Virginia. spent the entire afternoon on the
| golf links, where he made many friends.
With rare good nature he posed for a
| number of photographs for amateurs and
| some for publication. In his public state
| ments the bishop referred to the fact that
| for century and half the church in the
United States was under the Bishop of
London. He declared that he valued this
| historical connection, and it was because of
1t he came to America.
Morgan a Delegate.
Lay delegates to the convention number
many weilknown business men from every
section of the country, and several of them
have taken houses for the three weeks
sessions. Notable among these is Pierpont
Morgan of New York, who occupies the
Rutherford mansion, which he refitted
throughout with furnishings and provisions
sent from New York. and which likewise
has been stocked with provisions and wines
brought here under the supervision of a
well-known New York caterer. At this
mansion there will be number of notable
entertainments. There are about 500 MEM
bers of the general convention, including
the bishops of the several dioceses and mis-,
four lay deputies from each of the dioceses
and one each from every missionary dis
trict.
Colored Congregations.
OF all the questions pending in the con-
vention that Of creating negro bishops Is
causing the most heated advance discus
sion. There is large faction in the con-
vention which will advocate the closing of
negro missions and schools, and allow the
negro communicates to die out or scatter
among other relief bodies. Another faction
openly advocates the creation Of negro
bishops to serve over negro churches and
still others would consecrate negro suf-
fragan bishops to serve under the direction
of the white bishop of the diocese, and
still another plan is to give the negroes
three bishops and let them erect an au-
tonomous church.
The reopening of the discussion on the
remarrying Of divorced persons is an i'm
portant feature of the business program
Many of the delegates will urge the pas
sage of a more drastic canon and possibly
the prohibition entirely to remarriage of d
divorced person by any clergyman of the
Episcopal Church.
Already the question of creating a court
of appeals in the church has provoked
much discussion of an informal character
and the opponents charging that such
a court would be for the trial of heresy
charges. 1t is declared by some that the
creation of such a court would instiIl poli-
ties into the church conventions unless the
membership of the court is confined to the
members of the house of bishops.
Women's Meetings.
Among other important problems pending
are the propositions to divide the United
States into provinces and making the office
of presiding bishop elective, but the term
of office to be for life until the incum-
bent reaches seventy years of age. There
is also a movement to appoint committee
to revise the dictionary and to allow more
liberty in the way the Bible shall be read
in the churches. The Daughters of the
King and of the Woman's Auxiliary will
also hold daily sessions.
Conservation of the Church.
Although the formal opening Of the con-
vention did not take place until today, the
convention was already practically In full
swing yesterday, when Holy Trinity
Church, memorial to Bishop Moore was
formally consecrated with impressive cere-
monies. Right Rev. r. A. Gibson, Bishop
of Virginia. presided. The services were
in charge of the Rev. ]. j. Gravatt rector
of the church. Immediately preceding the
service the local and visiting clergy gath
cred In the parish house and after donning
their vestments proceeded in procession to
the church, entering the side door. The
clergy took their seats within the chancel
rail and around the communion table. The
procession was met in the vestibule of the
cnuTcn Dy tHe Veslrymen, VINO followed,
taking seats at the front Of the church.
As the clergymen proceeded up the aisle
the verses of the Twenty-fourth Psalm were
read alternately, the bishop reading one
verse and the clergy another. Bishop Glib
son, seated. received the Instruments of
donation on behalf of the congregation
from Col John w. Gordon, following which
a prayer was offered by the bishop. The
sentence of conservation was read by the
Rev. j. J. Gravatt and laid In the COM
munion table.
Following the consecration service the
service of the day was read, after which
the Right Rev. George w. Peterkin,