The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-02
ny THE REV. JOHN KELLER,
Secretary. Of the Ill0reaeAA al NeyYneE


Secrctfry Of tic Diocese OF Newark. !
4 BOUT nine years ago. when the
~ General Convention met In the
~ city OF Washington. the 5Church-s
4 q mems League. Of the District OF
Columbia invited the members
&c the convention to make a pilgrimage
to Jamestown, the cradle OF the Amer
lean church. Accordingly the invita-
ton having been accepted with thanks
no session was held on Saturday. Oc-
tober 10Th. On the way .the members
who participated in the pilgrimage were
recipients oftthe gracious hospitality
OF the churchmen and citizens Of Rich
nond generally.
The General Convention meets this
year for the forty fifth time, counting
two special and one adjourned meeting
eighteen times in the city OF Phila-
delphia. thirteen times in New York
City. three times In Baltimore, twice in
Boston. once In Chicago. Cincinnati.
Minneapolis. New Haven. San Francisco,
Trenton and Washington. and RICHMOND
III 1859. AS this is the tercentennial Of
tho planting of an English colony at
Jamestown, II is also the 300th ami
versary of the use Of the Liturgy Of
the Church of England by one of the
clergy of the Established Church. Hence
1t is most fitting mat the sons and
daughters of the American church
should meet in solemn assembly for
fcrvent prayer and high thanksgiving
and devoted labor on the spot where
the services of the church were first
offered by Robert Hunt and his fellow
pilgrims. And SO, too, 1t Is most APP
propriate that the General Convention
OF 1907 should meet in the most conve-
nient place near jamestown for the
work of elaboration and counsel,
The General Convention, Its History and
JurlxidctiOn.
At the preliminary meeting In 1884
for the organization of the severed
members of the mother Church of Eng
land, one of the Fundamental articles
provided that there shall be Genera
Convention Of the Episcopal Church II
The United States of America" Since
1889, when the constitution of the
American church, rs Bishop White, II
those early days Of comparative weak
ness, so fondly called 1t. there has been
body, except In 17sS, when the yellow
fever epidemic in Philadelphia occa
stoned a postponement Of the meeting
until 1899.
At all meetings Of the General Con
vention "the church in each diocese" !
entitled to representation of both tn
clergy and the laity, not exceeding fou
Df each OrOer. AS early as lo44t vi
eXpediency of reducing the unwield
proportions of the General Conventio
by allowing smaller Populations fror
ujoceses was as warmly debated as
ia these days. Perhaps the inciden
Was recalled that in 1855, on the dues
ton OF the restoration Of the words
"He descended into he'll in the Apos
ties Creed, was decided by the delega
lions OF New Jersey and South Caro-
Ira, all other dioceses being divided
lhe subject of "proportionate repre-
seutaton" was also advocated In 1Ss:
an it is to-day, A proposed amend
mcnt making the deputation Of eac
diocese to consist Of zone clergyma
and one 'layman, with an adittons
clerical deputy for every eight clergy
p.cn actually residing in the dioces
and an additional lay deputy for ever
twelve parishes belonging to the COZ
eention Of the same" was indehnitel
" postponed,
The bishops Of the church form
separate house. which meets wit