Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-16
DIVORCE HITS BASE OF LIFE
Strikes at Divine Order, Family Altar and
NATIONAL Stability, Says Bishop.
woRTHNsTON TO COUNCIL OF DIOCESE
Address Delivered at the FOrtieth
Annual Session OF EpiscoPals,
who Act on Many I'm
POrtant Matters.

pOrtant Matters.
The fortieth annual council Of the Prot
estant Episcopal church Of the diocese OF
Nebraska convened Wednesday morning
at Trinity cathedral after holy COM
munion at 1880 o'clock and a sermon by
Or. Robinson OF Racine, Wis.
The meeting was called to order by Bishop
Coadjutor williams and was organized by
the election OF secretary and assistant sec
rotary and the appointment OF the usual
committees. Adjournment was then taken
until o'clock. when the annual addresses
of Bishop Worthington and Bishop Coad-
tutor Williams were read.
Bishop worthingtons address was read
By Rev. John Albert williams. 1t dealt
chiefly with doctrinal matters and questions
that are to come before the general con-
vention, which meets at Richmond, Va
next October tribute was paid TO the
memory Of the late James NJ. woolworth,
who for nearly forty years had been chan
oellor OF the diocese and Its ablest lay rep
resentative In the general convention. In
view of the important measures to be
passed upon by the general convention the
bishop urged that care should be taken to
select delegates conversaht with such sub
jects and who would pledge themselves to
attend and remain through the sessions.
Among the grave questions to be discussed
and acted upon at Richmond are divorce
Christian unity, the provincial system or
the grouping Of various dioceses into prov
inces with a bishop acting as primate or
archbishop over each province; court of
appeal, with authority to pass on questions
of doctrine, and the conservation Of colored
bishops for the south.
warning from the Past.
Speaking of divorce. the bishop said:
''The subject is one that is gravely i'm
! portant for Il not only relates
| to the welfare and domestic happiness Of
many, but to the very foundation of the
divine order Of the family and the welfare
and stability OF our republic. Facility OF
divorce was the primary principle Of cor
ruption IN Roman social life. Shall we not
| take warning from the records of the
past?
christian unity is to be desired. 1t
/ should lie close TO the hearts of all Chris
/ tian people. There is nothing that can be
| said reverently and wisely to sustain an
argument in favor of sectarianism in
| Christianity. To sever the body is either to
destroy or limit it's life and ability Of
| service Every sacrifice consistent with
legitimate adherence to principle should be
made to secure the unity of Christendom.
The overtures looking to unity, made to
| divided American christianity by the House
of Bishops in 1886, had met with little sue
cess The failure was due to the disbelief
I'm the Protestant world in a priesthood
and the sacramento system which this in
wolves Until there is the acceptance OF
this teaching Of the bible and prayer book
/ ,N-,,
/ christians. Concerning this vital question
no concession can be made and the church
man will gain the respect OF those who
may differ from him, Outstanding firmly
upon this ground"
COlOred bishops, in south.
With reference to the possibility of
electing and consecratipg, eolored bishops
4 for the south, the bishop said that it '1s
a question that has many, sides and should
be approached without prejudice and only
after careful and prayerful consideration
of what will secure the best results for
the church in dealing with the large num-
Der Of colored citizens in the north and the
south" .r.. t
The bishop noted among the many at.
tractive features of the next general con-
, vention the recognition of the men Of the
=, God for 300 years OF English christianity
/ and urged that the Offering be generous
) In May, 1907, colony of English church.
} men landed at jamestown. Va. This was
, thirteen years and six months before the
pilgrim fathers landed on the rock bound
coast of New England. Great principles
! were enunciated by that new colony or
the James river. from which have come
} unspeakabIe blessings. Two principles es
} pecially. Universal suffrage and repre-
sentative government, a congress OF repre-
sentatIves chosen by the people. The colo.
nists made education the cornerstone Of
liberty and religion the basis of character
From these principles our wonderful ma.
tlonal life has developed.
The bishop strongly pleaded for a better
observance Of the Lords, day. as a divine
institution for mans good ana wsrnsZ
against the tendency to make the church
n kind of social club.
I Wintams on Diocesan Matters.
! Bishop Williams in his address confined
3 himself almost exclusively to diocesan
, matters and the missionary work OF tn
! church in this state He briefly alluded 4
only three extra diocesan matters in nj
entire address-the election OF delegates L
, the general convention, the mems mission
, airy thank offering, designating June
as the day for sermons throughout tn
z diocese on this subject. and the apportion
( nent for domestic and foreign missions
Turning next 70 diocesan AFFAIRS, he spok
Z the outlook before the church in Ne
Sraska as most encoura cling and noted tn
r progress that had been made in spiritua
{ | ana material matters the former Indicate
BY the Increased number OF confirmation
reported and the latter by increased Offer
b ings. the acquisition OF church propert
$ and the paying on OF debts.
: Speaking Of the new Clarkson hospita
l. the bishop said that the great bulldln
e activity IN Omaha, the rise in labor an
l. building material and the difaculty IN 81
= curing sufficient subscriptions had deiaye
d beginning its ERECTION. He was glad
Is report that the women had undertaken
z ralse $4,000 and that the work Of erectio
/ .-...ta ,borflv bapfU