New-York tribune., 1907-05-23
ATTACKON RACE TRACKS
HIT At MR. BELMONT.
Episcopal Contention Seeks Repeal
of La7cs 4fecting Gambling.

Garden CITY Long Island May 30 (SpeciaD.-
Although August Belmont is one of its most in
iuential members, the Protestant Eplscopai
Church, through its delegates to the forty-frSt
annual convention of the diocese of Long Island.
assembled at the Cathedral of the Incarnation.
voted to-day TO use it's power against racetrack
gambling The Belmont Park track, which lies
almost under the shadow of the cathedral S
splre might have to close its gates if the Percy
Gray law against which Tie diocese is aiming
its shafts was abolished. The Rev. William s.
Chase secretary of the social service committee,
which recommended action by the diocese
against racetrack gambling, said after the con-
vention that the resolution not aimed
directly at Mr.. Belmont but offered in spite
of Mr.. Belmont's influence in the Church. Mr.
Belmont. said the Rev Mr.. Chase. owns the
Episcopal church In Babylon Long Island: is
senior warden of St. Georges Church, Hemp
stead. and vestryman of the Church of the As
cension. Manhattan, and vestryman Of the
Episcopal church at Saratoga. The resolution
follows:
Resolved. That the social service committee
he authorized to cooperate with other similar
bodies to memOriaize the Legislature to secure
the repeal of those laws which, since 1895. have
practically nullifed the article of the Consttu-
ton which, adopted in 1S94 forbids all gambling
pool selling or bookmaking anywhere within the
state.
Bishop Burgess, having refused to make rul
ing yesterday upon the protest Of the Rev. Will
lam Wiley, rector Of Grace Church. Massapequa
against the nomination of George Foster Pea
body as a delegate to the General Convention.
the Rev. Mr. Wiley threatened to make an issue
or the matter before the convention to-day if
ruling We're not made. His contention was that
Mr.. Peabody, not having been confirmed was in
eligible as a delegate.
This morning the Rav Mr. yViIa,, fool, Tho
floor and offered formal resolution that no
person not confirmed in the Episcopal Church
should be permitted to he nominated as a dele
gate TO Il General Convention
George Washington was communicant OF
this Church.. said Bishop Burgess yet he was
not confirmed. man may be a confirmee and
II he does not attend tho church for years. be
hot as good church member a regular at
tendant who has never been confirmed
The question of whether ne Is a cornmunicant
or not is not for this Chair to decide This man
is on the books Of Holy Trinity Church as a
communicant, and must be recognized as such
That is my decision
so long as I Bishop of this diocese. II
will stand for fair play mans view must not
be used for attack save in a fair open way 1
believe that every member of this convention ia
a communicate"
There was considerable noise as the Rev Mr
Wiley got upon his feet. Cries of out of or
der and Hear him. were heard from various
parts OF the room. These were punctuated by
the hanging OF the Bishops gavel.
Il rise 10 a point Of personal privilege" said
the Rev Mr.. Wiley. The Bishops remarks ap-
pear to reflect personally upon me- I had no
knowledge OF this matter until yesterday at
dinner time I was perfectly sincere in my ac-
tons
The speaker had support and derision hurled
az him from many quarters at once. Afterward,
he asked TO have It recorded that he had with
drawn his motion.
The Rev. J. Howard Mesh said later that the
Rev. Mr.. Wileys attack was directed az Mr.
Peabody solely because Of hts friendly feeling
toward DR. Crapseys views. This said the Rev
Mr. Wiley, is erroneous. Late in the afternoon
Mr. Peabody elected a delegate on the
fourth ballot II E. Pierrepont and P. r. Jen-
nings We're also elected