Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
WILL STRIVE TO
WIN CONVENTION
LOS ANGELES EPlSCOPALIANS
BEGIN CAMPAIGN
REV. A. M. SMITH TO LEAD IN THE
MOVEMENT
Broad churchmen Opposed to High
Church Party in Struggle to Se-
cure Control of General
Assembly

Episcopal diocese of Los Angeles will
be made Sunday evening, February 6,
at the church of st. Matthias, Wash
ington street and Normandie avenue,
in a series of sermons by the rector,
the Rev. Albert Morton Smith.
The avowed aim of the movement,
which will lbe waged in other local
Episcopal parishes and felt throughout
the entire American church. is to Sc
cure the control of the next general
convention of the Anglican commu-
MON in America, to be held in Cincin-
natl in October, 1910. The forces in
volved in this struggle are the Broad
churchmen, strongly represented an
several of the more wealthy parishes
of Los Angeles and the High church,
or Catholic party, which has numerous
adherents and several parishes COM
mitted to its principles.
The strife of parties in the Episcopal
church, both in England and America,
always has been keen, although usually
conducted with good temper and a fair
measure of Christian charity on botn
sides. What makes the present issue
crucial to the minds of many in the
Episcopal church, and of more or less
curious interest to both Protestants
and Roman Catholics, is the so-called
"open pulpit" canon enacted by the
last general convention, which met in
Richmond in 1907
This amendment to the old church
discipline provided for the permission
of members of other Christian bodies
to make addresses in Episcopal
churches on Especial occasions"
Broad Church Forces Triumph
The canon was strenuously fought
in the convention by the Catholic party
in the Episcopal church, which, While
numerically a minority, has always
made itself felt in legislation.
The Broad church forces, whose ultl-
mate aim is admittedly a fraternal
union with Methodists, Baptists, Uni
tarians and Protestant Christians gem
orally. triumphed. Their victory cost
the secession of a few of the Episcopal
clergy to the Roman Catholic church
and is now challenged by the defeated
party. which has made a vigorous
campaign through church press and
nu1pit for conserving what it deems
the traditional usages of the Church
of England and of the primitive Cath
olic church.
The first skirmish in the battle for
this diocese will come in the diocesan
convention in May, at which delegates
will be chosen to the national conVen-
tion. A few such conventions have
already been held. That in the
strongly intrenched diocese of New
York city chose national delegates be-
ieved to be in favor of retaining the
present canon. Among these Is j. Pier
pont Morgan, whose personal counsel
drew up the "open pulpit canon and
who has boldly cast the weight OF ms
wealth and influence on the side Of the
element From until
the meeting of the national body do
cesan conventions will be held all over
the country, and the strife is already
earnest to that end in Los Angeles,
which in many respectes is regarded
as a pivotal diocese.
This is the more recognized, inasmuch
as in this diocese the High church
nartv has organized a Catholic club,
which includes a number of the do
cesar clergy in its membership ana
many influential laymen.
Broad churchism Denounced
The local High churchmen have pub
hshed for several years a monthly
journal, 1.-THE American Catholic" "
which has stubbornly denounced
"Broad churchism" as a menace to
the church, while evincing a signifi-
cant sympathy and appreciation for
the old-fashioned Low church evan
gelical element, to certain extent al
lied with the High churchmen in the
pending conflict.
In no parish of Los Angeles has the
Catholic religion, as many orthodox
Anglicans have held it both before and
after the Reformation, been more per-
sistently and even daringly taught and
practiced than in the parish of st.
Matthias While not strong numerical
ly the men and women who worship
there have battled to reduce an omin-
Gus debt hanging over the present
chanel and to raise funds for a larger
structure.
These efforts were rewarded last
Lent by the collection of $400, and, to-
gether with a check received from an
eastern friend of the parish, this sum
has been increased to $1,000. This has
enabled the parish to wipe out a
mortgage of the same amount held
by the bishop of the diocese. A re-
cent personal gift of $S563 has greatly
encouraged the parishioners.
Father Smith will begin tonight his
special series of sermons on the points
of worship and practice for which this
parish has become noted. Among 9TH
ers, the old custom of applying the til
tie father to the clergy has been re-
vived in several parishes of this dio-
cese. This was general in the Church
of England prior to the Reformation,
as in the Roman Catholic and Greek
Catholic churches today.
Parish Grows Markedly
While the growth of st. Matthias par
ish has been noteworthy, it has been
attended by no little genuine alarm
and misgiving on the part Of those
Episcopalians who have opposed the
dropping of the adjective protestant"
in their unofficial church title. Some
of these look on the Episcopal church
in America as the original creature of
the English state, with a fixed mini
mum of ritual since Reformation days.
Much adverse criticism has been
passed on st. Matthias parish for the
altar lights, elaborate colored vest
ments, use of incense, daily mass,
hearing of confessions and reservation
of the Sacrament, all Of which have
been established under Father Smith s
pastorate. Some Episeopalians of the
community have refused to attend the
services because of prejudice against
the revival of these pre-Reformation
customs. Many others have come
from a distance, a few even from the
suburbs, every Sunday to enjoy the
privileges of worship which they hon
kstly believe should obtain in every
parish of the Episcopal church.
In answer to objections the High
churchmen point to the steady increase
In the ancient Catholic devotions of
the Church of England which has fol-
lowed the Tractarian movement in
oxford university half a century ago.
They deny they are introducing novel;
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