The Washington herald., 1910-10-06

/ no more, and time is marching
| copyright. 1910 By O.
cese. each parish is entitled TO send dele
gates. in number strictly proportionate
to the number OF its commandments. the
rector attending besides the laymen as
representing his own order. The bishop
presides over his convention. and his
| consent is essential TO the validity OF all
canons passed.
The dioceses together cover the entire
| territory OF the United States. so that
| there IS not a square foot OF its surface
| over which some bishop has not juris-
| diction. Generally dioceses are coter-
minous with States. though a few States
OF large area, Ike New York, Illinois.
and Texas, are subdivided into more
than one. In such cases the duties of
the bishops do not overlap. except in the
cases of bishops-coadjutor as in New
York and Albany. where. by reason OF
advancing age or other valid cause, two
bishops exercise joint jurisdiction with
out eonfi,t.
Like House of Lords.
In one respect and only one there still
survives a usage that suggests an ear
iier origin. and has its parallel in the
British House of Lords. but it is to be
hoped that 1t VIII soon disappear, It be-
ing quite out of consonance with Ameri-
can institutions.
The house OF bishops (all Of them in
America and including foreign mission
airy bishops), sits not only as a separate
body, bat within closed doors, none Of
its proceedings being allowed 20 become
public during their discussion The other
Cor the lower house OF clerical and lay
deputies is composed OF four clergy and
four laymen each. chosen by the respec-
tive diocesan conventions. and is presided
over by a clergyman OF distinction. for
the last two sessions by a distinguished
Washington rector.
The general convention meets every
third year in October, IN some one OF the
larger cities by invitation (this year in
CincinnatD, and is large. dlgnaed, and
influential body of over 400 members. In
deed It is doubtful II, with the excep-
ton OF the Presbyterian General Assem-
bly,. its equal can be found IN America
for ability and character combined.
Mission work Important.
The most important work of the gem
eral convention. Is. OF course, that Of
missions. or more correctly church ex-
fapsfon Catsart,- ,,asue - A. .Ls
officially declared that every baptized
member is tpso faeto member of the
Church Missionary Society. But I'D TO
recent years there has existed no sys-
tematic plan for fastening upon individ-
uals or parishes the responsibility for
providing funds TO carry on the vast
work.
The money raised has been managed
and expended with consummate skill and
economy. but without sufficient heed 10
the sources Of supply. save as individual
bishops have from time TO time left their
missionary jurisdictions 10 make per-
sonal appeal for their need. Now this
is all changed and with manifestIy great
results, through the authoritative appor-
tionment to dioceses by the General
Board, and through them TO individual
parishes, Of equitable sums in the ratio
Of their size and Importance. The scheme
has met with great favor. and the offer
ings have doubled In size
Subject of Divorce.
Next in Importance TO church extern
sion is the subject OF divorce. or rather
Of remarriage. concerning which subject
this church has always held high ground,
more so than others. except the Roman
Catholic Church.
The present canon forbids remarriage
OF divorced persons, except Of the limo
cent party in the case of adultery, and
an effort was made at the last session
to make this regulation still more string
ent. forbidding it TO all persons whatso-
ever
Adultery is heinous offense # is true,
but it was brought out by distinguished
Judge at San Francisco in debate six
years ago that cases of divorce for this
cause were not a majority Of the cases
brought.
Version of Bible.
This church. regarding herself as the
keeper and witness of Holy Writ, has
always felt bound TO guard 1t from error.
The King James version was set forth
by the Church Of England In 1911, and
has been SO satisfactory In its dlction
that no effort at revision was made until
some twenty years ago, when the revised
version $50 called was put forth by
learned dIvines on both continents.
And not long since a third amendment |
was made. IN the way OF marginal read |
ngs. adopted by the general convention /
as permissive IN public worship. after
careful study for several years by a
learned committee of bishops, priests. |
and laymen,
1t is in some respects Hn advance on all |
its predecessors. and Joints the way 10 |
the ideal version OF the future, which |
shall finally eliminate all errors and in /
ielicities Of translation and stin retain
he poetic dignity of the authorized YER
sion.
AS far back as fifty years ago. a me-
mortal was preached by the Rev. DR..
Of sanity memory, looking
o some modification in the churchs Of
Ices. which would bring them moro
Effectively within the reach of church
)eople and others. T
Now after many years of patient debate
for the Episcopal Church moves slowly
nj with elaboration in her highest leg
slative body, the movement has eulmi- 4
ated under the distinguished leadership Il
. 81.