The Washington times., 1911-04-25
SUFFRAGE WILL Be
LEADING TOPIC AT
CHURCH CONGRESS
Ministers Here for Big Meet
ing Which Opened Today
at St. Johns.

Historic old ST. Johns Church was
filled with prominent Protestant Epis-
copal ministers and laymen from all
parts Of the United States this morn
ing, when the Twenty-ninth Church
Congress opened with special services
at 10 o'clock. The communion ad-
dress was delivered by the Rt Rev.
John G. Murray. bishop of Maryland.
At 2:3O o'clock this afternoon Presi-
dent and Mrs Taft will receive the
delegates, and at 4 o'clock the Rt.
Rev. Alfred Harding, bishop of Wash
ington, Will hold a reception at the
National Cathedral School for Girls,
Cathedral Close. Mt. Saint Alban. At
. O'Clock the Congress will get down
to business, when President Taft will
deliver the opening address in Con-
tinental Memorial Hall.
Following the Presidents address,
The Value of Professionalism" will be
set forth in papers by the Hon. Jo-
seph Packard, LII. D., OF Baltimore,
and the Very Rev Selden p. Selany,
dean of All Saints Cathedral. Mil
waukee. The subject will be discussed
by Lawson Purdy. of New York, and
the Rev. Leighton Parks, rector of st.
Bartholomew's Church, New York.
Annual Congress.
The Church Congress is held annually
by the Protestant Episcopal Church in
America. and the indications are that
the present session in this city will be
the largest and most successful in its
history. Arrangements for the meeting
were in charge Of Justice lurton. of the
Supreme Court. general. Chairman of the
local committee on arrangements, of
which the Rev J. Townsend Russell is
general secretary. Bish"c Harding is
president ex-officio of tho congress.
Practically all of the delegates to the
congress had arrived in the city last
night. They are making their head
quarters at the Arlington. The congress
Is composed Of the house Of bishops of
the Protestant Episcopal Church, the
clergy, and many prominent laymen.
Daily sessions will be held in Contiren-
tai Hall until Fridav afternoon, when
the congress will adjourn.
To Talk Suffrage
Probably the most interesting meeting
will be held tomorrow morning. when
Woman Suffrage. as Affecting Our Re
ligious and Educational Institutions"
will be diseased. This is the first time
in the history of the Episcopal Church
that woman suffrage has been discussed
at conference. While a departure,
this action is nothing more than nat
ural, the prelates say. inasmuch as all
Creeds and classes are today debating
the subject.
Papers on the subject Will be presente-
ed by Mrs James L. Laidlaw, of New
Nnrk and Miss Iruin nf Phila-
delphia The speakers will be She Rev.
Henry S. Nash, Of the Episcopal Theo-
logical School, Cambridge, Mass, and
the Rev. Joseph n. Blanchard, rector of
Grace Church, Madison, n. J.
What is regarded as one of the most
important subjects for discussion Is
"Prayer-book Revision to Meet Present
Day Conditions" This will come up
Friday morning, and will be debated at
length.
Representative Meeting.
While several more delegates are ex-
pected to arrive this evening and to-
morrow, the gathering in st. Johns
Church this morning was regarded as
unusually representative. Although
there are twenty-four Episcopal bishops
who serve as vice presidents to the
congress. only two were in attendance
this morning. They were bishops Hard
ing and Murray, who delivered the COM
munion address.
The Rev. ]. Townsend Russell, chair
man of the committee on publicity, ex-
plained after the services that the
congress is purely a deliberative. and
not a legislative. body. No recon-
mendations will be made; the members
discussing the different questions, but
taking no vote on any subject.
Bishop Harding probably Will preside
at all the meetings. but in his absence
one of the vice presidents will fill the
chair. None but members of the Prot
estant Episcopal Church are allowed to
address the meetings, and no person
is allowed to speak twice upon the same
subject. Appointed papers will be read
only by the authors, who will be lin
tied TO TWENTY-FIVE minutes. and the ap-
nointed speakers are required to address
he cnnRresS without notes.