Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-05-05
THE EPISCOPAL COUNCIL.

The one nunQreQ ana tWenty-TT
annual council Of the Episcopal church
in South Carolina, which convened in
Yorkville on last Tuesday, concluded
it's work last night and adjourned to
hold it's next meeting in Beaufort.
With Rt. Rev. William A. Guerry,
presiding. the organization of the
council was perfected by the election
of Rev. A. S. Thomas of Cheraw, as
secretary, and Mr.. William Godfrey of
Cheraw, as treasurer. Rev. F. H. Hard
ing of Charleston, was made assist
ant secretary.
Most OF the business of the council
was of a routine nature Of particular
interest in detail only to the men,
bers of the council, but all Of 1t was
transacted in a harmonious and satis-
factory manner, that bespoke the thor
ough giving efficiency Of the church's
representatives in attending to the
work they were appointed to do.
The only two items Of general in
terest that came before the council
were the matters Of erecting another
diocese in South Carolina, and the
election of a negro suffragan bishop
There was considerable division OF
sentiment on the first propositions; but
on the second proposition the council
was practically a unit.
The question Of dividing the diocese
has been under consideration for a
number of years past. The sentiment
has been growing in some quarters
and has been fought in others. Bish-
op Guerry Is generally understood ia
have been opposed to the proposition
assuring the council that he felt fully
equal to the task OF doing all the
work demanded of the bishop in the
f,,v.
ther promising to let 1t be known
whenever the work should grow too
heavy for him. The argument OF
those In favor of dividing the diocese
was that It was calculated to stimu-
late the growth Of the church in many
ways. Those opposed also argued that
the idea was not justified, because OF
the increased expense entailed in the
support of two bishops, where one
could do the work.
It developed shortly after the con-
vening Of the council that those in IA
vor of division were largely In the
majority. and that further opposition
was useless. The dvisonists put
luton to the effect that new diocese
might he erected when the sum OF
$4,000 with which to take care OF
the expenses thereof shall have been
raised, and this was agreed to by a
vote of "A to "a.
The office and status of suffragar
bishop differs from that Of bishop CO.
adjutor in that the suffragan bishop
does not automatically succeed to the
office of bishop. There has been
growing conviction in the church fol
a number Of years, builded on expert
ence. that no really effective work car
be done among the negroes except by
means Of negro clergymen, and 1t Is
proposed to elect a negro suffragan to
organize work for the especial benefit
Of that race, the suffragan, Of course
to work under the direction and con-
troll Of the bishop Of the diocese. Au-
thority for the creation OF the position
and the selection Of the suffragan car
only come from the triennial council
at the Joint request Of three dioceses
and a committee was appointed to take
charge Of carrying the matter through
| to a contamination.
Some of the members of the coun-
ell feel that the diocese will be divid-
ed on or before the expiration Of the
ten years in which 1t was provided
that the $4,000 for payment of ex-
penses shall be raised. Others how
ever, see in the way so many diff
culties of one kind or another as tc
confirm them in the belief that II
will be many years before there Is
change.