The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-10
MEMORIAL ASKS
CHANGE IN TITLE
Of PRAYER BOOK
Bears Directly on Agitation for
Change of Name of Fpiscc-
pal Church

NEW YORK, Oct "a resolution
to appoint d special commission to
investigate marriage and divorce, and
the desirability of an amendment TO
the constitution of the United States
that will place the seal of the fun
damental law on these subjects. was
introduced today in the general con-
vention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church.
This action was proposed on the
ground that the PRONUNCIATION of the
ne temere" decree Of the r imam
Catholic Church makes il necessary
for the Protestant Episcopal Church
to declare itself emphatically in the
interest of its communicates. In eff
fect the decree of nc temere" de-
clares that marriage between Roman
Catholics and non-Roman Catholics
are invalid. when performed by nom
Roman Catholic clergymen.
sepera ton of Races.
There was also introduced a memo
rial calling for such an amendment
of the Church constitution as will
permit the establishment of a racial
missionary bishopric. South Carolina
and Georgia deputies urged that a
Joint commission be named TO draft
the amendment and their motion pre-
vailed.
Ii was stated that the purpose of
the special joint commission was to
bring this matter under the consid-
Grafton of men who are familiar with
ths~racial situation. II successful the
movement will result in the establish
ment of separate churches for ne.
groes.
From a spectators point of view
the most interesting event OF the day
~
the -Moman's- auxiliary at the Cathe
dral There the women of the church
placed in a great basin of gold their
savings for the last three years.
OF the changes in the fundamen-
tai law of the Church the most i'm
portant was that making the office
OF the presiding bishop elective. Tn
der the present constitution the ore
siding bishop Is chosen on the ground
of seniority which is computed from
the date of his consideration The
change makes him elective ~ the
house of bishops. subject to the con-
ffrmation of the house Of deputies,
and his term is set at three years.
Should the house of bishops concur
the elective process does not be-
come effective except in the case of
the death or resignation of the pres
ent presiding bishop.
A memorial from the diocese of
California. which was typical of
others that were, or will be intro
duced. asked that the title page of
the book of common prayer be
amended TO read as follows:
Prayer Book Title.
Tho Book Of Common Prayer and
Of the Sacramento.
and Other Rights and Ceremonies of
the Holy Catholic Church, according
TO the use of that branch thereof
known as the Episcopal Church in
the United States of America; to-
gether with the Psalter, or Psalms
Of David"
In the book of common prayer now
In use the title page reads as fol-
lows:
The Book of Common Prayer and
Administration of the Sacramento,
and Other Rights and Ceremonies of
the Church. according to the use of
the Protestant Episcopal Church in
the United States of America, etc"
The change here memoralized bear
directly upon the agitation for the
change of the Church name. 1t APP
pears to be the opinion of those quail
ied 20 speak that further action on
the changing of the Church name
will not be taken at this con-
yention. The dioceses of Maryland
and Pennsylvania presented memo
-ials opposing any change of name.
The diocese of Rhode Island set forth
hat a change might be needed ulti-
but not now. 1t will be OBJ
,erved that the proposed change in
pa