New-York tribune., 1914-11-13
WOMEN WIN IN
P. E. CONVENTION
May Attend Parish Meet
ingS and Vote on Pa
rOchial Matters.
TWO SHARP DEBATES
STIR UP SESSION
Word Protestant" Taken from
Resolution and Form of
Elections Argued.

The annual convention Of The Epis-
copal Church IN the diocese of New
YORK, meeting yesterday in Synod Hall
at the Cathedral Of ST. John the Di-
vine, twice became the scene of sharp
debate.
The first instance arose over the
question OF what steps should be taken
TO give religious instruction 20 immi-
grants. Archdeacon W. II. Pott, as
chairman OF committee OH work
among foreign-born residents of New
YORK, submitted report in which he
urged that a resolution be passed au-
thorizing "co-operation with other
Protestant bodies" in this branch OF
the Church's work.
Phraslng Of the resolution reused
the indignation OF the american Cath
oIcs' IN the convention, who began a
heated debate. The ingenious sugges-
tion that the word protestant" be
stricken out Of the resolution satisfied
both factions, and the committees res
olutlons were approved.
The question OF the work among for
eign-born was then taken up, and II
was decided that the chapels in the
Cathedral OF st. John the Divine,
known as "the Seven Chapels Of
Tongues" should be made the centre of
this work. An attempt will be made to
raise endowments of $4,000 for each of
these chapels. With the income of
these endowments it is purposed to ed
ucate chaplains to speak IN different
languages. The convention voted to
ask the Church TO require future cler-
gy to know some one modern language
besides English, and that Hebrew
might be dispensed with 10 this end.
The other flHre-up occurred over the
appointment of three members of the
board OF trustees Of the Cathedral. DR..
Alexander Cummins, OF POughkeepsie,
said, in nominating a trustee, that the
board was Il closed corporation.
Bishop Greer answered: II shall try
TO see that the Cathedral shall be an
open corporation and each year as one
clergy and two lsymen leave the board
their places shall be filed b. nomina-
tions from the floor Of this conven-
ton"
The trustees were about to be chosen
by a rising vote, when Dr. Cummins de-
manded that the ballot be secret, TO
which Bishop Greer responded: There
is no precedent in the matter
"Then | wish to establish the prece-
dent OF an open election retorted Dr.
Cummins. The vote elected Dr. L. W..
Stires, Professor w. II. Burr, Of Co
lumbia University and August Belmont.
On the question of whether women
would be admitted to parish meetings
and permitted to vote on parochial
matters, the convention decided in
favor of enfranchising the women.
women. Since the state law regarding
religious corporations is so framed
that it interferes with the granting of
this privilege, resolution was adopt
ed empowering Bishop Greer to APP
point committee Of three 10 do all
thnt is necessary to arrange for votes
for women in church matters.
The important elections were: To
the standing committee, the Rev. W. T..
Manning and Edmund L. Baylies; as
deputies TO the provincial synod. DR..
Milo II. Gates and J. Mayhem Vain
wright.
In adjourning until next November
provision was made that the conven-
tion hereafter shall extend over three
days instead of two.