Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-10-30
HUMAN NOTE TO
DELIBERATIONS OF
THE CONVENTION
The Episcopal Church Tries
to Correct the Impression
That It Is Only for the
Rich.

81. Louis, MO-, Oct. Su.--A strong nu-
man note makes vitality significant the
forty fifth triennal general convention
of the Protestant Episcopal church
which yesterday closed its three weeks
sessions in this city.
1t vibrated with the determination 20
remove the erroneous popular belief
that the Episcopal church is only for
the rich. Both in the councils in Moolah
temple and in the informal conferences
held in the adjoining tent of the social
service commission, bishops. and pres
byters declared that the church must
not bind it's fortunes to the privileged
and besought a tolerant hearing even
for leaders of radicalism.
The convention adopted the report
of the social service commission with
plans for banishing poverty, reconcil-
ing labor and capital and promoting
social justice. 1t also urged by resolu
ton that wages be made sufficient to
permit the laboring classes to main
tain a proper standard of living.
1t took upon itself greater burden
of responsibility for the work of the
board of missions. For missions there
was collected in the triennium $4,000
900 and at st. Louis was made the
splendid united offering of 1852, 14T
raised by the Woman. Auxiliary. The
convention authorized the missionary
exploration of the French plateau in
western Africa; found I'd the District
of Panama; and elected missionary
bishops for western Colorado and
South Dakota.
Endorsement was given to the pro-
ject of the board of religious education
for grouping into comprehensive
scheme schools, Sunday schools, de-
nominational colleges and theological
seminaries.
To guide the energies o. the church
and to utilize its potential wealth: the
convention. advised by the committee
on business methods, adopted a new
system of finance for all parishes,
boards and societies.
The committee on pensions announc-
ed it had raised two-thirds of the So
10000 for the support of the aged
cl rgy.
The convention created an official
commission on press and publicity
with authority to work during the next
three years.
Negotiations are under way to pre-
sent to eastern dioceses the splendid
pageant reviewing the history of the
1000 residents of St. Louis. The spec
tacle was regarded as Of great value in
the INSTALLATION of historical truths
for the public.
Complex as the details of the re-
vision and enrichment of the book of
Common Prayer seem, they represent,
in reality the efforts of the Episcopal
ians to come in closer contact with
the masses. Their effect, If approved
in 1919, will be to shorten the services.
to give greater adaptibility, and to
omit harsh or archaic expressions
which do not harmonic with modern
life. For the first time, there was
adopted prayer for the dead-a reflex
of the tragedy of Europe. Illness is 40
longer a visitation of God; the Divine
Being is not pleased" to remove man
from life; and greater '"titude is given
to the clergy in the hearing of special
confessions New prayers have been
introduced for those who labor and in
creasing civic spirit in the added petit
tions for the guidance of legislators,
rulers and courts of Justice
The convention adopted new
hymnal and permitted the alternative
use of new dictionary, without Off
cially sanctioning it.
1t voted down a canon forbidding
the remarriage of divorced persons.
postponed action on eliminating obey"
from the marriage service; gave no
votes to suffragan bishops, rejected
proportionate representation of do
ceses; refused to let women he de-
puties; and took steps to make posi-
BILE a racial episcopate.
The body passed resolutions urging
repression of the liquor traffic. sug-
costing abstinence from Intoxicating
drinks at public functions; favored a
censorship for moving pictures; and
encouraged the Actors alliance.
The presiding bishop, the Right Rev
.erend Daniel 5. futile, in his address
at the golden jubilee of his episcopate.
celebrated during the conclave, lifted
high the banner of Independent Amer
lean church. The convention, however,
patriotic in all things, lacked not in
sympathy with the mother church be-
yond the seas. and cordially welcomed
the Bishop of Worcester, and other
prelates from Great Britain and Can
ada. 1t voted also to send a delegation
to offer comfort to the Anglican com
munion in these days OF stress.
Touch with the Church Universal
was manifested in the report of the
commission on faith and order for the
number OF communions working to-
wards a reunion of Christendom have
increased from 80 to 49, Dignitaries Of
the Russian Polish National and Serb
ian Catholic churches presented frater
nal greetings in person. After the
European war delegates will visit the
various religious organizations on the
continent in the interest f unity.
In view of the devastating cataclysm
abroad, the convention passed "a reso-
luton TO aid international peace by
promoting friendships among Christian
churches throughout the world. The
struggle beyond the Atlantic is also
the subject of the pa-toral letter of the
House of Bishops.