Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-10-11
EPISCOPALIANS, LAY
AND CLERICAL, MEET
Triennial Convention of Su-
preme Body of the Anglican
Church Opens in st, Louis.
TALK IMPORTANT CHANGE

States, and from mission fields, to
gether with few from England and
Canada, gathered in St. Louis tonight
for the opening tomorrow OF the tri
ennial convention OF the church, the
supreme legislative body OF the Angli-
can church in the United States.
The sessions OF both houses, the
bishops, and the deputies, will be held
in Moolah temple, building recently
erected here by the Mobiles OF the
Mystic Shrine. The session Of the
bishops, comprising all OF the diocesan
and missionary bishops Of the church,
will be held behind closed doors, but
the meetings OF the deputies, compris.
ing lay and clerical delegates, will be
open.
Every proposition affecting the con-
stitution, law, and ritual OF the church
must be approved by both houses to
become operative. Prayer book an
constitutional changes must be ap-
proved by both houses OF two success
sive triennial conventions to become
effective.
oS6iVSatS NS6i0So.
One important constitutional change
will come before the general conven.
ton, but II approved it cannot become
effective unless 1t also is ratified by
the general convention OF 1919, The
proposed amendment authorizes the
creation Of dioccses OF negro churches
and removes the negro parishes from
the supervision OF the present do
cesar bishops. . This proposal first
was suggested by the southwestern
province, comprising the dioceses in
Missouri Arkansas, Kansas. Okla
homa, Texas and New Mexico. If
the amendment is adopted negro
bishops will be chosen to preside over
negro dioceses. The constitution at
present permits the election of negro
sufragan bishops in the various do
ceses, but none such has been Chosen.
One paramount question in church
law will come before the general con
vention-that OF divorce. The canon
at present permits clergyman OF the
Episcopal church to perform the mar.
rage ceremony in the case OF the in
noeent party to divorce granted on
statutory grounds, providing the case
first his been submitted to and the
marriage authorized by the bishop oil
the diocese.
The proposed canon, which will be.
come effective, if 1t is approved by the
general convention this year, prohibits
clergyman from performing the mar
rage ceremony for any divorced per-
son regardless OF the ground on which
the divorce was obtained.
Many changes in the prayer book
will be considered, but they cannot
become effective, unless the, ire ap,
proved by both the 1916 and 1918
general conventions. Among the sug.
gested changes are the shortening oil
the Ten Commandments, as read in
the communion service; the elimina.
ton OF the word obey and "endow
with worldly goods" in the marriage
ceremony; and the elimination OF spe-
cific prayers for tie Jews and Turks
1.-The prayer book at present contains
. prayer for Jews and Turks in con-
necticn with infidels, and it is urged
that 1t is disrespectful toward the Jew
ish race 10 class them with infidels,
and inaccurate to use the word
Turks" when Mohammedans clearly
Is meant.
Election Of Bishop.
Other subjects that probably will
come before the convention will be
the designation OF the presiding
bishop by election, instead of by
seniority, as at present, and the direct
control of the board OF missions BY
the general convention. II ii Is de.
cidcd that after the death OF Bishop
Daniel Sylvester futile OF Missouri
now presiding bishop, the presiding
bishop shall be designated by election
an attempt will be made to have the
presiding bishop become by virtue oil
his office. president OF the board oil
missions, president OF the board oil
social service and president OF the
board OF education. II is urged tina,
under such an arrangement the
church would have centralized ad,
mi1istration for its aggressive work
and that the budgets OF the various
NuutSu uVdiuS WOuiu US HdTIIlOn1Zcu
Now the board OF missions chooses
its own president, and the board Of
education and the board OF social
service their executives, known as see,
retariea
The first assembling Of the general
convention will be at the communion
service at Christ church cathedral al
1880 Thursday morning, but the for,
NAL opening OF the convention will
take place, at Moolah temple. This
opening will be preceded by process,
sion Of the bishops who attend the
conventions. The service, which will
consist Of the usual morning prayer
ritual, with music furnished by a
n,assed choir Of the St. Louis
churches under the direction OIL
Charles Galloway, will be under tht
general direction OF Bishop futile. He
will preach the sermon at this service
and In 1t. it is understood, will review
his fifty years in the episeopaey.
Women's Offerings.
On Thursday morning, October u
will be held the united offering serv
ice" OF the woman's auxiliary OF the
board Of missions, This will be con
Quoted by Bishop futile, and the ser,
mon will be preached by Bishop Ar
thur S. Lloyd OF New York, president
OF the board of missions At thi.
service will be turned over to the
board OF missions the offerings made
by the women's guilds in the parish
churches of the country during tht
last three years.
In connection with the meeting O
the general convention will be helc
the national meetings Of the Daugh