Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-10-28
P. E. CONVENTION
DID MUCH WORK
45th Triennial General Session
Brought Many Charges
and Reforms

st. Louis, Mo-, Oct. 2S. So A strong
human note makes vitality significant
the forty-fifth triennial general con-
vention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church which yesterday closed it's
three weeks sessions in this city.
1t vibrated with the determination
TO remove the erroneous popular be-
lief 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 presbyters declared that
the church must not bind it's fortunes
to the privileged and besought a toll
Grant hearing even for leaders of radi-
calism.
The convention adopted the report
OF the Social Service Commission with
plans for banishing poverty. reconcil-
ing labor and capital and promoting
soclai 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 a greater burden
of responsibility for the work of. the
Board OF Missions. For missions there
was collected in the triennium $46OO,-
600 and at st. Louis was made the
splendid united Offering of $352147
raised by the womans auxiliary The
convention authorized the missionary
exploration of the French plateau in
western Africa; founded 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
Tor grouping into comprehensive
scheme schools. Sunday schools, de-
nominational colleges and theological
seminaries.
To guide the energies of 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 an
nounced 1T had raised two thirds of
the s5,00O,000 for the support of the
aged clergy
The convention created an official
commission on press and publicity
with autority to work during the next
three years
Negotiations are under way to pre-
sent TO eastern dioceses the splendid
pageant reviewing this history of the
church. produced at the Coliseum by
1000 residents of st. Louis. The spec
tacle was regarded as of great value
in the Installation of historical
truths for the public.
Soillplex as LnG details OF the revision
and enrichment of the Book of Com
mon Prayer seem, they represent, in
reality the efforts of the Episcopalians
TO come in closer contact with the
masses. Their effect, if approved in
1919, will be to shorten the services:
to give great adaptability, and to omit
marsh or archaic expressions which do
not harmonize with modern life. For
the first time, there was adopted a
prayer for the dead-a reflex of the
tragedy of Europe. Illness is no long
er visitation of God; the Divine Be
ing is not pleased to remove man
from life; and greater latitude is given
to the clergy in the hearing of spe-
c1al confessions. New prayers have
been introduced for those who labor
and increasing civic spirit in the added
petitions for the guidance of legisla-
tors, rulers and courts of justice.
The convention adopted new
hymnal and permitted the alternative
use of a 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 carriage service;
gave no votes to suffragan bishops; re-
Jected proportionate representation of
dioceses; refused to let women be de-
puties; and took steps to make possi-
bic q racial espicopate.
The body passed resolutions urging
repression of the liquor traffic; sug-
gesting abstinence from Intoxicating
drinks at public functions; favored a
censorship for moving pictures; and
encouraged the Actors Alliance