Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-11-16
EPISCOPAL CONVENTION
Bishop Bliss Speaks of It's Legis.
latiOn at Mems Club Meeting.
Bishop Hall Ono Of Most Notable Fig
urcs mt Convention-Rcv. G. w.
Davenport Defines Spirituality
~ Country's Greatest Need.

Eloquent addresses by the Rt Rev.
George " Bliss. bishop coad tutor of Yer
mont on tho recent general convention
of the Episcopal Church at st. Louis, and
by the Rev. G. w. Davenport, rector Of
st. Paurs Church. on Spirituality az
the Great Need of the Country" marked
the first supper and sociable of the sea-
son, given Thursday by the Mems club
Of st. Paul's Church at the church par
Tors. with about $50 guests present
Professor NJ. b. Ogle pre- sided as toast
master, and In addition to the speeches
there were two pleasing selections by
quartette composed of Messrs. Crosey,
Little, Jones and Todd. w. Watson
Jones. president of the club made brief
speech Of welcome in which he expressed
the hope that the membership OF the
club might soon he doubled. The sup
per, which was entirely prepared and
served by members of the club, was
highly praised by all of the large num-
Der OF feminine guests The committee
IN charge Of the ARRANGEMENTS for the
evening consisted of T. w. Quincy,
Arthur Hall. ]. IT, Minis, w. Il. Craven,
w. II. Deshaw and w. W. Jones.
BISHOP BLISS SPEAKS.
Bishop Bliss who was greeted with an
ovation. gave in n concise and interesting
speech his impressions of the general con-
vention of the Episcopal Church. which
he attended for the first lime rs q mem
Der of the House OF Bishops. although
he had four times attended the conven-
ton, which meets trcuniallY, as n MEM
Der Of the lower House OF Deputies. The
real business of the convention, said the
speaker, WAS the consideration of the
church's problems and the passing Of
Legislation to make easier and more
effective the work Of the church. AL
though essentially a legislative body, a
vast amount of educational work lis also
done, as this convention is the only one
which draws it's delegates from every sec
ton OF the country. and the beneficial re-
suits Of the Interchange OF views, ideas,
etc. necessarily resulting from this meet
ing is almost incalculable.
The convention is composed of two
houses. the lower one or House of
Deputies being composed OF $40 delegates,
evenly divided between clergymen and
! laymen, and the House of Bishops which
has a membership of 119 There were
about $50 members of the lower house
present at the convention and practically
all of the members Of the upper house
were in attendance. At present each
Episcopal diocese is represented by eight
deputies in the lower house and although
| there had been considerable discussion
as to the ACCESSIBILITY of discarding this
method OF representation in favor of a
scheme Of proportionate representation
the resolution to do so was defeated.
Among the more important Legislative
points considered at the last convention
WAS the altering of the present marriage
canon, so that 1t would constitute posi-
| nf mn rri pf If "a
divorced person. instead of, as at present
providing additionally for the marriage
under certain conditions. of the innocent
party to divorce granted for adultery
| This change was not adopted at the re-
cent convention, but in the opinion OF
Bishop Bliss will be passed at the next
one. There was an extensive considera-
ton OF the work Of the general board ot
missions OF the church, and some slight
lrevisions Of the prayer-book, affecting
neither the faith nor the doctrine of the
church, were adopted.
TWO figures. said Bishop Bliss. stood
out most prominently in the House o
Bishops. One was that of the venerabl,
presiding officer. Bishop futile the 50tl
anniversary of whose conservation wa
observed by the convention. and the othe
was Bishop Hall of the Vermont diocese
Vermont was indeed hunored in heI
diocesan. said the speaker, and added
that. although Bishop Hall spoke but sci
DOM hie words were always listened t
with the closest attention and ncVe
failed to have a stirring influence upol
the consideration Of the matter concern
Ing which he spoke.
Mr. DAVENPORT'S ADDRESS
The Rev. Mr.. Davenport. who returne,
Thursday from Washington. d. G.
particularly to attend the supper, wa
when he arose to speak. A fter brief,
expressing his pleasure at being able t.
be present. Mr.. Davenport spoke clio
qusntly concerning spirituality as III
great need Of our country at the presen
time.
Materialism. said the speaker. is. grow
ing daily more and more rampant, unit
we are suffering from practically tn
same condition of things as We're tn
warning countries of Europe. The troubl
here takes a different form. but il is non
the less a dangerous thing to stile on
manhood in riches. The church has
tremendous responsibility. nj this time
probably the greatest responsibility wit
which she has been charged AT any tim
in her history. That responsibility is t
help crush materialism and TO build u
In the world the ideals which the worl
So lacks at the present time, and to brn
about the gradual working out in ever
man of the best that is bound up with
) In him and so to stand as the repre-
} sentatives OF true democracy and tn
true rights of man