Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
Assemblage at St. Louis
Passes Question on to the
General Convention.
PROPOSAL is MADE
TRIM COMMANDMENTS
Suggested Also That Specific Prayer
for Jews and Turks as Infidels Is
Disrespectful and Inaccurate, and
Should Be Changed,

the word "obey" in the promise of
the woman in the marriage service
was recommended in minority re-
port Of the joint commission on COM
mon prayer submitted to the house
of deputies of the Protestant Episco-
pal general convention here today
The house of deputies re .errel back
to the Commission on prayer book all
proposed changes in the marriag
ceremony, in the catechism, and IN
the institution of clergymen, on the
ground that the present convention
does not have time to giv5 these mat
tiers proper attention. These lues-
lions cannot be taken before tha gen
eral convention for three years.
The minority report recommended
that the present injunction beginning
"Wilt thou obey and serve him" be
changed to "Wilt thou love him, COM
fort him, honor, and keep in sickness
and in health, forsaking all others
keep thee only under him so long as
he shall live?'
The minority report suggested also
the omission of the words land with
all my worldly goods I thee endow"
in the service. An argument advanced
was that the endowment phrase is
a relic of old English law, undner
which the dover rights of women
were guaranteed, and that today the
question involved is civil one to be
taken for granted i2Gs.i,s ss,.... - 80 .,-,
1t also was proposed to expunge
the expression Gas Isaac and Rebecca
lived safely together" ETC., and mere
ly' say Living faithfully together.
Many regard the reference to these
Biblical persons as out of date, and |
declare that there is no reason why
Isaac and his wife should be regard
ed as models when there are many
other husbands and wives equally as
faithful.
Would Shorten Commandments.
A number of changes we're suggest
ed in the majority report, including |
the shortening of the ten command
ments as read in the communion SER
vice, the elimination of specific |
prayer for Jews and Turks, it being
argued that the present prayer for
Jews and Turks, in connection with
infidels, is disrespectful and inaccur-
ate because 1t is clear Mohammed-
ons are meant, instead Of Turks"
A proposal substituting the word
Condemnation" for "damnation" in
the epistle for the fourth Sunday aft
er Epiphany was contained in the re-
port. 1t was argued that the word is
offensive to some communicates of
the church.
Another proposal would adopt the
expression, ''the divint liturgy" in
stead of the present "the order of
the holy communion"
The elimination of every possible
alternative in the prayer book was
urged by the Rev. Irving p. Johnson
of Fairbault, Mimi. bishop-elect Of
Colorado. He said that this is neces-
sary "for those ignorant of service"
Pension System assured.
The establishment of pension sys-
tenn for Protestant Episcopal clergy
men seems assured, the Rt. Rev. VIM.
Lawrence, bishop of Massachusetts,
announced at a joint session of the
two houses of the convention. Bish-
op Lawrence, who is leading the cam
paign to raise IS, 100000 as reserve
for the pension system for the clergy, 4
said two-thirds, of the amount had !
been given in fact or in pledges OF
unquestioned : validity. The bishop
said he believed that every clergy
man retiring after March l. 1917, p
would be assured of a pension, and
that widows and orphans Of clergy
men would benefit. The proposed
pension is $500 a year for each min
lister.
The frustees reminded the church
that Sess the 100000 is raised by
MarcfA 1917, the money already CIV
en- be returned to the donors.
After the original fund of $5.0OO.OOO
is raised. each diocese will ask each
year an amount equal to ~ per cent
OF the clergymen's salaries.
Business Poorly Handled. ,
Auditing church accounts by out ;
side bookkeepers" was recommended !
in the report of the joint commission
on business Of the church. This pro-
posal is intended to remedy what the 1
commission declared Exceedingly
bad conditions" One of the sugges-
tons is that uniform fiscal year be-
CONTINUED on page tour) n1s