New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-09-28

York, and yet IN legislation New
York has no more say than any one
of them. The diocescs, not the peo-
pie, are represented in general con-
vention.
Asks Voice for Women
Representation of Women on
Nestries and in Diocesan and Gen
eral Convention Since women com
prise twothirds Of the membership
and probably 90 per cent of the ac-
tive workers of the Church. it fol
lows that the rule Of the Church By
the men on vestries and in conven-
ton is practical oligarchy.
Rotation Of the Personnel of Yes
trles-Once d yestryman, alwavs q
veStryman, seems to be the general
rule OF the Church; and since The
Office Is even looked upon as hercdi-
tary IN the older parishes. We have
INC ruling minority noted above
crowded into even narrower limits
It would give welcome relief to
many parishes nov suffering from
that folw OF dry rot, { The general
convention should make it impossi-
bic for d vest,yman to serve for more
than, say, FIVE successive years.
"1he Recall of Bishops--The divine
right of kings has gone but its spirit
still fingers in the officers OF the
Church. There can be 10 real democ-
tacy until the accountability of
bishops and clergy Is secured by
some process Of recall or broader
grounds than criminal or ccclesia
tcal cuirabillty, unless d similar re
suit we're gained by election for y
limited period of years.
"Opcn Sessions of the House OF
BISHOPS As long AS the House meets
behind closed doors, with 10 knowJ
edge on the part of the Church as to
now ITS decisions are arrived at. any
cialm t democracy on the uart Of
the church IS Il mere felton,"
free pcws and the elimination of
arc also urged.
For Optional Prayer Book
On the optional use of the PRAYER
Book he says: "The Prayer Book safe
guards the participation of the peon]o
IN public worship; but the PRAYER Roo1
prescribed as the only authorized form,
OF worship of the Church stiles the
growth and expression Of the religious
consclonsness of the people. A Prayer
p''n l'hpcSeo DN authOrlty may be
consistent with an autocratc or State
Church; but III q church that desires
to junction democratically, the PRAYER
Book should rather be guide to wor-
ship, setting the form. instead of law
ing down the law"
The establishment of fraternal rcla-
tons with other Christian Churches is
treated as follows: "This is entirely
aside from the question of Church
unity, which must be worked out in
other ways and will obviously be some
time IN coming. In the mean time, sin
certify III the democratic point of view
calls for practical recognition Of the
members OF Christ's Body in the many
fields, and cooperation with them.
rather thanthe competition Of the
present.
There is the test. We cannot con-
sistently advocate one set of ideals and
live according to another. If the
Church is to talk democracy, it should
wear the clothing of democracy, not
the ma0c-over garments of a monarchi-
cal State Church. The general conven-
ton can initiate action on all the
points mentioned; and if the people of
the Church really want to vindicate
the expressions of the leaders and have
the Church take q real part in the new
spirit OF democracy Of the day. they
should see 10 it that the bishops and
clerical and lay deputies who are to be
IN that convention are urged to take
some such step IN way of setting our
house in order. We Will then be enti.
lied to q hearing on the larger prob
lens OF the world"