Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-20
MERCER RECEIVED
BY yEP|SCOPAL|ANS
Belgian Primate and War Hero
Visits General
Convention
BUSY WEEK FOR CHURCHMEN

Detroit. Mich. Oct 20.---Cardinal
Mercier. primate of Belgium. hero
priest of the world war, wearied from
his long journeys and his tour of the
United States to thank the American
people for the aid given his stricken
land, appeared before the trienniai gen
eral convention of the Protestant Epls-
copal Church here today.
1t was feared that Cardinal MERCER
might be unable to comply with the
demands of the program outlined for
The second day of his visit here. After Il
tiring day yesterday, when thousands
Of his country men and others welcomed
him here, it was statcd by his physician
that the visiting prelate was in need OF
rest.
Cardinal Mercier was officially re-
ceiyed by the city today. In the after
noon he was to GO to Ann Arbor, where
the University of Michigan planned to
confer on him the degree of doctor oi
laws.
Busy Week for Convention
The Episcopal convention, after re-
ceiving Cardinal Mercier, entered today
upon what was expected to be its most
nomentous week Most of the work
pleted and revision of the prayer book,
consideration of the nation wide cam
paign on church extension and work on
the three year budget will be finished,
it is expected by the delegates. A place
for the 1922 meeting will also be
selected both Philadelphia and Port
land, Ore. asking for the convention.
The house of deputies on Saturday de-
clared in favor of Philadelphia.
The convention will close Friday with
the reading of the pastoral letter, now
in preparation.
Concordant of Prime Import
First in IMPORTANCE among the issues
that will confront the convention in the
sessions OF the final five days is the
concordant with the Congregational
Church, over which there was a prelim
I mary skirmish in the house of bishops
recently.
On that occasion Bishop Ander
son, of Chicago. was accused of try
ing to ''sidestcp'' the coucordat by
moving to refer it to the Lambeth con
ference. Bishop Brent, of New York.
in a remarkable speech. appealed from
n "dead conservatism to the enlight-
ened spirit of the age with its demand
for church unity, and the concordat
I was saved.
The subject was referred to a com e
mittee of bishops, which will make a
report on it today or tomorrow.
It is no secret that the concordat
was introduced in the house of bishops
because its friends hoped it would re-
ceive & more favorable reception there
than the house of deputies appears in
clined to give it. If the house of bishops
gives it's approval TO the concordat, its
oh &c nf pG
will be increased 500 per cent, it is
thought. because there is great re-
spect for the opinion of the upper
house.
No criticism of a member of the up
per house is tolerated in the house OF
deputies. IN the debate on the mar
riage and divorce canon, on Friday, G
clerical deputy was sharply rebuked by
the Rev. DR.. Alexander Mann, the
chairman, for Criticising Bishop Oar.
lingtons attitude toward the proposed
canon.
Every advocate of church unity ir
both houses desires to see the con
cordat approved. 1t is a new c6nor
that will authorize bishops. of the Prot
estant Episcopal Church to ordalI
clergy of the Congregational Church
permitting the Congregational clergy
men to work in the Protestant Episcopa
Church while retaining their status aS
Congregational clergymen.
Would Unite Old Foes
The concordat, if it goes through,
will establish a close bond of unity be
tween the Church of the Cavaliers, who
established the first Anglican Church
in America at jamestown in 1907 and
the Church Of the Puritans, who were
despised and hated by the Cavaliers and
who, in turn. cherished similar senti-
ments toward the Cavaliers.
The concordat proposes to bring the
descendants of the Cavaliers and Puri
fans into harmonious fellowship in what
is an approach to interlocking pas
torates.
The clergy. who believe that thu
church should remain as it has been
TODAY, tomorrow and forever. will tgh
the concordat tooth and nail. They dis
claim that they are reactlonarles ant
will make their contest on the groun'
that the concordat is i'll considered, tina
it Is not wanted by congregations
ministers and that the question OF 3rdl
nations is constitutional one whlch
according to the laws of the Protestar
Episcopal Church, must go over to tn
next triennial convention.
In the house of deputies the Rev. ID
William 7. Manning, of New York, wi
lead the forces who desire a concorda
He has kept in the background more
less in the last two weeks ana IL az
parently rescrving his eloquence and b
personality for the coming contest, HI
advocacy of the proposed canon hun
him in the diocese of New York. ant
it is said. destroyed his opportunity
become bishop of that diocese,
The other great issue before the gen
eraI convention. the revision and en-
richment Of the communion office in IL
book of common prayer, may not con
IN, before 1922