New-York tribune., 1919-10-17
Protestant Episcopal Con-
vention Seeks to Pass Plan
to Other Session, but Eff
fort Finally Is Failure
ConstitutionalityI Raised
Resolution to Have an Off
cial Selection of Hymns
Withdrawn After Debate
StaG Correspondence

StaG Correspondence
DETROIT, Oct. 16.-Just as the pro-
posed concordat, designed to bring
about closer unity Of church denomna-
tions for the spiritual welfare of the
world. seemed in danger Of being lost
before the present general convention
OF the Protestant Episcopal Church
Bishop Charles II. Brent, of western
New York to-day saved the situation
by dramatic speech.
The convention is now pledged to G
report .on the negotiations thus far
undertaken for the ordination by the
American bishops of certain congrega-
tional ministers who will remain, al
though episcopally ordained, as min
listers in their present communion.
either We are national church
or we are not" exclaimed Bishop Brent.
"There is before us a concrete propo-
sition looking to church unity. 1t has
been carefully thought out in all its
details and we believe is capable of
being acted upon by this body without
trnnsgressing principles of Anglican
ISM l am afraid reference of this
matter or talk about the coming con-
ference on faith and order, while we
have people appealing to US, hungering
and thirsting for union, might lead
them to think we were sides stepping
the great question and afraid to face
it fairly. feel that they might be
justified.
"Disloyal to Conservatism"
"I beg of you to think seriously be-
fore you take action referring THIS
matter to the Lambeth conference,
which has no power to legislate. There
is an opportunity for this conference
to be led by us if between now and
then we are able to take action that
would help.
II am loyal to the Anglican Church,
but am dsloyal to deadly conserva-
tism.''
Then Bishop Brent read letter from
g minister outside the communion of
the Protestant Episcopal Church, who
is one of the leaders in the movement
looking toward the concordat. as fol-
lows:
"Of course if the Bishops should
hold that they have demitted their
power TO act as Bishops of the Catho-
lie or Universal Church. and to nego-
tiate with us on the basis of historic
Episcopate, and that they must wait
for an amendment to the constitution
Of the Episcopal Church. why then the
only possible recourse left open to us
would be to carry our appeal for unity
TO the coming Lambeth conference and
the Anglican bishops who are not so
limited. l should greatly deplore see
ing the American Episcopal Church put
into such a position of ecclesiastical
powerlessness to meet the present su-
preme duty to all Christian commun-
ions"
Objection to "Outside" Interference
As soon rs Bishop Brent had retired
and the applause had subsidized Bishop
Weed OF Florida called out:
II object; we are not here to be
criticised by outside parties
Bishop Brcnt's speech was delivered
on opposing resolutions introduced by
Bishop Anderson of Chicago, who had
proposed that the whole matter of the
concordat be referred to the coming
Lambeth conference in view of the rad
ical changes that were suggested.
II was evident that Bishop Anderson's
proposal i~et with favor in the house
1t was about to be pressed for the vote
when Bishop Brent arose. Bishop Ses-
sums, OF Louisiana, suggested d com
mttee TO report to the present conven
tion. He urged the naming of sever
members of the house. His resolution
was pressed for the vote and it wa.
carried, after division had been or
dered, 60 to 3S. This committee will
report on Monday morning. 1t con
sists of Bishops Anderson, of Chicago
Gailor, OF Tennessee; Nichols, of Cali
fornia; Sessums, of Louisiana; Guerry
of South Carolina; Bratton, of Missis
sippi; Brent, of Western New York
and Johnson, of Colorado
Bishop Vincent, in introducing tn
concordat canon, said; There must b.
action this time or we are in DANCE
OF losing our opportunity for leader
ship"
BY accepting the resignation of tn,
Right Rev Frederick Joseph Kinsman
OF Delaware, as from his jurisdiction
only, the house refused to join th
issue he had raised. His resignation
leaves him Bishop Of the Church il
good standing, but without jurisdic
ton. Bishop Kinsman's resignation
was accepted coincidently with that o
the Right Rev. Gershon Mott VIII
iams, OF the diocese of Marquette
Mich
In the House of Deputies, on tn
presentation Of the report OF IN
hymnal commission. an effort wa
made to have the so-called new hvmno
pronounced the sole authorized hymna
OF the Church..
T. Hymns Omitted
n The Rev. DR.. T.. W. Tavlor q
Schenectady, n Y. protested. Edwar
\. Elliott, OF Georgia, lay deputy, pre-