New-York tribune., 1919-10-21
Primate of Belgium First
Roman Catholic Dignitary
Ever to Address General
Session of Episcopalians
sWeAre Brothers, 'HeSays
Constitutional Amendment
Proposed ON Concordat;
Treaty Action Deferred
Staff Correspomdent

DETROIT, Oct. 20.-For the first
time in the history of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in America, its Cen
eral Convention was addressed to-day
by dignitary Of the Roman Catholic
communion. Cardinal Mercier, on in
vitation of the House of Deputies,
spoke in Arcadia Hail. Long before
the arrival of the hero priest every
seat on the floor was taken and most
of the places in the gallery were oc
cupied.
His. entrance was signalized by
demonstration which is declared to
have been unparalleled in any religious
assembly. The whole gathering rose
and remained standing until after the
by the Rev. Dr. Alexander Mann, presi-
dent of the house. When the Cardi-
nal rose to reply there was an out
burst Of applause and cheers, almost
hysterical.
The great gathering remained stand
ing. The Cardinal motioned to the
delegates and their guests to be seated.
Then, in his halting, yet eloquent man
ner, he told of the gratitude of his
people to the Americans.
"We are brethren in the Christian
faith," the Cardinal said. "What we
| must know and teach is that we are
brothers. 1t is because we are all sons
of the Father who is in Heaven" This
brought q tumult of applause.
Other Features of Day
Outside of the welcome to Cardinal
Mercier the most important features
of the days meetings were:
/. Joint action by the bishops and
! the deputies, looking toward the con-
| summation Of the concordat. This
came in the form of a constitutional
amendment of three words. In the
house of deputies it was proposed by
George Zabriskie, one of the New York
lay deputation.
Q. A debate over prayer-book changes
! in which clergy and laity alike rallied
ture words in the burial Office. At
times this debate resulted in dramatic
appeals for the "integrity of the
Bible"
The action looking toward the con-
summation Of the concordat, as pro-
posed to-day, amends the constitutional
requisites for ordination. The article
begins: "No person shall be ordained
priest or deacon until he shall have
been examined by the bishops" etc
After the words priest or deacon" il
this church" The enactment of this
article would give to the bishops
greater freedom in ordination and
| would permit the admission Of men
from other communions to the episco-
pally ordained ministry.
Burial Service Debated
DR.. Manning, of New York, when
asked if the proposal was Il permissive
measure in connection with the con-
cordat, said, Most assuredly. That is
its purpose. 1t would make possible
the actual ordination of men from
other communions Immediately after
the next general convention if it were
approved now and finally adopted three
years hence
The debate over the proposal to
eliminate some sections of the familiar
lessons in the burial office prompted
DR.. Randolph McKim to say: II appeal
to the learned members of this body
not to attempt to correct the logic or
the theology OF the Apostle Paul. In
this day it often happens that people
who never go to church do attend
funerals. The reading of this entire
lesson permits us to proclaim essential
Christian truths. | plead for the whole
of the lesson. | plead that you must
not take anything away from this por-
tion OF the Holy Scripture that is mis-
torically associated with the Office"
Dr.. a. Is. kinsolving, of Baltimore,
said: This is the first time. in my
! knowledge, that New York ecclesias-
tica gathering has adopted just this
method of dealing with the Holy Scrip
lures. Where shall we end? ?"
Page for Retention
Thomas Nelson Page said: ~ speak
for the laity. And tell you that the