New-York tribune., 1919-10-05

w the Protestant Episcopal
Church to the whole coun-
try, the triennial general convention
will be held in Detroit, beginning
on Tuesday. The sessions will be
continued until the conclusion of
business, and arrangements have
been made to hold meetings until the
end of the month.
The most important matters be-
fore the convention are:
A clear statement Of the Church's
attitude toward industrial and So
cial unrest. This will probably
take the form of a joint pastoral
letter and is expected to embody
many of the recommendations of
the now famous, "Four Bishops
Letter" Of the Roman Catholic
Church.
Decision as to the matter Of the
proposed concordat with the Con-
gregational Church, which would
permit the ordination by bishops of
the Episcopal Church of ministers
who would continue in the Congre-
gational communion. This has been
advocated as a step toward Church
unity.
Revision and enrichment Of the
Book Of Common Prayer. The re-
port of the proposed revision has
been summarized in The Tribune.
1t involves some changes that are
regarded as revolutionary by some
and that are held by others to be
merely in line with the Episcopal
Church trend.
The attitude Of the Church toward
the remarriage of divorced persons.
Under the existing canon law the
remarriage of the innocent parties
when divorces are obtained upon
grounds that are statutory in New
York is permitted. The tendency
Of most clerical leaders in the
Church has been described as in
favor Of the absolute prohibition of
any remarriages Of divorced persons,
whether innocent or guilty. But
many leading clergymen and lay
men dissent from this view as anti
quated. A commission appointed by
the last general convention has been
Investigating the subject and will
report in Detroit The Social Ser
vice Commission is expected also to
define the attitude of the Church
toward the proposal for uniform
divorce law.
Action on the case of Bishop Fred
erick j. Kinsman, of Delaware, who
resigned his see and his Office in the
Church because he felt "no especial
authority attached to the orders of
the Episcopal Church" and because
ne felt loose thinking on matters of
theology had been permitted to go
unchecked. The resignation of
Bishop Kinsman can lead to but one
thing-his formal deposition from
the ministry-but it is expected also
to lead to a demand for more rigid
discipline and for a clear enuncia-
ton Of the position Of the Church
on matters Of faith.
Other matters Of general interest
are:
A review of the case of Bishop
Paul Jones, formerly of the mis-
sionary jurisdiction Of Utah, who
was compelled to resign on account
Of his attitude toward the issues of
the war. In this connection the is
sue OF free speech will be raised and
an attempt will be made to show
that Bishop Jones was the victim of
capitalistic group which resented
his avowed socialism.
Revision of the canons pertain
Ing to requirements for ordination
as result Of which it is expected
that men in secular occupations will
be brought into the ministry for
localized work.
A review Of the Sagada incident
into which Bishop Brent has pro
1ected himself in defence Of Father
otaunton, the missionary in charge
OF what has been called the most
successful mission Of modern times
whose activities were resented anc
inhibited by a bishop exercising
temporary jurisdiction. Father
otaunton permitted the native Fill
plnos to sing the Gave Maria" ant
10 adore the exposed Blessed Sacra
'nent. When this was brought tt
the attention Of the Bishop o1
Shanghai, who was temporarily ir
charge Of the Philippines jurisdic
t'on, he wrote q letter forbiddin1
both practices. Father Stauntor
appealed his case to the member
ship Of the Church, and finally