New-York tribune., 1920-05-12
Bishop Burch
Wins Point i'm
Forum Action
Convention Grants Use of
Episcopal Churches 'sIn
Accordance With Princi-
pies Bishop Expressed"
Dry Amendment Indorsed
Question Of Removing Dis
abilities From Women
Members Is Postponed

The disagreement between Bishop
Charles Sumner Burch Of the Protest
ant Episcopal Diocese of New York.
and the Rev. DR.. Percy Stickncy Grant,
rector of the Church of the Ascension,
over the practice of permitting the use
of the church edfice for radical dis
cusslons came to an official showdown
yesterday.
A resolution offered by Dr.. Grant to
the 18th annual convention of the
diocese, which would have placed it
on record as approving the discus
slons, was amended to support the open
/ forum movement "in accordance with
the principles expressed on this sub
ject by the Bishop of the Diocese"
As adopted, the effect of the resolu-
tion originally drawn by DR.. Grant,
therefore is virtually annulcd.
The vote to adopt the resolution as
amended by the Rev. Dr. William r.
Manning, was virtually unanimous
Other outstanding actions of the con-
vention were adoption of a resolution
approving the Eighteenth Amendment
/ "as finally construed by the Supreme
Court of the United States,' and fail
ure to adopt resolution "removing
the legal disabilities which now pre-
vent a churchwoman from serving up
on vestries and from being a delegate
to a Diocesan convention"
Action Deferred to 1921
The latter resolution. which was in
the form of a petition to the conven-
tion asking it to direct the Ecclesias-
tical Laws Committee to initiate steps
necessary 10 secure recognition of the
women in the capacities stated, was
referred to a committee of three pres
byters and two laymcn, who will re
port on the proposition to the conven-
tion in 1921.
When the resolution Of DR.. Grant
was called up it carried with it the
recommendation that it be tabled, and
in its stead a substitute resolution was
offered, general in it's phra5cology.
TheIeupon Dr.. Grant offered the fol
lowing:
Resolved. That in the judgment Of
this convention the open forum move
ment be given careful consideration,
sympathy and support
Dr.. Grant was asked to take the plat
form He delivered a forceful speech
in support Of his position and was fire.
Quently interrupted by applause. He
said there must be individualism in
the church; there could be no other
success of the parish than that Of the
individual rector. He said it was time
for the convention to aid downtown
the back
Tax on Church Property Possible
do YOU know asked Dr. Grant,
that many cIergymen do not know
what to do to attract people to sec
ond service on Sunday? DO You know
that there is $1,000 900 900 worth OF
church property in this country UNI
taxed, which the Socialists some day
viii ask to be taxed, and you will be
asked to show the reason why not?
Only the love and affection of the mass
Of the people will save it,"
After luncheon. the open forum came
up again. Leading in this discussion
were Everett p. Wheeler, a lay dele
gate and lawyer; the Rev DR.. Leighton
Parks, Dr.. Manning, the Rev. DR.. Ernest
Nj. Stlres and Dr. Grant
Mr.. Wheeler declared t was the duty
eli the church to teach, but teach
what"
Il had the honor" he said, "to be in
vited and to be present and take part
IN one OF these open forum meetings.
A speaker attacked the courts Of this
country. Several months afterward
compelled that man to admit that what
he had said at that meeting was not
true.
"What was the advantage Of the
minister inviting such a man to his
church when what he said was a false
hood? was very glad our bishop
called the min ster's attention to the
NATTER
Dr. STRESS declaration that the reso-
luton as amended us before us in the
best form in which it could receive ia
vorable support from the house
brought applause.
Il think this convention owes a debt
of gratitude to Dr. Grant for his eX
position IN the morning session. |
think we have no finer exhibition Of
what the Bishop pictured in his ad-
dress than as Dr.. Grant said, Allow
each parish the liberty to carry on its
work unhlndered. Then if the Bishops
Judgment counscls corrections there
is not one in the convention
here who would take controversy with
HIM"
Conservative Speakers Scarce
Dr. Grant then resumed his argu-
There is great difficulty in get
forum" he SAID. "Thcy practically
own the press. They can almost say
what they wish. 1t is hard to main
tain d mathematical balance between
conservatives and known radicals
"Another thing, the radical speaker
is apt to be noisy person, We must
get used to loud voices"
What we want is more freedom.
We want to get more work out Of in
dWidual ministers. Many of them are
leading a practically lazy life
The adoption of the amended reso-
luton then took place.
One resolution adopted called upon
the authorities at Washington to bend
every effort TO care adequately for the
injured and disabled men who served
in the recent war, as we'll as for the
2 dependents Of those killed. Copies
were ordered sent to the Secre taries
Of War and the Navy and the chair
= men of the Naval and Military com
mttees.
| Elections for the various committees
resulted as follows:
- Standing committee. the Rev. Dr.
Arthur II. Judge and John X. Sague;
social service commission, the Rev. Dr.
c. l.. Slattery, Guy Emerson, the Rev
I DR.. II. L. ". Fosbroke and Orlando P
I Metcalf; provincial deputies. the Rev
{. X. Gilbert, j. +. Roosevelt, DR.. A
G. Cummins, Seabury c. Mastik, the
y Rev. Dr. Edward \. Dood, John X
/. Sague, the Rev. Dir. Nathan A. Eagle
a Harry G. Barker, DR.. Leighton Will