Arizona republican., 1920-02-11
STATE DIOCESE
 0F EPISCOPAL
 CHURCH OPENS
Address of Bishop Atwood
 Is Principal Feature of Initial Session-Meetings Are to Be Resumed Today

With the celebration of holy com munion and the delivery of the bishops address, the annual convocation of the Arizona diocese of the Episcopal church was opened at Trinity Pro Cathedral at 10 o'clock yesterday morning After the calling of the roll and the appointment of committees, the organization adjourned until af- ternoon.
 Business was transacted at the af- ternoon session and reports received and read At o'clock last evening the Rev. Henry C. Smith of Jerome de- hvered an illustrated lecture on mis- slonary work in mining camp. A reception was later rendered the dele gates to the convocation by Bishop Julius NJ. Atwood. Members of other charenes and citizens of Phoenix were also included
 The principal feature of the morn Ing session of the convocation was the address delivered by the bishop. It was as follows:
 Tenth Annual Address and Charge
 Given in Trinity Pro- Cathedral. fhoenix, February 10, 1920, by the RlSht Rev Julius Walter Atwood, D. D- oisnop of Arizona, at the twenty elSht annual meeting of the conyoca- tion.
 Dear Friends of the Clergy and Laity:
 Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christi
 Since our last meeting of convoca- tlon the general convention has met and in the opinion of most people it was one of the most interesting and important Of all the conventions ever held by the church. The general con Nention is a. conservative body large and unwieldy, and it often seems as if so much time weer taken up by fruit less discussions that the real business of the convention was left undone Q1fr.. f.1r delegates anxious to speak on every subject whether they have any contri- button to make or not. Perhaps such talk IS more or less necessary in clear ing the atmosphere before getting down to real work. But this conven- ton did accomplish some things A step towards democracy was taken when the house of bishops opened it's doors This will prevent some foolish and perhaps acrimonious discussions and make future presiding officers little more careful in impartially full 1lllinS their duties and not taking ad- vantage of their position to inject too frequently and freely their own opin- ions upon the house. The open house IS safe guarded, for when the bishops wish to discuss matters of delicate importance they can always go into executive session.
 The legislation Of most importance accomplished by the general conyen- ton was the formation of the executive council. which consists of eight 1aymen. four clergymen. and four bishops, and one elected member from each of the eight departments of the church, who may. be bishop, priest or layman. and these members with the presiding officer make up a membership of twen- ty-five in the council. Hereafter all the agencies and organizations of the church which have been separated un- der the board of missions. the cornmis- sions on religious. education and so- cial service will be consolidated and co-ordinated. This standardization will make for efficiency in administra ton we hope. and will arouse enthusiasm in the whole church to take up with new faith and courage the responsi- bilities and opportunities that face both
 Prayer Book Revision
 The revision of the prayer book was one of the great subjects brought be- fore the church. It is justly felt that the prayer book with all of it's splendid store of liturgical wealth and sacred there should be further enrichment of the book, which should also be more flexible in its use and adoption to mod ern needs and problems. Life is hur- ried And strenuous in these days, and there is a demand for the shortening of the services. The convention has already amended the prayer book so that the exhortation can be omitted
 
 and several other minor changes have been adopted. There are new prayers for the president, for the army and navy. and for missions The general thanksgiving is to be said by the peo- pie and minister in unison. Somewhat radical changes are suggested in the offices of the church which are not adopted, but in my opinion ought to be- It IS proposed for example that the jarring sentence should be omitted bf~l, of the little child as conceived and born in sin which is a mediaevaI and antiquated idea that casts d sur upon one of the richest and most sacred of iife's relationship and confuses chas- tity with celibacy, placing the single life above the marriage relation
 The marriage ceremony could be i'm proved by no longer asking a man to promise to endow his wife with all his worldly goods when he never thinks of keeping his promise any more than