The New York herald., 1922-09-04
BISHOPS GET GOOD
START FOR ACTION
Will Be Ready to Vote Prompt
ly When Episcopal Con-
vention Is Opened.
PRAYER BOOK REVISION
Changes i'm Services to Meet
Modern Considerations
Are Planned.
PRAYER BOOK REVISION

OF Bishops of the Episcopal Church OF
America. which sat in unofficial and Sc
cret session Thursday. Friday and Satur-
day, will have a great deal of work
oone and will be ready for business
when the forty-seventh triennial session
of the General Convention OF the church
opens here Wednesday morning at 10
ably behind the iIouse OF Deputies-the
lower house-in dispensing with church
affairs. 1t was for this reason the
bishops met here a week in advance of
the convention.
Any action taken Before the opening
of the convention Wednesday morning
is unofficial. The point is that the
bishops are doing their talking now and
will be ready to vote without long argu-
ment when the time comes.
Bishop Arthur Crosby A. Hall Of ver-
mont, the connecting link between the
secret sessions OF the bishops and the
outside world, made the announcement
yesterday that the morning had been
spent in hearing reports Of special
committees. These committees are sup
posed to have been working on proposed
changes OF the prayer book. especially in
regard to the Ten Commandments.
1t is understood that the plan of the
bishops is to have the Commandments
printed in two forms, one In the old
language and another In more modern
phraseology with certain antiquated
words left out. giving more abbre-
waited form. 1t Is also planned TO alter
the morning and evening prayer and
litany as we'll as many other services
to fit modern considerations"
III the comment of bishops yesterday
on the attack OF the Rev. DIR. Percy
Stickney Grant of New York city oil
the canon of the church against reTar-
riage of divorced persons is indicative
OF the real feeling of the major.'y OF
bishops. there will be no change in the
rules.
Probably no convention Of the church
has been held at time when so many
vital questions are confronting the ma
ton as a whole and the church as
part. The railway strikers have pre-
sented their case to the bishops. The
citation for the Advancement Of Colored
People yesterday addressed "a letter to
the House of Bishops asking that II
memorialize the Senate to pass the Dyer
anti-lnyching bill
Bishop Aftimios Ofiesh. head of the
Syrian Greek Orthodox Mission Church
in North America, though not an Epis-
copalian, arrived yesterday to attend the
convention.
Bishops Principal object.
His principal object is to induce the
| Episcopal Church to consider the plight
OF the Greek orthodox prelates in Rus
sia. who are facing disaster at the
hands of the Russian Soviet Govern
ment There are many who believe the
underlying motive Of Bishop Ofesh's
visit may develop into movement for
coalition of the Episcopal Church and
the Greek Orthodox Church, whose
membership is said to exceed that of
any other Christian denomination in
the world.
To-day the Bishops who were here
to attend the preliminary sessions and
others who arrived yesterday occupied
pulpits In churches throughout the
Northwest. A larger number of them
went to Seattle last night to attend the
convention of the Brotherhood of ST.
Andrew.
Bishop Thomas F. Gailor. chairman of
the House of Bishops and president Of
the Church Council, went TO speak be-
fore the Seattle convention and to assis,
at the corporate Holy Communion.
Bishop Gailor has served two terms Of
three years each as chairman of the
House Of Bishops and is ineligible for
gt -
pension OF rules of the church. 1t is
understood that Bishop Gailor Is will
ing to continue serving II the Bishops
so desire. None will venture a guess as
to who may be elected his successor
The House of Bishops will also have to
elect 4 new secretary IL the resignation
Of Secretary Geoge +, Nelson is accepted.
Or. Henry Anstice, secretary of the
House of Deputies. arrived from New
York city yesterday. II had been ru-
mofed that DIR. Anstlce, who has been
assistant secretary and secretary OF the
House OF Deputies since 1877, will re-
sign Nobody has any business cir
culating such a report declared the
churchman when questioned relative to
his possible resignation.
Two Interesting Delegates.
Two interesting delegates just arrived
to attend the convention are the Right
Rev. Edward Thomas DENLY. ID. D., suf
fragan bishop OF Episcopal Church for
colored work of the diocese of Ar
kansas. and the Right Rev. H. r. De
laney. suffragan bishop engaged in siml-
lar work IN North Carolina. They are
the only colored Episcopal church bish-
ops In America.
The Right Rev. A. Panteleimon OF
Jerusalem arrived to-day. lie is Bishop
OF NeapolIs, a city lying between Mount
Abala and Mount Gerizin, where Bible
students believe Jacobs well was To-
Gated. II was through the efforts OF
Bishop James H. Darlington. Harris
burgh. Pa. that Bishop Panteleimon was
enabled TO come to the Portland con-
vention
About 10 bishops and 500 deputies
are. expected here for the convention.
Biphop Daniel Sylvester 'ruttle OF Mis-
souri, Il the presiding officer.
An interesting feature OF the general
convention Is the part Of the program
planned by the national commission on
church paGeantry and drama, which
functions as a part Of the department Of
religious education. and was appointed
by the presiding bishop and council
three years ago.
The purpose OF the commission Is to keep
a high standard OF art and literature in
all Biblical and church drama and to
n. r.. 49,.