Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-04
VOTES BIG CHANGE
| |NEP|SC0PAL RULE
Diocesan Convention Adopts
New System for Conduct
of Parish Business.

A sweeping change in the conduct
OF the business of the Episcopal
marshes of the Washington Diocese
was ordered this morning by the
twenty-third annual convention OF the
dioceSeS being held at the All Souls
Memorial Church, Connecticut ana
Cathedral avenues, when new canon
which would set up an executive
council in place of the many commit
tees which now carry on the Worh
or the diocese, was adopted
The vote came after a long discus
sion by leaders of the church on the
report of a committee headed by
Canon William +. De Nrles or ASH
ington Cathedral. Charges We're made
by a number of clergymen that the
new organization planned was belns
Tut through by "Steam-roller tactics,
and fears were expressed that the
rounciI. if formed. would degenerate
into a clique of ecclesiastical poLl
tirians.'
This opposition, however. was con
fined 10 a small group, and ardent
pleas were made in support OF the
council plan by Canon De Nries. ReV.
Dr.. 4. Is. Phillips. rector of the Church
Of the Epiphany; Rev. DR.. Robert
Johnston. rector of st. Johns Church,
Lafayette square; Rev. DR.. George r.
Y,
Church, and II. T. Nelson, member
of the auditing committee OF the DO
cese and many others.
After speeches in opposition had
been made. those faVoring the change
In administration reSorted to the plan
Of voting for the adoption lin princl-
pie" and leaving to later vote the
adoption of clauses which were OPP
posed by some members.
90 on Proposed Committee.
The new canon as proposed by
Canon DeEries as chairman of the
committee on canonS would provide
for the election of an executive coun-
ell of % members. which would con-
duct the business of the diocese and
have TO report back to the conVen-
ton each year. This eXecHCi%e coun-
ell would be comprised of the bishop
of the diocese. who would be Its ~ S.
ident; the treasurer of The Phillips
fund committee and six ClergNmen
canonical residents of the diocese and
six laymen. communicates of the
church, who would be elected annu-
ally; one clergyman and one layman
TO be elected each ear by each arch
deaConry. and two clcrgyln+n and two
laymen to be appointed by the bishop.
The two points of controversy were
over the amount of power to be given
to the council i'll regard to the eX-
penditure and the amount of the bud
get, and the amount of power IN con
Quoting business. AS proposed by the
committee headed by Canon De NrieS.
the council would be empowered t.
perform ANY corporate act on behalf
OF the convention" This clause. how
ever, was stricken out by an amend
ment which was agreed TO by Canon
De Nries.
Canon Devries declared that the
progress of the work of the diocese
was dependent upon adoption of tn
new plan. The old system of a board
of governors. he said was all righ'
for small diocese. but was totally
inadequate for one of the magnitude
of the Washington diocese.
Opposition to the plan was led by
Arthur S. Browne. chancellor of the
diocese. He contended this revolu-
tionary change in the management of
the diocese was not necessary and
declared that under the new system.
as under the old, the work would be
done well or i'll, depending on the
zeal and ability of the men and time
assigned to posts"
He was supported by Rev. c. W.
Whitemore of Valley Lee. Md, who
declared, This system could throttle
the Bishop, Ii could throttle the con-
vention and transform 1t into a rubber
stamp automatOn.'
To this Canon De Eries answered
that the executive council would be
the creature Of this convention. and
would be bound by its desires in all
mates, including expenses" He said
that if the counsel did not function to
the satisfaction of the convention,
that body could at the next election
turn out those officials and elect
others.
A committee was appointed yester-
day to arrange for the general con-
vention of the Episcopal Church,
which will convene in Washington In
1928, bringing about 10000 visitors
here. The committee is composed of
DR.. Dudley. DR.. Johnston, Rev. DR..
Herbert Scott Smith, DIR. Phillips.
Rev. DIR. G. c. F. Bratenahl, H. L.
Rust, Corcoran Thorn, H. K. Boss.
Byron S. Adams, DR.. L. w. Glaze
brook and Melville Church. The af-
ternoon session will be taken up
largely with the election of commit
tees and other officials, among whom
will be the members of the new
executive council.