Evening star., 1928-10-16
Spirited Debate on inclusion
in Prayer Book Precedes
Close Decision.
RECALLS BYGONE HATE,
ONE OBJECTION STATED
Others Insist Only Perpetuates
Liberating Significance of
Signing of Declaration.

The House of Bishops of the Episco-
pal Church today voted to incorporate
in the Book of Common Prayer a spe-
cial service for the Fourth of July by
a margin of only one vote, after a
spirited debate over the wisdom OF re-
calling by religious service the inter-
national hatreds of a bygone war.
Outstanding in their opposition to
ratification of this service were Right
Rev. Boyd Vincent, Bishop of Southern
Ohio and senior bishop of the church;
Right Rev. William T. Manning, Bishop
of New York. and Right Rev. Thomas r.
Gailor, Bishop of Tennessee.
GaiIOr States Opposition.
II don't like" declared Bishop Gailor.
ITO say collect thanking God for free
ing us from the government of the Eng
disappearing people. The more I read
OF the American Revolution the more
am of the opinion that it was a mixed
question. don't know which side I'd
have been on if I had been alive in
those days. My own ancestors fought in
the Revolution ="
"On which side?" shouted a fellow
bishop.
That question is brighter than IL is
proper-they fought on the American
side" replied Bishop Gailor Il be-.
lleve We should observe THANKSGIVING
day as patriotic festival"
Il hope this will be voted down." said
6lshop Manning. land that we will have
substituted for it a service of love and
fellowship for our Enqlish-speakinr
brethren throughout the whole world"
Considers English Feeling.
Why should we," asked the patri-
archal Bishop Vincent. "perpetuate in a
service of this church the idea of our
enemy? How i'll our brethren of the
English church would think of us. Sup
pose 1t were proposed to have a special
service celebrating the surrender at Ap-
pomattox. How would our Southern
ehurchmen feel about that? I think
We are all steadily growing to be larger
minded Christians. In politics VIC are
entering into time of real interna-
tlonaliSnl. The church is becoming a
supra national institution. 1t is high
time that all mere war memorials we're
given up. In the past few days the
representatives of the great nations OF
the earth have met in Paris and signed
treaties outlaWing war forever as an in
Strument. Why then should the spirit
OF war be perpetuated by religious
Service?"
The service, declared Bishop Reming-
ton, never was intended to perpetuate
the memory of the war. but 'the sign
ing of the Declaration OF Independence,
one of the greatest documents of Anglo
Saxon liberty. The English church
wants some day to put some memorial
of George Washington into Westmin-
ster Abbey. 1t would be "a terrible mis-
take on our part to turn this down."
Denies War Is Stressed.
Bishop Slattery of Massachusetts.
who was chairman of the committee on
prayer book revision, said that the Serv-
ice was not intended to preserve the
memory of war; The word love Is
dominant IN the gospel selected for that
service he said. mot enemy"
"One of the great national holidays
of the American people certainly should
have some recognition by the church."
declared Rev. Reginald H. Weller.
Bishop of Fond du Lac. ut seems to
me that the whole idea of this SER
and holy atmosphere. We are living
in critical age. Our Government is
combating tremendous forces which
are operating against all government
as We understand 1t. This collect
would aid in the preservation of our
liberties. would be glad to join in q
service bringing the works of our FORE
father before Almighty God.
The selection from the Holy Bible
is most unfortunate" said Bishop Brat
ton of Mississippi. I'VE don't want to
imply that We were ever slaves Of our
mother England"
Marks Nations Beginning.
True nationalism leads us into true
mternationalism," said Bishop Brewster
of Connecticut. July marks the be-
ginning of nation. We have just
talked about having a special service
celebrating the signing of tbs Magma
Charta. We should have something for
the beginning of the Nation But I
don't like thissService. 1t says too much
about our enemies. We want to ex-
press reverence for our country and
its mission in the world"
just before taking up the debate on
this service the House of Bishops had
received a memorial for the recogni-
ton on the third Sunday in June each
year OF the anniversary of the signing
of the Magma Charta
The service already has been ratified
without debate by the House of
Deputies.
Two-Thirds Vote Taken.
It's ratification by the House of
Bishops required two-thirds vote of
all bishops entitled to vote-or a total
vote of 81. Sixty-eight bishops arose in
favor Of It,
The disputed service IS as follows:
The Collect.
90 Eternal God, through whose
mighty power our fathers won their
liberties Of old; Grant. we beseech Thee.
that We and all the people of this land
may have grace to maintain these
liberties In righteousness and peace:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"
'For the EpistIe. Deut. KIT.
'"rhe Lord your God is God of gods.
and Lord of lords, great God. 4
mighty. and terrible which regarde,n
not persons. nor taketh reward: he
doth execute the Judgment Of the
fatherlesS and widow. and loveth the
stranger. In giving him food and raj
ment. Love ye therefore the stranger:
for ye were strangers in the land of
Egypt. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy
God; him shalt thou serve. and to him
shalt thou cleave and swear by his
name. He is thy praise, and he is thy
God, that hath done for thee these
great and terrible things which thine
eyes have seen.
Jesus said. Ye have heard that Il
hath been said, Thou shalt love thy
neighbor. and hate thine enemy. But