Evening star., 1928-10-10
COMMUNION HAS SPLENDID TRADITION In NEW WORLD

August of that year presided over the
first convocation of his clergy.
But Seabury's position as bishop
was a dificult one. There was no ma
tionaI organization which recognized
him. The movement for general con-
vention was instituted by Rev. DR..
White This finally convened In Christ
Church. Philadelphia. September 81,
1885. 1t was far, however. from rep
resentative assembly. There were 10
clergymen and "a laymen in all. Mo-
body was present from New England.
The churches in that section felt that
the convention had been called without
asking the authority of Seabury, the
one bishop on American soil.
Outside of New England Seabury's
ordination had been received with some
questioning. The Southern churchmen
felt that 1t had been, to say the least, a
trifie irregular. He himself stayed away
rather than face the criticism which he
felt would fall upon him.
DIR. White was chosen to preside over
the convention. The meeting lasted
10 days During this period 1t adopt
ed constitution, approved a prayer
book to be printed and accepted a plan
for an American episcopate. Few legis-
lative bodies ever have accomplished so
vention decided to continue efforts to
obtain the conservation of bishop by
the English bishops, and thus do away
with whatever doubts existed as to the
entire legitimacy of the authority of
Seabury.
Adams Presents Address.
An address was drawn up which was
presented by John Adams, Minister to
Great Britain, to the Archbishop Of
Canterbury, primate of the English
Church, in person. The reply of the
prelates was encouraging They now
recognized the appeal as coming from
national church. They desired,
however, an assurance that the
church In America proposed to con-
tinue in the doctrine, discipline and
worship of the Church of England.
Finally an enabling act was passed
by Parliament. DR.. White, DR.. Smith,
Rev. DR.. Griffith of Virginia and DR..
Provost OF New York. were chosen by
their respective organizations to go to
England and receive the conservation.
Dr. Smith declined. Dr. Grifflth could
not AFFORD the voyage to England
White and Provost were consecrated
Lambeth Palace, by the ArchbiShops Of
Canterbury and York and the Bishops
OF Bath and Peterborough. In 1850
James Madison was consecrated Bishop
OF Virginia. Thus the regularity of the
episcopal succession was preserved
In 1889 the second general conven-
ton was held In Philadelphia. The
session was held In the same room in
the state house where the Constitution
OF the United States had been signed
earlier the same year. A constitution
was adopted and the 13 independent
ecclesiastical provinces, representing the
thirteen Colonies, became dioceses of one
church. The general organization of
the church. with It's government vested
In house of deputies and house of
bishops. confirmed generally to the plan
ADOPTED for the National Government.
Two events which came at about
this time showed that the church had
need of a strong government. The first
was the loss of Kings Chapel, in Boston
During the war most of the congrega-
tion, being strongly Tory in sympathy.
had hed to Nova Scotia. The congre-
CATION OF Old South Meeting House
were Congregationalists and devoted to
the cause of the Revolution. During
the British occupation of the city their
church was used as a riding school for
soldiers and putt in such a condition
that 1t could not be used for worship.
So after the British troops were driven
out the Congregationalists moved into
Kings Chapel.
Lay Reader in Charge.
They returned 1t to the Episcopalians
after the war and the congregation got
on its feet again, with lay reader, one
James Freeman. in charge. He was
very popular. When he presented him.
self for ordination, however, 1t was
found that his opinions were not Epis-
copalian at all but Unitarian He was
refused admission to the priesthood.
Then 1t was found that the majority o.
the congregation were not Episcopalans
either They were liberals out OF SYM
pathy with the evangelical Congrega-