Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-08
Clerical and Lay Delegates
From All Over the World
Gathering Here.
PLANS NEARLY COMPLETE
FOR 4eTH CONVENTION
Commission Will Recommend That
Church Recognize Curative
Efficacy of Prayer.


all over the world registering today, ar
rangements we're being completed by the
executive council and the various church
departments for the Forty-ninth Trien-
NAL Convention of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church, which convenes Wednes-
day.
Delegates were discussing with ami
nation the outstanding questions which
will come before the two houses. bishops
and deputies, which constitute the rov-
2rnlng body of the church.
Formal recognition of faith healing hv
ne church is recommended. it was
'Sarned today. in joint commission re-
TC Wnlcn Will be presented to both
iouses. "O'ii
Text of Resolution.
!, Resolved says the resolution which
tnlS commission will report, chat this
3eneral convention thankfully recognizes
tne deepening of the spiritual life of
me church which has come through a.
rowing recognition of the healing power
VI CnrlStlan faith; that 1t recommends
W tne church at large such efforts as
H.
thorlty either through the perSona1
mtflnistrat1ons of parish priests or
through such organizations as the
Ailerlcan Guild of Healing, the Society
u tne Nazar1ne and the Grace Cathedral
MilSSion OF Healing. to awaken men tn
tne truth that there is healing nower
IN Ialth In Jesus Christ"
Inc commission urges that theoJoO;coI
ScnoolS In their teaching take notica
u tnls widespread belief in the efficary,
u prayer as an expression of a living
ratner tnan a formal faith"
Inc report Is the result Of three
ySarS investigation of the subject If
S.liI Iii nntlan neallng,. and is expected tn
fa..s f1s aDoue Wloe discussion when it Is
notes, for instance, that Gin o,,r o,,,, =,
cnurch the methods used are IarosIv
Innuenced by the type of churchrsn1. !.
SsIlip OF the priest who tries, through
Ialtn IN the promises of Christ tn an
sWer tne prayers of those who believe
OF prlng to suffering men and women
Ine heaIlng of body. mind or ci1arac cfer
!ne forms under which this is he5,1 :
gone are many. The spirit in which II
Is oelng done is the same: the sniYit AZ
ooedlence to the Masters Command In
teach and to heal"
No Detailed Case Given.
The report does not present "a d.
tail any actual experiences In Christian
healing. 1t says:
The conclusions your commission
draws from its study of these data are
tnat throughout the Christian world
the power in faith to produce results
IN the material as well as the spiritual
world Is no longer the hope of few.
DuC tne belief of a rapidly increasinr
number OF persons: that the power and
1alth to produce such results is canable
OF being demonstrated empiricaIly If NOT
scientifically"
A challenge is flung down to science
IN the statement that the distinction
or difference between what is pure mat
ter and what is pure spirit is no longer
as simply demonstrated as was for
merly believed
The report similarly strikes a blow
at the old belief in revengeful God
m the statement that "the popular at
tltuoe toward misfortune in all it's
forms as being a visitation by God for
punishment for sin Is no longer a uni
Versal belief, but is rapidly being dis
placed by belief that such n1isfor-
tunes are man-induced conditions
which are hindrances to Gods will"
Would Be First OK.
While church healing has long been
practiced in the Episcopal Church, and
mas had steadily increasing number
OF adherents. the passage of the rec
commended resolution would be the first
instance IN which General Convention
has given 1t formal Endorsement.
IL also was learned that there will be
nFnCnnfn6 n hRtA
signed by more than $1,000 church
members asking that the SO Articles of
Prayer be kept in the Book of Common
Prayer of the Episcopal Church.
TheSe articles, which many church,
men claim are obscure and antiQuated.
are not actually a part of the prayer
book, but always are bound in the same
volume so that there is a fine question
as to whether they must be considered
a part of the church doctrine.
AT the last triennial convention at
New Orleans it was voted to eliminate
them. Legislation by one convention
does not become effective until It Is
acted upon by the succeeding conven-
ton. and the purpose of the petition is
to prevent ratification.
Laymen Began Movement.
The $1,000 signatures were collected
in movement launched last Winter by
IS laymen. who issued a memorial ask
ing that the articles be retained. MANY
OF the signers represent the evangelical
wing OF the church and fear that elm
ination of the articles, adopted shortly
after the Reformation, and rather Spe-
c1flc in their condemnation of Roman
Catholic practice. would permit the re-
sumption of some Catholic customs
After petitioning for the retention of
the SO articles, the memorial reads:
And We do further memorialize our
fathers in God, the bishops. to send us
message Of assurance that the name
the doctrine, the ceremonies and the
nomenclature of our church and her
missionary purpose and her fraternal
love of all Christian people are. and
should be. expressed in the Book of
Common Prayer
Churchmen point out. however. that
advocates of all shades of Episcopal
opinion are represented among the
signers.
School Issue to Come Up.
Another question which will come
before the convention had its prelimi-
nary hearing at a meeting of the mis-
sionary department this morning when
Right. Rev Logan Roots. Missionary
Bishop of Hankow, and Right Rev. r.
r. Graves, Missionary Bishop of Shanc-
hal presented opposing views on regis
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