Evening star., 1943-10-04
House
Weighs Merger
.AtC|eve|and
Question of Union
With Presbyterions
Considered Today
BY HAROLD B. ROGERS,
Star Staff Correspondent

SbC VIbAND, w. 4.-1Ne long.
pending controversial subject Of
unity Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church and the Presbyterian Church
came before the House of Bishops of
the Episcopal General Convention
today with prospects Of protracted
debate.
Proponents of the movement. In
cluding Canon Theodore O. Wedel
of Washington Cathedral, hoped
that the convention at least would
leave the door open" for further
negotiations.
The proposal to establish the off,
cial residence of the presiding bishop
in Washington, and separate him
from his local diocese, was listed
third on the calendar of the House
Of Bishops, indicating this matter
may come up tomorrow or Wednes-
day Second on the order of the
day" for the House of Bishops was
social reconstruction" including
postwar problems.
The convention got down to buSi-
ness on a heavy program against
background of general policy laid
down yesterday by an array of
church leaders who emphasized the
forward in service movement led
by the Right Rev. Henry S. George
Tucker of Virginia, presiding bishop
of the church. Speakers called on
Episcopalians throughout the world
to accept the challenge presented by
the war to intensity church work, to
increase support and to prepare for
advance in every field of activity, in
cluding better race relations.
Problem Is Complex.
Regarding TIE unity issue. Canon
Wedel, member of the "Commis-
sion on Approaches to Unity said
this work had been going on for
years with the result that there had
been drafted the first sketch of a
proposed united church" Generally
the issue now is, he said. whether
the work SO far is acceptable to the
church and whether it should be
continued. 1t is very complex
problem dealing with numerous de-
tails of the rites of both churches.
Specifically the commission report
to the convention recommends that
the commission be continued, that
it be directed to carry forward
its negotiations, and that ANY plan
for the union of the two churches,
before being submitted for final ac-
ton to the general convention be
referred to the Lambeth Conference
for consideration and advice The
Lambeth Conference is meeting in
London about once every 10 years
of bishops of the Church of Eng
land, throughout the world. and the
| Protestant Episcopal Church in the
| United States.
| Bishop Tucker coined slogan
1 for the church: Through world
evangelism to world fellowship in
Christ Warning that after victory
/ in war, there will be strong feel
ing of dissatisfaction with what is
or has been" Bishop Tucker de-
clared, victory would open for us
an unparalleled opportunity for
making actual in the life of man
kind that redemption which was
made possible by the sacrifice Of
! Christ
Chinese Thanks America.
The Right Rev Dr. Andrew Y. Y.
Tsu. Bishop of Running and South
west China. thanked the American
people for their war effort helping
/ China.
Emphasized strongly by speakers
Yesterday was the need for estab-
/ fishing on the home front better
race relations, particularly among
the white and colored peoples. This.
they said, should be an example for
presenting the claims of Christianity
as an ideal for oppressed peoples
| abroad, and stimulus for further
success Of foreign missions. For the
| first time in the history of the
Episcopal Church, a colored min
lister is deputy in the House Of
Deputies. He is the Rev. John E.
Culmer, rector of St. Agnes Episco-
pal Church at Miami, Fla. He said
he was in Washington recently as
a delegate to meeting on race
relations at Howard University.
called by the department Of race
relations of the Federal Council of
Churches of Christ in America
DR.. Harold L. Trigg colored, presi-
| dent of Elizabeth City State
Teachers College, drew applause
from the joint session of the con-
vention yesterday as he stressed
needs of the Negro in the United
States He pointed with satisfaction
to the fact that the Rev. B. w.
Harris of Virginia had been ap-
pointed the first full-time colored
secretary for Negro work in the
home department of the National
Council of the church at New York.
Emphasis on better race relations
work was brought before the con-
vention by several other speakers.
Boss in Cleveland.
Harry K. Boss of Washington. a
member of the Standing Committee
of the Washington diocese, which is
the ecclesiastical authority in the
absence of a bishop, arrived here
and has been comforting with men,
bers of the Washington delegation
to the convention on church mat
ters.
Ogle R. Singleton of Washington
has been elected secretary of the
Committee on Missions of the House
OF Deputies. He has introduced in
the house a resolution making it
mandatory for a bishop to examine
records of each parish in his diocese
at the time of his visitation, which
must be at least once every three
years. 1t has been referred to the
Committee on Canons.
Five Washington women are active
In the triennial meeting of the
Woman's Auxiliary to the National
Council in separate session here dur
ing the general convention OF the
church. They are Mrs. Elvin r.
Heiberg. diocesan president, who i,
member of the Triennial Continue
ton Committee; Mrs Robert Wal.
lace McClenahan, Mrs. Noble L.
Owings of Hyattsvile, Md; Mrs
Charlee w. Sheerin and Mrs
Theodore o. Wedel. They represent
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