Evening star., 1943-10-04
Episcopa|ians Weigh
Proposal for Merger
With Presbyterians
Cleveland Session Also
To Discuss Establishment
Of Resident Bishop Here
BY HAROLD B. ROGERS,
Star Sill Cn,.rn,nnnnD...


CLEVELAND Oct. 1.-THE long
pending controversial subject Of
unity of the Protestant Episcopal
Church ana 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 cot down to busi-
ness on a heavy program against 2
background Of general policy laid
down yesterday by an array OF
church leaders who emphasized the
Toward 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
Guiding better race relations.
Problem Is Complex.
Regarding the 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
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 a 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 "anv 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 a 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 a slogan
for the church: Through world
evangelism to world fellowship in
Christ Warning that after victory
in war, there will be a 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 a stimulus for further
success of foreign missions For the
first time in the history of the
Episcopal Church, colored min
lister is a 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 a 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.