Evening star., 1949-10-03
Convention
Consider Rights Of
Women as Delegates
By Cospor Names
Sfof Stof Coyrespondent

BY Cospor Nonnes ="
sior Sioff Correspondent
SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 3-A
decisive step toward determining
the right of women to be elected
delegates In the House of Clerical
and Lay Deputies will be taken to-
day when the Seth general con-
vention of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church in the United States of
America acts on a resolution ask
ing that the word "laymen" be
changed to clay person"
The issue was brought to a head
last week when the House of Dep
uties refused to seat four women
delegates on constitutional grounds
that "laymen" meant men only.
AT the 1916 general convention in
Philadelphia. the issue was side
stepped when a regularly elected
woman deputy was given her seat
as a matter Of courtesy and not
right.
Chief objection to seating wom-
en-. according to many delegates,
was the thought they might dom
mate the House of Deputies even
tually since they have more time
to devote to church work. This
argument has APPARENTLY been con-
sidered by trainers of the present
amendment, which provides that
mot more than one (women) from
each diocese or missionary dis
trict" may be chosen. Each dio-
cese has eight deputies. four lay
and four clerical.
The general convention. legis-
lative body of the church. con-
sists of the House of Deputies and
the House of Bishops. Both
Houses must approve a resolution
for it to become church law.
Major Issues to Be Settled.
A number of major issues face
the convention as it moves into
the second and final week of its
meeting. Last week was largely
devoted to organization and the
the introduction of resolutions.
This week will be concerned with
action on the proposals.
Among those to be considered
are:
l. A ord-breaking budget for
1850 for s5.552,0 largest in the
history of the church and $780,
095 more than the 1949 figure.
2. A resolution calling on Con-
gress to keep the wall separating
church and State intact and to
grant public funds for education
only to institutions controlled by
the public" The motion registers
opposition to granting Federal
or State funds to any religious
organization"
3, Another proposal reafirming
the traditional separation of
church and state" but stating the
traditional doctrine in this does
not preclude religious instruction
in the public schools where this is
arranged by the local authorities
and is on a voluntary basis"
4, C}arif1cation Of the remar-
riage of divorced persons in the
church. Some minor changes were
made in the canon last week, but
the controversial elements are ex-
pected to be acted upon this week.
Chief minor change made last
week was a provision that zone
year shall have elapsed from the
date when the ldivorcel decree
becomes final" beforeaa marriage
could be performed In q church.
Custer to Be Reviewed.
S. Resolutions, pro and con, with
respect to the action ousting DR..
John Howard Melish as rector Of
Holly Trinity Church, Brooklyn,
N. Y. after As years there. The
vestry asked the Right Rev. James
P. Dewolfe, Bishop Of Long Island,
to remove DR.. Melish because he
refused to dismiss his son, the Rev.
William Howard Melish, as as
sociate rector. The younger man
had taken part in organizing the
National Council of American
Soviet Friendship, later listed by
then Attorney General Tom Clark
as a subversive organization.
6. A change in the name of the
from the Protestant Epis-
copal Church in the U. S. A." to
the Episcopal Church in the
U. s. A." This issue Is the only
one that has come before previous
general conventions and is usually
favored by those known as high
church" Episcopalians. This group
favors the Catholic traditions of
the church.
7. Support Of the United Ma
tions as an instrument for peace.
Among the other resolutions to
be considered Is one favoring
closer cooperation with the Pres
byterian church in the U. s. A.
This motion. concerning the pos
sibility of eventual unity Of the
two denominations, suggests va
rious ways the two groups could
work together on a parish or
local basis.
Still another resolution expected
to be acted upon is the question
Of artificial dissemination.
The flower of January is the