People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1895 — A GREAT GATHERING. [ARTICLE]

A GREAT GATHERING.

EPISCOPAL CONVENTION A‘i‘ MINNEAPOLIS. Large Attendance of the Moat Prominent Divines of the Church —Meeting May Decide to Revise Constitution and Canons. Minneapolis, Oct. 3.—An imposing religious service marked yesterday the opening of the triennial council of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States. Within the walls of the Church of Gethsemane, the leading Episcopal parish-of the northwest, were assembled the greatest minds of the clergy and laity of this powerful denomination. It was a distinguished gathering of distinguished men. one eminently representative of the wealthiest religious body of the American continent. The service opened at 11 o'clock and was preceded by a procession of eighty bishops, all robed in their canonicals. At 3:30 in the afternoon the house of the deputies was formally organized in the same church, Momentous to the Protestant Episcopal church is the present gathering, from the fact that before it adjourns in three weeks, the present law and government of the denomination may have been revolutionized. The general convention of 1892 appointed a joint commission to revise the constitution and canons which are the statutes of the Episcopalians and a copy of the report of this body has been in the hands of each and every delegate for several weeks. The report of the commission is a pamphlet of nearly a hundred closely printed pages. Summarized, its most Important recommendation is the creation of a “primus” (corresponding to an archbishop in the Catholic church), to be elected by a majority vote of the bishops from one of their own number. The creation of a general synod is also recommended, and as such a body would entirely supersede the triennial councils, the present gathering is consequently called upon to sign Its own death warrant and that of its successors. The synod is to consist of every bishop of the church having jurisdiction and of three presbyters and laymen of each diocese. If it Is decided to create an archbishop there will be a contest between the friends of Bishops Williams of Connecticut, Coxe of New York, Paret of Maryland and McLaren of Illinois. Bishop Potter, of New York, also has many friends. A portion of the report which will cause much discussion is that recommending the grouping of five dioceses into a province, to be presided over by a bishop who shall be elected by the other bishops. This is not entirely an innovation, as the three dioceses of Illinois have, ever since the creation of the diocese of Chicago, been organized into a province* of which Bishop McLaren is the primate. There is also an organization of the New York dioceses on a somewhat similar plan. The house of bishops was called to order by Bishop Whipple, of Minnesota, who presides in the absence of Bishop Williams, of Connecticut. Bishop Doane, of Albany, was elected chairman. There was a brief religious ceremony connected with the announcement of the death of several bishops since the last convention, several committees were appointed, and then the house of bishops took a recess unttl today. The house of deputies had a rather interesting meeting from the fact that the commission on revision of the constitution made a report, and asked for further time to consider the revision of the canons. At the request of the commission, the report was made a special order so(- today, and will be considered to a finish. Rev. Morgan Dix, of New York city, was unanimously reelected president of the house and made a brief speech in acknowledgment. Rev. Charles L. Hutchins, of Concord, Mass., was unanimously reelected secretary. A telegram was sent to Bishop Williams, expressing regret at his illness, and hoping for his recovery. The commission on church unity was instructed to have printed all the correspondence which it had carried on with the representatives of other churches. The house of depties will hold daily sessions.