Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate States.
The following is a brief synopsis of the proceedings on Tuesday last (sixth day) of the
Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the
Confederate States, now in session at
Columbia, S. C.:
‘
Mr. Mitchell presented a petition from the
Alabama delegates, requesting the
Convention to take some order for the consecration of Bishops prior to the adoption by the Dioceses of the proposed Constitution.
Received and referred to a committee consisting of three senior Bishops.
’
Rev. Mr. Pinckney, of
South Carolina, offered a resolution fixing the time of adjournment on Friday, the 25th inst. Carried.
The consideration of the
Constitution was then resumed.
The two last clauses of the 4th article were taken up.
Bishop Elliott stated that they were taken from the old Constitution with the alteration of a single word.
The question on their adoption was decided affirmatively.
Bishop Elliott moved to take up the fifth clause of the same article, which, on yesterday, was laid on the table.
The substance of it was that the Bishops of a Province shall together have but one vote, to be cast by the
senior Bishop of the Province.
Mr. Hines moved to strike out this clause.--Motion carried.
Bishop Elliott moved to take up the sixth clause, and stated that under this clause comes up the whole question of Church Extension.
Mr. Williams, of
Virginia, thought there were evils connected with Dioceses too large or too small.
Thought the best plan to restore the provision of the
Constitution, allowing an existing Diocese to divide on certain established conditions.
Rev. Mr. Pierce, of
Alabama, proposed to strike out "Diocese" it would read, "each State shall be entitled to an equal representation," &c.
Mr. Hines thought this would be giving up the principle of equal Diocesan representation.
Bishop Gregg agreed in the main.
But suppose a Bishop lays a good foundation, unless he have clergymen to build thereupon his work will be vain.
The difficulty was the want of more ministers of all orders.
It reached further back.
In the home, among the parents, who should direct the minds of their sons and encourage them to look forward to the work of the ministry.
Bishop Lay thought the extension of the
Church was the great object to be considered.
A moderate increase of Bishops and of Dioceses would be profitable, but the great need was to reach the heart of the
Church.
Dr. Crane desired that State boundaries be well defined.
Ecclesiastical limits should be coterminous with them, and great freedom within those limits.
If we cannot carry out the provincial system, at least let us retain the name State, and allow the privilege to any State that can.
Mr. Williams said that State in this clause means province — nothing more nor less.
This would be settling everything at issue.
Bishop Elliott had been convinced that the provincial feature could not be carried. --Thought the best thing they could hope to accomplish would be to give to each State the control of the matter within its own limits.
On taking the vote the amendment was lost.
The whole clause then came up for consideration.
Bishop Eliott moved to lay it on the table, which was lost.
There was considerable discussion upon it.
Dr. Hubbard was struck with the fact that members were so near together.
All seemed to think the provincial system must be adopted soon, and a Constitution should be prospective.
Upon a call for a vote by orders, the clause was adopted.
Judge Battle moved to strike out the word "five," and insert "three, " so as to give each Diocese three clerical and three lay deputies in council.
Also the word "province" was stricken out wherever it occurrred, and "Diocese" substituted.
Upon a vote being taken, a blank was filled by appointing
Augusta, Ga., as the place for the meeting of the council, and the whole fourth article adopted.
The chairman appointed a committee on the expenses of the
Convention, consisting of
Messrs. Fairbanks,
Allston and
Phelan.
Article 3 was then taken up and amended by striking out the words "Confederate" and "shall," and the last clause, so as to make it read:
"Art. III.
There shall be in this Church a council, in which all the Dioceses in the
Confederate States shall be represented.
There
may be also provincial and diocesan councils."
The article was then adopted, and the
Convention took a recess until 7 o'clock.
