PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



653 



prescribing the desired shorter form of service 

 were adopted by the House of Deputies, but 

 were non-concurred in by the Bishops. Com- 

 mittees of Conference were appointed to en- 

 deavor to adjust the differences between the 

 two Houses, but were prevented, by the close 

 of the Convention before they had completed 

 their work, from effecting their object. The 

 third constitutional amendment proposed by 

 the General Convention of 1874 provided that 

 "the General Convention shall have power, 

 from time to time, to amend the Lectionary, 

 but no act for this purpose shall be valid 

 which is not voted for by a majority of the 

 whole number of bishops entitled to seats in 

 the House of Bishops, and by a majority of all 

 the dioceses entitled to representation in the 

 House of Deputies." This amendment was 

 adversely reported upon by the committee to 

 whom it was referred, but was ratified by the 

 Convention. An alternate Lectionary for 

 Lent, prepared in accordance with the instruc- 

 tions of the previous General Convention, was 

 approved, and the clergy were authorized to 

 use, during the ensuing three years, the Lec- 

 tionary of the Church of England. Several 

 propositions were introduced looking to the 

 adoption of such amendments to the constitu- 

 tion as should effect a change in the name of 

 the Church by omitting the words "Protes- 

 tant Episcopal " from its title. None of them 

 found any favor with the Convention ; and, 

 finally, a resolution to the effect that a change 

 in the name of the Church is not desirable was 

 adopted by a very large majority. The joint 

 committee appointed by the previous General 

 Convention to consider the subject of the 

 organization of an order of Deaconesses re- 

 ported favorably to the proposition, and pre- 

 sented the draft of a canon relative to the 

 organization of the order. The two Houses of 

 the Convention failed to agree upon the pre- 

 cise terms of the canon, and the subject was 

 referred to a committee for further considera- 

 tion, which is to report to the next General 

 Convention. The subject of establishing broth- 

 erhoods was also referred to the next Gen- 

 eral Convention. A joint committee of both 

 Houses, appointed by the previous General Con- 

 vention to consider and report on the subject 

 of the godly discipline of the laity, made a re- 

 port, pointing out what it regarded as the 

 deficiencies of the present law of discipline of 

 the Church, and embodying a resolution which 

 was adopted by both Houses : " That it is ex- 

 pedient so to amend the law of the Church, 

 touching the godly discipline of its members, as 

 to make it more explicit in its provisions, and 

 more readily applicable to particular cases." 

 The joint committee heretofore in charge of 

 the subject was reconstituted with reference 

 to convenience of assembling, and continued. 

 A joint committee of both Houses was ap- 

 pointed " to consider and report to the next 

 General Convention what are the several func- 

 tions of rectors and wardens and vestrymen in 



the control and administration of parishes, as- 

 certaining the rights und authorities of each in 

 the premises according to the principles and 

 laws of the Church, and report to the next 

 General Convention what, in their opinion, is 

 the best mode of making those principle* and 

 laws of effect." A committee consisting of 

 three persons from each House was appointed 

 44 to take such steps as in their discretion may 

 be judicious, toward securing from the Gov- 

 ernment, for the Indians, the full protection of 

 the 4 civil ' law." The standing committee on 

 Indian affairs reported that the higher officers 

 of the Government were in favor of affording 

 the Indians such protection, and also all helps 

 to become civilized, and expressed themselves 

 41 much encouraged by the past success of the 

 missions of the Church to the Indians." The dec- 

 laration was inserted in the canon concerning 

 the " deposition of ministers, that 4 deposition, 

 displacing, and all like expressions, are the same 

 as degradation.' " The canon relating to the re- 

 nunciation of the ministry was modified, to as 

 to provide that, when a clergyman leaves the 

 ministry for causes other than those affecting 

 moral character, a distinct statement to that 

 effect shall be made to accompany the record 

 and notice of his deposition. The subject of 

 the formation of provincial councils, with suf- 

 fragan bishops, was referred to a joint com- 

 mittee of the two Houses, who were instructed 

 to report upon it to the next General Conven- 

 tion. A joint committee of the two Houses 

 was appointed to consider the subject of the 

 admission of ministers of other Christian bodies 

 to the Church. An amended constitution was 

 adopted for the Domestic and Foreign Mission- 

 ary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church. 

 The society is considered as comprehending 

 all persons who are members of the Church, 

 and will have connected with it a Board of 

 Missions, composed of the bishops of the 

 Church, and the members of the House of 

 Deputies of the General Convention, who may 

 sit apart as in General Convention, or together, 

 when they shall so decide, and shall meet on 

 the third day of the session of the General Con- 

 vention, and from day to day ; also a Board of 

 Managers, comprising all the bishops, fifteen 

 clergymen, and fifteen laymen, to be appointed 

 by the Board of Missions at every triennial 

 meeting of the General Convention, who shall 

 have charge of the affairs of the society during 

 the interim between the sessions of the Gen- 

 eral Convention. Provision is also made for 

 auxiliary missionary associations. An amend- 

 ed canon was adopted on marriage and divorce. 

 It pronounces marriages which are not ac- 

 cording to God's word unlawful, ond pro- 

 hibits the baptism, confirmation, or adminis- 

 tration of the communion to persons who are 

 married "otherwise than as the word of God 

 and the discipline of the Church allow," ex- 

 cept after the rase hns been referred to the 

 bishop for his judgment, provided, however, 

 that no " minister shall in any case refuse the 



