SECOND DAY. WEDNESDAY, June 2d, 1897. The Holy Communion was celebrated, at 7:30 o'clock, A. M., by the Rev. Charles H. Schultz, and at 9:30 o'clock, A. M., by the Bishop, assisted by the Rev. W. Northey Jones. The President called the Convention to order at 10 o'clock, A. M., and the Secretary called the roll. The Rev. Willis D. Engle submitted the following, which was concurred in: The Committee on Credentials respectfully reports that lay delegates are entitled to seats according to the accompanying list. [See page 7.] Respectfully submitted, WILLIS D. ENGLE, Committee, By unanimous consent the ballot was dispensed with, and the Rev. Willis D. Engle was re-elected Secretary, The President announced the appointment of the fol lowing Standing Committees: On Unfinished Business-Rev. N. W. Heermans, Ma C. B. Stilz, Mr. R. Thompson. On Admission of New Parishes—Rev. F, (), (statiti Rev. F. C. Coolbaugh, Mr. J. M. Winters. On Constitution and Canons-Hon. Wm. Mar On Assessments-Rev. C. Graham Adams, Rev. A. W. Seabrease, Mr. W. H. Armstrong, Mr. A. G. Carnahan, Mr. Stuart MacKibbin. On the State of the Church-Rev. W. H. Bamford, Rev. H. M. Denslow, Mr. Robert N. Merritt, Mr. G. N. Fores man. On the Funds of the Diocese-Rev. W. N. Jones, Mr. A. Q. Jones, Mr. Meredith Nicholson. On Sunday-School Work-Rev. W. W. Raymond, Rev. F. I. Collins, Rev. Wm. Mitchell, Mr. E. A. Munson, Mr. Mark Oliver. On Audit of Accounts-Rev. Walter Scott, Mr. Albert Michie, Mr. Edward Olcott. On Christian Education-Rev. Charles T. Stout, Rev. J. E. Sulger, Rev. C. H. Schultz. Rev. Walter H. Bamford submitted the following, which, on motion of Rev. Charles T. Stout, was referred to the Committee on Constitution and Canons: That no parish or mission shall be excluded from the right of lay representation in Convention, by reason, merely, that its assessments or other Diocesan dues are wholly, or in part, unpaid. The Rev. Alexander W. Seabrease submitted the following: INDIANAPOLIS, IND., June 1st, 1897. The committee appointed to audit the accounts of the Treasurer of the Diocese, beg leave to report that they have examined the vouchers in their hands, and find that they are correct and conform with the books and annual statement. A. W. SEABRease, Committee. The Rev. Gustav A. Carstensen submitted the following: Mr. President: The committee appointed to consider the proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, and the proposed alteration of the Book of Cominon Prayer, submitted to the Diocese of Indiana by the General Convention, have carefully considered the same and report to this Convention as follows: As to the amendment changing the title from "Constitution" to "Constitutions” no objection is interposed, the change being too unimportant to consider. As to Section 1 of Constitution 1, the attention of this Convention is called to the fact that unlimited freedom of debate is provided for by this amendment. This ought not to be permitted, in so large a deliberative body as the General Convention; under our present Constitution, debate is absolute, uncontrolled and uncontrollable; and such freedom works very great injury to the Church. Some limit should be provided. Absolute freedom of debate may do very well in the House of Bishops, wherein speech making, by reason of the comparatively small number of Bishops, does not materially interfere with the dispatch of business; but in the House of Deputies, consisting of nearly five hundred members, who can not now be restrained by parliamentary rules, the precious days and hours which should be devoted to practical action for the growth and expansion of the Church are wasted and consumed in eloquent talk. This trouble arises from the provision in the present Constitution (unfortunately sought to be perpetuated by the proposed amendment) that "in all deliberations, freedom of debate shall be allowed." In our opinion, what is needed to rectify the evil, is an amendment as follows: "freedom of debate, subject to such parliamentary restricstions and limitations as either House may adopt." As to Section 3 of Constitution 1, we are of the opinion that the Presiding Bishop should be selected by the House of Bishops, not in the order of his consecration; but for his fitness and adaptibility to the position; and as to that the House of Bishops is eminently quali fied to judge, and it is the very best judge. The Bishop who happens to be senior in the order of consecration, may be incapacitated, by the infirmity of age, from attending to business or even from properly presiding over the House of Bishops. The American Church, for such a responsible office, needs her very best Bishop, a man filled with learning and piety, and with ardor and zeal for the extension of the Church, and he should be armed with good health, wisdom and practical common sense. As to Section 4 of said Constitution 1, we are of the opinion that eight representatives of a Diocese in the House of Deputies, as provided in the present Constitution are too many; and the proposed amendment perpetuates the evil. The House of Deputies is too large and unweildy now. If the Church had two hundred Dioceses, it would have sixteen hundred Deputies and five hundred Dioceses would furnish four thousand Deputies. The number should be decreased, and there should be proportionate representation. We recommend that Section 5, 6 and 7 should be approved. As to the proposed Article 5, we recommend that this Convention give it a qualified approval. While recognizing the necessity of making suitable provision for the support of the Episcopate in new Dioceses, we deprecate the tendency to make the basis of such provision so excessive as to retard the extension of the Church by checking the normal increase of the Episcopate. Your committee would recommend that the Convention approve the proposed alteration in the Book of Common Prayer as to the Golden Numbers after the year 1900. G. A. CARSTENSEN, JOHN H. STOTSENBURG, Committee. The Rev. Alexander W. Seabrease submitted the following: The minority of the committee to which were referred the proposed amendments to the Constitution of the General Convention, recommend the adoption of the following: Resolved, That this Convention gives its consent to the amendments to the Constitution of the General Church as reported to this Convention by the Secretary of the House of Deputies. A. W. SEABREASE, The Rev. Andrew J. Graham moved that the minority report be adopted. Rev. Palin Saxby moved that the different sections be taken up seriatum and acted upon separately, which was not adopted. The motion of Rev. A. J. Graham was then adopted. Charles E. Brooks submitted the following: Right Reverend Father and INDIANAPOLIS, June 2d, 1897. Gentlemen of the Convention: I submit herewith my fourth annual report as Treasurer of the Trustees of the Diocese, and as Treasurer of the Convention. The other funds in my hands as Treasurer of the Trustees have not been changed during the year, with the exception of those relat |