94 Bishops

Mexico. When must a church refuse to obey the civil law? As a point in practical churchmanship, this question faced 94 bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Manhattan, in solemn session assembled in Synod Hall of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

The bishops were considering Mexico, particularly in regard to electing a missionary bishop for that country. Bishop George H. Kinsolving of Texas rose to present a report on the situation, then two resolutions, then an argument. He reported that the new Mexican constitution prohibits foreigners from propagating religion and holding property in connection therewith. He asked that it be resolved that no bishop be elected until October, 1925, and that further investigations be made. He argued:

"While the bootlegging of whisky into the United States from Mexico is an easy undertaking, the bootlegging of religion into Mexico is a harder task. And when it comes to ecclesiastical bootlegging, I draw the line. Under the present Mexican Governoment, no foreign school teacher or clergyman can go in there to teach or preach. I do not think our church ought to go into that Republic as an outlaw."

The rebuttal to this argument was easy. It was made by Bishop Hiram R. Hulse of Cuba. Since when had missionaries stayed out of heathen lands at the behest of sovereigns? He added: "The Apostles did not inquire whether it was in accordance with the laws of the Roman Empire when they went there to preach Christianity."

But Bishop Kinsolving's resolutions were adopted, 43 to 42. The church will not bootleg religion.