The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-12
EPISC0PACY.


ffsgal Convention Sermon By Rs.1 Rev. 1PhiiERI1ps
ThismorninP, at 10 O'Clock, the Animal ,convon-
tton Of the Episcopal Church OF the Diocese Of Penn
syyania resumed its business pursuant to adjourn
The proceedings were opened with divine services,
Bishop Stevens, assisted by number OF clergymen'
Rev. Philips Brooks then preached tho animal
sermon, taking az his text Exodus xviii a4ss viz -
robe rcSSs sSSssp aSen Ss and the the
ter and his sound shall be heard when he sotb n nnto
that he die not 'ne LORD and when he oOmeth out
The reverend speaker after opening tho snb,ect
by detailing the appearance and properties of the
pomegranate, likening the Church To n nroceeSed
by calling the Church the accumulator and denos
Soiy ol spiritual GIntn. All true spiritual vitality,
the way, the truth, and the light What we call
spiritual life is nothing but the work OF the Spirit
upon the soul When this work has reached its
fulness then the Christian is ready ana able 70 rive
OF his life to others, just the funess of the life
coming fruit The spiritual life comes from
Chrlst TO the individual, to the soul
the Church, as such, has no sonl There are two
sOuls-two only-GOd's and mans Consequently
t Ine communion must be between these souls. the
Romsh idea Is that the Church itself contains this
spiritual light, life and truth-the Protestant idea is
tha the Churchs but the aggregate and compound of
the ght liie and truth in the souls of her Individual
memhers. But the Church must make nrogress
ana u ought TO know exactly what that progress
should he. The Church makes progress i'm the frat
place. 10y retaining intact all the truths and doctrines
of Scripture: then by developing sricter and pnrer
morality. Again-by descending 10 "A more beaitbfnl
simplicity, not necessarily exclusion of all forms but
the rejection of any form. no matter how venerable the
momentit interieres with the free communion of the
soul of man with the soul of his Maker A form of
service which does not aid this communion is worse
man sham 1t Is positive hurt and should at once
oe lald aside. Jhe sensuOus impression may have
some effect upon the wOrshipper but II is only tran
sent and comparatively worthless The Church
wants more of the life Of Christ-more of pure and
uhOstentatlOus religion notwithstanding her won
derlul capacities and resources her educational
system, her parish meetings. her misslens she still
needs something over and above all these: she
wants Christ as life power. TO guide her TO teach
her the proper work in which she should engage,
and give her success. The church system must be
atiane with holy zeal and truth, or it is dead.
Unless thus alive herself. how can she make a dead
world live? At the present time the Church stands i'm
the greatest danger OF materasm. We seek rather
amend and alter canons and rubrcs and forms than
to acquire more OF the life OF Christ This will
attain any good Woe to us II, when men ask us
"What does the Church most need?1 we answer,
IAN amendment of her forms' BY adhering to
these, TO this machinery, we become mere tools; we
no longer are disseminating a true and pure
Gospel we must come down and stand upon
the very soul Of the matter. As Journalists
passes us by without being made the better by
tact with us. The Church has not yet learned that
IL is her function to lay the strict rod upon the ina
morality Of the present age, TO set herself in stern
array against the wickedness of the world She pal
liates and excuses
The speaker closed by eoquenty repeating
hymn illustrating his subject
At the conclusion of the sermon the HOLY Com
munOn was administered.
Bishop Stevens then read his annual address de-
failing his abors for the conventional year. He
ordained 1Ol persons, confirmed 1884, delivered 220
sermons and addresses ordained 1900 to the dea-
conate. attended funerals. opened churches, cele
brated 3 marriages, installed l rector, and laid
cornerstone For over two months during the year
he was incapacitated from attending TO his oficia
duties by reason of accidents and resulting Illness
This hiatus made sad havoc with plans of labor he
had marked out Still he missed but single ap-
pointment which he had made during the entire
year. The Bishop referred to the extreme extent of
the diocese, saying that it required more labor
than any one man had the capacity TO give. He
spoke unqualifedly in favor OF division of the dio
cese but also stated that any agitation of the sub
ject at the present convention uncalled for and
could produce no good result, since the success or
defeat of the measure depended upon the General
Convention. II could be far better settled year
Gated any further mention OF the subject at the
| present time.
He stated that the Board OF Missions was doing
good and noble work; that it was spreading IN in-
fuence might and power its province in the Church
is better understood, and more wisely appreciated.
Five Clergymen of this diocese died during the con-
VentiOna year. and twenty-SX removed to other dO-
ceses. one has retired from the ministry at his own
request Through the lberality OF Mr. j. G. Moor
head the fund for the education Of the daughters of
ministers OF this diocese was increased $40 900 during
the year. The Bishop desired the clergy present to
bring this fund and its merits bCfOrn neir Congrega-
tions once every year. There are some 20 ministers
in the Diocese whose daughters stand IN need of
cations. The advantage OF each parish In the diocese
having its own parsonage was referred TO: the state
ment being made that 10 churches in this city now
possessed such dwellings for their pastors. The
claims Of the city missions and the city missionaries
were then warmly advocated
At the conclusion of the Bishops address, the roll
was called and the convention adjourned until
5P. M.