The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-14
The Church and the Poor.

A very important subject came up for dis
cussion in the Episcopal Convention at Bos-
ton on Tuesday. 1t followed the introduce
ton OF series of resolutions concerning
the better adaptation Of the means OF the
Church to the needs Of society, anu cs-
pccially to those Of the poor.
1t is an undeniabc fact that the Episcopal
Church, like others OF the Protestant de-
nominations fails to mako much Roadway
among the poorest class of the community,
while the Roman Catholic Church maintains
n great influence over it. The growth OF the
Episcopal Church has been chiefly among
the richer sort Of people, though IT has also
made lnudablc. and. in some degree, sue
cosslul efforts among the poor The WORK
in this direction performed i'll the lrrl'y
parish in this city. and in other of the Epls-
copa parishes has been pursued with mnch
zeal. and the good done has doubtless been
considerable. But the lnrgc majority oil
the Episcopal communion, ana oi the attend
ants on the Episcopal churches, are people
who are in good, or allrcnt circumstances
As Bishop POTTER pointed out, III an au-
dress delivered year or more ago, ana as
everybody knows, the Episcopal Church Is II
fashionable church. perhaps the most lash-
ionablc of the Protestant denominations,
| and i'm consequence II draws to its services a
| large number of persons who wish To manu-
facturc or fortifyan outward responsibility,
by allyng themselves with a religious body
30 much affected by the rich and fashions
BILE. Bishop Potter regretted this state of
things and severely invcighcd against tho
snobs who employ religion to gratiiy their
vulgar ambitions. 1t IL true indeed, that the
beautiful ritual and orderly services of the
| Epscopal Church attract Ia IL many people
of refined tastes, who are not governed ny
! such contemplate motives; but even they
are not the sort Of individuals who give
strength, and vigor, and aggressive power
to church, nor do they add essentially t.
its spiritual growth. They are religious
dill otanti, agreeable people to have about
butImcn and women who are Episcopalans
from conviction, and not merely from taste
who are Jealous in the faith, and pcrvaded
with the belief that, for the good of society
their doctrines and order should be extend
ed. are the members most to be desired.
Mr. WELSH Of Pennsylvania, in advocat
ing the resolutions at Boston. laid spccia
stress IN the need Of attracting the poor t'
the Church. Mr.. DEyEREAUX Of Ohio heart
llN sustained lllln anu HSh'h Nh'i' WV
Episcopal Church was during the late rail
road strikes He might also have askc'
where il was before them; what If did t. allie
viatc or prevent the poverty and to still TIN
discomfort which produced them. Mr.. WHIT
TIE of Georgia could not see why his Churcl
does not have as much influence with tn
Southern negroes n the Roman Cathuli
Church and the Methodist Church Possess
Many other speakers followed in slmila
strain. and the resolutions We're adopto,
and referred to n committee of five clergy
men and five laymcn.
Measure this committee that they cannc
hope To- attain the end they 80 much dcsii
p without dcvising some practical plai
. whereby they shall gain the confidence {
p those they seek to reach. and make man
: fest tu them the blessings of Chri~tianit.
a They cannot do this 10y treating them ~ IL
, fcrior-. or 10y. separating them from Tia"
- richer brethren OF all places. the church
.. the one where there should Ice no distin
y tion- of wealth. no patronage of the poo
# and the unfortunate 10y the rich and the pro
II porous. but full equality before COP.