The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-12
A PASTORAL LETTER.

THE CHURCH POINTED oUr-A CALL &c
| HIGHER, PuRER CHRISTIANITY.
| the House OF Bishops Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church adopted. at their last meeting In Boston, in
October pastoral lotter. which read before the
general convention at Trinity Church. IN that city,
October "a. This letter. which very important
exhortasion to Epscopalians, read yesterday In
many Of the churches OF this city and Brooklyn. The
letter opens with benedction and the admonition for
all Epscopalians exercise their personal influences
in the conversion Of souls and by their example ad-
vance the cause Of Christ among unbelievera
THE Law OF HOLINESS.
The letter declares that IL becomes direct duty Of
ministry to proclaim with iss utmost energy that
the law Of holiness in the New Testament is law Of
holiness for under all conditions aud under all
circumstances OF lie. Many OF the religious guides
and teachers Of people address themselves little
the and aim at other than the for
nation Of character in tho principles Of Christian
ghteousness therefore the land is daily Inundated
by financial crimes Frauds dealcations and bctrayais
In its trusted citizens. Patriotism fails to re-
strain men from robbing their country or natural
pity from running the orphan, the widow, the Indian.
Violated contracts 6ducary perversions, forgery and
perjury make up tho alarming records OF the public
pross. Nothing will prevent these crimes but lear
less affirmation OF The commandments Of the Most
TO follow tho steps and deliver tho message Of the
Great Shepherd well to sit at His feet. We are
TO until s'holy church" reaps its fruit in
holy nation. whose God is tho Lord, doing the things
which the Lord says.
A HIGH STANDARD or MORALITY NEEDED
The church Of God needs high standard Of morals
and pure practice as urgently as needs an increased
Episcopale or multiplied missionaries We exhort
those you who preach Christ to preach right living,
and TO preach II not IN generatiss, but IN definite
particulars. MuliIudes all communities weigh
work and learn The claims OF system not from
Literature. but from the lives OF those whom Ne
buptze ana confirm. We sent cali sinners
pen OF specific SINS OF dishonesty and double dealing
OF lying aud cheang, OF slander and swearing, OF lust
and dleness, OF excesscs IN eating and drinking and
Dress OF gambling and rloting, OF dissertation OF the
Lords Day, and oi the beginnings Of ali OF these inqu-
ties. We are uncover all their notifications, uis-
guses and apologies. We arc to rebuke sedshness
all ungodiy shapes, impety IN all its practical prot
anations; and on he other hand we are to instruct in
all The virtues cf a cody character; honesty and
rutnulness, sincerity and constancy, moderation,
~ Of tie ay we yoa
SO distinctly to practise the precepts of holy
religion that men who see your manners may DO able
TO givo names 70 Inc graccs and virtue winch you
illustrate Let your hoiy living be outspoken and
never justly liable TO misinterpretaton, nor marred
by Inconsistencies
ABUSES IN THE CHURCHES.
'srhere are" says the letter, "eusy opportunities
are barely lolerable but which IN the Church have
nothing whatever TO excuse their sordidness or their
vugarity, except that they bring needed money toa
worthy cause 1t Is not necessary 10 specify these
abuses or 10 characterize them as they deserve II
IS enough they lie close to the border OF forbidden
ground. Ii associations with the gaming table, tho
lottery, the race course, the play mousse incon-
sstent with Christian character how much more
when church thus associates itself Tor the purpose
OF advancing tho interests OF Cnrst's kingdom ~
EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
A large space IL devoted TO the parental obligations
In tho education Vi children. Much OF the corruption
in social anc pubic lie - Occurred 10 have It's root III
defective family training, and II is inconsistent to
send your children schools admiuis,erod in the III.
Rome.
gerous Your obligation IL to Oring them up In
the nurture and admonilion the Lord Let do
cetve himself the thought that influences win BIO
exertcd by sucn schools 70 withdraw our children
from the truth IN which they nave been nurturei 1t
ould be as dishonest In Romsh teachers, who be-
leve that thor salvation mperilled ny non-com-
with The Church OF Rome, not to influence the
children committed TO Thorn, as II sinful IN you and
perlous for them 10 submit their susceptible years to
SUCH religious Impressions The perversion Of your
children Is predetermined end oil receiving thom
Into Rom,sh schools. Your children will become
negative Proteslants, II not positive Romansts.
THE sACRhDSEss OF MARRIAGE
Thoro Is danger to religion and society from want OF
| 1dciIty 10 the saciedncss oil marriage. In giving
these oounses 10 the Church Zee! constrained
TO advert subject which Is OF paniu interest to
many persons anu which, IRON It's very nature, we
would gladly leave untouched did our sense oil duty
permit US SILENT That subject the great and
growing disregard in our country sanclity Of
marriage The evil is shown IN the levlty with which
marriage Is contracted, in the unscrapulousness
with which II Is entered upon Wy men aud
women 10 whom II Is forbidden by the laws
Of the ancient Church Of GOO. by the laws OF the
/
OF ITSELF The same unhappy tendency Is
| shown Ito readiness with which divorces OBJ
tanned slight ana insufficient grounds aud subse-
quent unions formed which are Called marriages, but
winch Lord has pronounced TO be adulteries The
baneui and unchrstian state Of public opinion which
toerates and frequently even lcgLzes such acts
| portentous omen for the future OF religion and
society In our country. Meanwhile we
urge 1t upon our brethren the sacred
| ministry 10 instruct the families committed
| to their charge with renewed care aud diligence
III those principles OF moral purity which give honor
nj NJ tn q
parents TO train their children to clear knowledge Of
what tho law Of God requires 10 the relations OF the
sexes, as well as IN guarded habits IN whatever per-
tans to the manners and intercourse OF aocial lite ;
ana We urge II upon al our people to preserve the
| husband aud wife which our Lord has chosen
lvng image to represent the mystical union of Him.
| sell with HIS bride, the Church.
RELATIONS BETWEEN CAPITAL LABOR.
This subject is briefly touched upon AS one OF the
dangers Of society, tnreateGng tue stability Of tue
teach rich and the poor. both the workman ana
employer, their several Obligations to bring the.o
Glasses INTO harmony upon the common plane OF ro
NECESSITY FOR MISSIONARY WORK.
Much space is devoted to resume OF the missionary
work o the Church Ia the past, anu the bishops de-
clare that they regard the subject at this
handing OF every member renewed conservation
and consccrated efi.rI Systematic giving and
systematlzed labor are pressing needs, together vita
unaninity In both. Parochia systems differ, out no
hned and established system In these charities 1t Is
u critical period tho moral history OF the world. Al
this moment commercial activity has opened avenues
tor Christianity into every uaton Even the Interior
Africa has been traversed by Christian explora
ton. Ease OF aud constant
rapidly dissoIvIng barriers between heather aud
christanized peoples.
The bishops alter referring to the fields Tor this
KIND OF labor Ia foreign countries, remark :-"By
the help OF Almighty God, and the power of His
SPIRIT, we may present the Church In her life, her
services and her teachings, purely, simply and with
effect IN every portion o this continent In our
North and Southwestern states ami Territories and
IN Tue Dominion OF Canada every acre OF
land IS now covered by the Jurisdiction OF
bishop Of the Anglican communion. Our
Episcopal organization affords US great advantages
Every movement is guidod by wise orec 81 and ex-
percncc teaches that the rough and the bold
hunlsman OF the West when aroused to oi tho
value OF his SOUL easily learns and soon prefers TO
worship his rcconciIed Father IN the forms OF
liturgy Up then, brcthren Tho land Is large, and
It is goodly land which the Lord hath blessed Up
enter In and possess II"
MRS MERRILL'S WILL.
THE OLD LADY'S MODE