Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-06-14


OF five rectors.
Besides these services within the diocese.
have given my consent, in accordance with
the canon. to the conservation of the Rev.
George F. Seymour, d. D., Bishop elect Of
the diocese Of Springfield of the Rev.
Alexander Burgess, D. d, Bishop elect OF
Quincy, and of the Rev. George W illiam
Peterkin, d. D., Bishop elect Of West Vlr-
ginia.
The Bishop then spoke of the changes
which had taken place among the clergy OF
his diocese and the encouraging condition
of many of the parishes, especially OF the
several missionary stations. lie remarked
however, that the work, though in one
view quite satisfactory, has been carried on
under difficulty. 1t was begun with debt.
At the last convention pledges were made
which should have entirely relieved our en-
barrassment. But portion of these were
not fulfilled until November. and some OF
them hardly fulfilled at all. Then the
offerings have fallen short Of the estimated
amount so that in no quarter have the
stipends been paid punctually. And at the
beginning of the third quarter, it was plain
ly neodiul to ask for an extra Offering to
meet the increasing deficiency.
This is very unsatisfactory way of deal
ing with an interest 81 important, 50 vital
/
in our own diocese. The matter needs and
should have the careful consideration Of the
| convention.
The system of personal pledges which We
have been trying Tor the past three years,
and which among US has not heen prodGc-
| tive OF the best results. has been used in
| other diOceses with great success. Ii seems
to me that We have not thoroughly tried it.
| think but few Of our congregations have
| been completely canyassed. But to make
the plan effective the pledges should be
offered to every member of the parish or
mission. Every attendant on our services
should be solicited TO promise quarterly
| gilt of such sum a. he can afford. ltneed
not necessarily be large offering, but such
an amount a. each one can contribute with
out interfering with his giving for other
neediul objects.
Ii this can be done in this diocese. as in
others every parish carefully canvassed.
and individual pledges secured from all whO
are willing to make them then, without
burdening the parishes or the diocese, with
out hindering any other needtul work, |
fully believe an amount can be raised
greater than any We have ever yet expend-
ed on our missions. And this amount could
be depended upon to come in regularly at
each quarter.
The vital point with the system which We
have been trying to use, Is that the pledges
should be offered to every parishoner. And
it is exactly in this point, az think, that
our failure hitherto has occurred
The minister of the parish often finds
special difficulty when he attempts to secure
these pledges. And there are very few of
our lay men who hsyc the leisure to under
take that service.
And 50 situated IL seems to me q case in
which We may very properly invoke the
assistance OF the women ui the church. In
almost every parish there can be found a
number of Christian women, full OF zeal.
who, il they were appointed To this work by
their pastor, and especially ii they were en-
cou-agod in it by the recommendation of
the convention Of the diocese, would he will
ling to undertake the duty Of circulating
these pledges and would do il very thor
oughly.
As general rule. women have much
more skill in such solicitations than men.
They have more aptness in details,
more tact In addressing those whom they
approach. more patiencs IN going through
with such task. hope the recent asso-
citation OF the women Of the diocese for
church work may, besides the other benefits
which We expect from it, give us effective
assistance to n thorough canvass OF each par
ish and mission. and successful use OF the
pledges for our Diocesan Missions.
AT any rate, it is necessary that some
means be employed to increase the offer
ings for this purpose. And il such increase
cannot be secured in some method that will
be regular and reliable in its operation,
then. see no help for it, our efforts for ex
tending the Church must be contracted
some OF our stations, notwithstanding their
-. G,.t.
of the stipends, in no case. We are sure, too
large, reduced; and the faithful men who
serve them subjected to inconvenience. and
their families to further deprivation. For
this is what contracting our work means.
No member Of the convention would con-
sent to such construction if We can honestly
avoid it.
| have spoken of the recent tfflrt to asso-
ciate the women Of the diocese Cor Church
work. 1t will be recolected that petition
asking for a measure vas ofert d ut the last
annual convention; and by resolution a
committee was appointed on the subject OF
the petition. That committee lad the mat
ter under discussion for some time, but
W thout coming to any practical result.
Meanwhile our attention was called to the
successful operation of the " W0man's Aux-
iliary to the Board of Missions" The
conferred, could not but feel it was very
desirable that the Christian women Of our
congregations should have some share in
that good service which was. to ~ great an
extent. strengthening our missions at home
and abroad. An effort was therefore made
to form sOcietirs in connection with the
Auxiliary.
But VIC were met at once by seri-
Gus difficulty. There are very few con-
gregations Of the church in Vermont which
could afford to sustain such organizations.
engaged exclusively in promoting interests
outside the parishes. In the most OF them
there are now associations OF earnest women
" ho are using their industry 10 sustain
their home institutions. They are doing
what is very necessary In some cases,
without that help, it would be difficult 10
maintain the services And in Others It's
loss would be scnsiby ielt. as materially di-
ninishng the resources OF congregations.
Ii could not be well to disband or cripple
associations that are doing 50 much good.
We ought rather t. strengthen them.
And the Bishop hopes that the plan
adopted with the advice OF the committee
referred ID will have that effect. IL IL pro
posed that various parish societies fpr
church work be recognized a. in union with
the Diocesan Branch of the "WOman's
Auxiliary" If they desire such connection;
but without interfering with their present
operations, except 80 far as this that each
parish society should bo recommended, ut
some period in the year, in Advent, perhaps,
or in Lent, to work in the line of the Aux
iliary for our general missions. The assOci-
ations of parishes in the same vicinity
might join together in some specific work
for the Auxiliary, so that the part which
each would undertake would not be large
in amount, or interfere materially with Its
usual operations.
We hope that in this way wider and
stronger interest IN the missionary cause
may be awakened among us. more accurate
knowledge OF what is done may be diHused,
and thus our sympathy enlarged and quick
ered towards all efforts TO extend the blessed
Kingdom OF our Lord. Should the Conven-
tion deem it best to ask of the local ass0cia-
tons the service of canvassing under their
pastors for the missions of this Diocese that
would. be a species Of diocesan work OF great
value to us, and it should be acknowledged
rs such.
But the chief employment OF the parish
associations would continue to be, rs in the
past, to maintain their own services and to
help in matters at home. | am persuaded
that the union of these associations with the
Diocesan Auxiliary will not be in any de-
gree u hindrance of their home work. On
the contrary We expect they will find in
their union new source OF strength; that
it will give to their lthors more decided
character and dignity: that they will be
much encouraged by mutual counsel and
the sympathy of those who feel that they are
striving together ipr the highest Of all IN
terestS
The Bishop then briefly referred to the
matter OF the Permanent Fund for Missions,
and regretted tho slownesI oi its increase.
After referring generally D the work of tho
last general convention and OF the har-
mony. ability and wisdom which character
lied lt4 proceedings. the Bishop said Two
days since, the third OF this month, oc-
Cured the tenth anniversary of my cOnst
Grafton ~ tho second Bishop OF Vermont.
My thoughts have been strongly turned
back to that time of such intense interest
to me. 1t was with many misgiving and
painful doubt Of my capacity that received