Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-29
THREE YEARS RECTORSHIF.


THREE YEARS RECrORsHIr.
Rev. DR.. KNIGHT. OF st. james.
Yesterday, first Sunday in Advent, wa
the third anniversary Of the rectOrship 9
Rev. DR.. knight at St. James church, thi
CITY, and his sermon in the morning wa
appropriate to the event of which the occa
sion was the cOmmemoration. The rectO
recalled with satisfaction the alterations il
the church building, notably those whicl
relieved the DEFICIENCIES pointed out il
these words "When I came the deel
and awkward and iDconvenient side gal
leries remained, interfering with light ant
sound and free air, and almost wholly un
occupied. The vestry was in ruinoui
condition, with a rent through which ont
could see the stars, stretching between il
and the main body of the church. In the
western gallery stood an organ which had
seemingly far outlived its usefulness
(though thanks to the thoughtful gener-
! Osity of parishOner and to the efforts OF
our brethren at St. JOHNS it has now re
newed its youth and does good service at
that church), while the west front rose in
unredeemed and irredeemable ugliness.' -
| The expense of the alterations rendered
necessary by these deficiencies was referred
to and the hope expressed that the Eas-
ter season would extinguish all remain
ing debt. The gifts of the parish for re-
| ligious purposes during the last three
years amount to 4 little more than s24, 900.
This includes little less than oIe-third
the cost of the new organ.
Referring to the changes in the manner
of celebrating divine service DR.. Knight
said 1t is very desirable for many rea-
sons that the congregation should join
heartily in singing the hymns and canti-
cles, and l think you will bear me witness
that three years ago, singing, excepting in
the choir gallery, was a thing almost un-
known here. There was almost no sing
ing, as there was little audible response on
the part of the people, and called your at
tention to this at once on coming here.
Now experience has always proved that
to put the organ and leaders of
the singing before the people is a
great help in drawing them to take
their share in this part of the wOr-
ship. And so it has been here. Our hymns
are now rendered for the most part both by
choir and people heartily and with spirit.
The choir having their place in the chan
Gel, it was seemly and fitting that they
should come in and withdraw in an order
ly way, that is to say, in procession, and
that they should wear uniform dress,
thus covering up anything in their garb
which might draw the eye or distract the
thought of the wOrsbipers. And as
there is a garb which has been worn from
the earliest ages by the leaders of devO
ton in the Christian church (Which
indeed had. before been worn for
many centuries through command of God
l. 10, 10
church), which has been worn from time
aud in hundreds of parish churches in
Der of our churches in this land, We adopt
ed that dress. To quicken the devotion of
tho people and recall wandering thoughts,
a hymn is sung as clergy and choir enter
the church, and to bring the service to a
solemn close when they go out. In accord
ancc with a very ancient and almost uni
versal custom in all branches of the Cath
oIic church, and in order that we may
express our unity by all, clergy and choir
and people, standing in one way, we turn
to the East when We say the creed.
think have spoken now of all the points
i'm which our service differ from that of
other parishes near us, and it will be seen
by any one who will take the trouble
to examine the matter, ever SO slightly,
that our ways are SIMPLY the ancient,
orderly, edifyins customs which
VIC have inherited from our mother
Church of England. As for their being
copied from the Church of Romo or indi-
eating any tendencies in that direction,
am sure the suggestion Of such ignorance
or thOughtlcssness is best met and an
swered by goOd-natured smile. If any !
of you, my people, shall join the Church
of Rome, which do not at all fear, it will
not be in consequence of the ordering of
our service or for want Of teaching from
your PASTOR
The practice of surplicing the choir, DR..
Knight said, is rapidly growing in favor.
He had also availed himself of the right,
affirmed by the general convention, of say
ing the three offices of Morning Prayer,
Ltany and Holy Communion separately.
He was glad to know that whatever
changes bad been made under his rector j
ship were made without alternating one sin-
gle person, old or young, high or low, in
the parish and SO far as he can learn not |
one person desires to so back to the former |
usages. He regretted that so few availed
of the high privileges offered !
by the establishment of the weekly and
holy day celebration of the Eucharist:
DR.. Knight enjoined upon his parishion-
ers that "cvery person here who really de
sires to honor God and to gain something
for his own soul would make it rulo not |
to speak one word within these walls be-
fore or after SERVICE" "Thcre will be time
enough to talk when you have got beyond
The door. But you will not take it amiss
il warn you even then to be careful how
you speak of the service Or the sermon.
Whatever defects there may be in either.
try to forget them and to remember that
the clergy arc the ministers of Jesus Christ
and, whatever may he their faults or fail
ings, that they speak here in His name and
by His authority
The rector acknowledged valuable aid
Ind assistance received in his labOrs from
Rev. Mulholland, master Of Yeates insti-
ute; and from the vcstry and church
The establishment of free
;ittings; the increase in the Sunday
schools and their libraries the prospect Of
'urther Sunday school building the good
work of the parish guild; the onward
,ausc Of the orphanage and Bowman church
lone. were other subjects on which the
ector felicitated himself and his congrega-
ion.
In the way Of statistics he noted that
8 in the three years past have baptized
G1 infants and 43 adults, in all 2O4. Sew
nty eight persons have been confirmed.
There are now at least 28O regular commu-
licants. have buried sixty-one persons
lerc.' The timely and excellent discourse
loscd with touching and eloquent
oforonca to tho 1ate MrS JOhu T, At1co |