The Dickinson press., 1883-11-03
Ending of the Episcopal, Convention

w SAAS A1PAoNOR2k
The general convention OF the Protestant
Episcopal Church at Philadelphia, after a
session of twenty. one days closed on Friday
Goth. After prayer and singing, the pastor
al letter was read by Rt. Rev. Bishop Hunt
ingtop. After speaking ch%eerfully OF the
church, the letter nay
PASTORAL LETTER.
We had better confess on the score of
theological education. in ample libraries,
IN strong Endorsements, in multiplying
branches OF research, in even pace with the
best students abroad, we have no boasts to
make before one it not two or three OF Chris
tan bodies working and wolshipping at our
side, in fact nothing a. all worthy of our su.
perlor heritage and traditions. under the
same double law, permanence and move.
ment, the church finds the motive and Joy
OF her missionary action. ".As the father
hath sent me. so | send you" Foreign
missions, home missions. missions Ito men
OF any tongue OF color are but the unf lding
nus our missionaries be. There is
no difference between Jew and Gentle
humanity, dead or dying in sin. always the
foreign laid. all souls covenanted with
the church are at home with our elder
brother, and the conventions ceasing
unprecedented repor 8, evangelizing toll,
stirred our hearts. Strong voices told us OF
bold enterprises, SO vast that our weak
faith hardly knows whether they mus
arouse or discourage us. that have been ex-
posed all over the earth in twenty years and
never more conspicuously than siace our
last triennial meeting. This church has
been awakened to increased practicalsympa-
thy with the weaker and suffering classes,
victims OF social wrong, unequal laws, in.
temperance in drink and INSCRIPTIONS tr f.
tic IN them and sometimes of merciless
wealth.
The letter treats of emigration and says:
In the action of this commission. taking
measures to provide Christian care for the
immense number of European emigrants
daily arriving at our seaports and l~akeports
and distributed over the co tinent, there is
pointed out a line of usefulness peculiar to
our condition, open to the clergy and laity
alike.
The bishops next take up the question of
the dissertation of the marriage VOW and
handle it roughly. Public schools are also
referred to and great care in their admins,
tratlon is advocated. Continuing the letter
he says:
Thinking and studying men, who are
also believers, are everywhere looking for
grounds OF Christian unity, and it is the
glorious hope OF our time. We hold that
the vantage ground IS with us, because ex-
perience, Christ's words. and right and
reason affirm together that unity must APP
pear if we will by growth form historic
roll not BY construction or wedding of
platforms. Recently, as a fit prelude to
broader affiliations of friendship between
the mother church and ourselves has been
made more vital and more conscious than
ever before, not only by welcome visits of
beloved brethern OF the English bench to
our council and homes.
The letter ends in a triumphant reference
to the success of the church, spiritually
and financially Glorea in Excelsls was sung.
the dictor benediction pronounced by Bish.
OPP Lee, and the convention adjourned sine
die.