St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-02

Ni"StOAiD iAis, V. bdNC SCI
before thee an open door, st. John
spoke these words to one of the seven
churches in Asia Minor, at Philadel-
phia, and were read by Bishop Gilbert
to Illustrate how opportunities should
on to say that the great inheritance of
the church Of the present from the
church of the past only UNNECESSARILY
increases her responsibilities, and he
asserted that never had the Opportuni-
ties of the church been so great as now,
when the whole world is open for con-
version, not a continent. nor
any section OF continent
being closed to the missionary.
That the church had failed in her
duty he denied since she has ever
marched side by side with the advance
of discovery, conquest and invention.
After mentioning the work of foreign
missions, the bishop said. regarding
other fields:
1.-The door to the Outstanding of the
heather world is not the only door
which God has opened for His church
in these latter times. There stands the
open door of mercy and charity, as in
the days when our Savior stood in the
midst of the sick and suffering,
healing and comforting them by
His touch and words, so now the church
eOSo Ohi oiObS3 hAO Peiliio Va % ulC
afflicted humanity, and men look up 10
her for healing and help. She sends out
her willing sisters of mercy into the
midst of every kind of disease, often
to suffer and die meath the awful breath
of pestilence. They minister with the
gentle hands of love. They smooth
the brow of the dying and calm
the aching heart of sorrow. She builds
her hospitals whenever and where
ever the opportunity offers and sup
ports them by the offerings out of her
own treasury. Without her the work
of ministering to the sick and suffering
poor would virtually cease. She builds
her home for the orphan and the aged:
becomes loving mother to the mother
less and staff TO those lettering upon
the verge of their earthly lives. She
speaks to the hearts of the rich and tells
them OF their suffering brothers, and their
hearts are touched by her voice, if
aught can touch them. Through the
wide open door of common humanity
she enters and tells them of the brother
hood of man made possible only in and
through Christ. Before her swing open
the doors which offer an entrance into
the fields of temperance and social
purity, and if she would keep these
sacred enclosures from being defiled by
O1AO lOuSh vi dDu
lust she must as a watchful sentinel
stand at the entrance and with the two
edged flaming sword of her own Christ
given authority strike coldly down the
band that scatter the deadly poison.
Sometimes fear she stands in danger
OF virtually condoning these evils by
her seeming indifference and fear of
offense. There can be no compromise
with sln.'
After referring to what the church
can do in the way of promoting wise
legislation the speaker reverted to the
reasons why the Episc opal church is
the AnglO-SaXon language is becoming
universal, the religion which most
nearly represents the spirit of that race
must likewise become the strongest.
The following are further reasons cited
by him:
She carries with her no covert threat
to the reversal of those methods of life
and action which are so dear to the
American heart. She has no entangling
alliance with any so-called absolutism
beyond the seas. She asks for no legis-
lation which shall promise her special
favor and emolument. She is not
forced 10 explain constantly her con-
dition in order to disarm public
suspicion, nor, on the other hand. does
she exact self-contident individuallSm
or rush with heated brain ana impetu-
GUS Judgment into extremes of re form
In this direction or that, or embroil her.
self in the fieeting political issues of
the day. These facts are being recOg-
niZed, and men as they learn of her true
position and claims are coming to honor
her more and more, to ally themselves
personally with her."
He went OH to say that the barriers
which divide the different denomina-
tons are fast disappearing, and that the
final outcome will be one church, and
that the church which has close and
unbroken hold upon the past. and is in
full touch and sympathy with the
present, and that church he believed to
be his own.
AT this point the bishop-elect arose,
supported on either side by bis presby-
tiers, and turning toward him, Bishop
Gilbert delivered himself thus:
Brother, beloved, the church of our
Venerated mother is calling you to-day
and bidding you go forth into field of
marvellous opportunities. Before you
as one of her chosen leaders she sets an
open door. 1t is door which, while it
opens into land of promise, opens also
into a life of toll and care and burden
bearing, which endeth only at the
grave. God be thanked that you
have had the courage to face
these difficulties and to offer your
shoulders to-day to carry the weight.
May His grace be sufficient for thee.'
Ii is not in your nature to shrink from
work for the Master. You gave your
life when you entered the ministry to
Him. Your life without reservation
you gave 1t, and am sure your only re-
iS not onitlA
to the service of Him who gave
Himself for US all. All, my dear
brother. how my heart goes out
to you in the solemn hour of consecra-
ton. How it sobs in sympathy as the
future with its burdens rises before me.
Do l not know, and ought | not to tell
you, of its isolation? OF the wakeful
hours of the night watches, when the
bleating of sheep without shepherds
will ring and rering in your ears. Of
the wearisOme wanderings across
the prairies. Of the toilsome jour-
neys by night and 10y day. OF
the hOmeleSSneSS, for bishop
has no home. Of misconstruction and
misunderstanding of motives, of the
Outlines pressing down of the spiritual
by the constant pr essing of the material
All these things you now SEE as in
glass darkly, but soon you will Sc
them face to face. We would not dis
guise them. Yea, these are the burdens
of the episcopate, ana these are it's
glories, too. Glories. because to ell
dure burdens for Christ, to spend and be
spent in his service, to lay down your
lite, if need be, for Him-all this is to feel
that you are treading in His very foot
steps. Men talk about the honor of
being bishop. Aye. it is an honor. but
most An honor in its sacrifices. God
has been fitting you all your life
through, my brother, for this work.
Yours has been the discipline of toll
and devotion. Yours has bee n
the discipline of the missionary
and of the still harder-worked