New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-18
THE EPISCOPAL CONGRESS.
OPENING OF THE WASHINGTON MEETING.
A SERMON BY msHop BROOKS AND AN ADDRESS
BY EX-SENATOR EDMUNDs.
,bY TELEGRAPH 10 TIE TkrsUSEr

lbY TELEGRAPH 10 TIE AklSUSEt
Washington, Nov 1.-THE opening session OF the
Church Coness-a notable gathering OF the clergy anu
aity Of tho Protestant Episcopal Churcwas held this
morning In Epiphany Church here. and this evening
the delegates begun the discussion OF religious anu
ethical topics In the hall OF the National Rifles Annoy
The exercises this morning religious In ciaracr'
and consisted Of a celebration of communion ana ser
mon by Bishop Philips Brooks Senator Edmunds aiper-
ward read address OF welcome TO the delegates III
the evening the general topic OF atheism ana EVou-
uon' discussed. Among those on the list TO read
papers or make addresses the Rev. Dr. Edwin Har
wood, OF New Haven; the Rev. DR.. S. D. Mcconnell
of Philadelphia; Archdeacon Henry L. Negenfuss' Oh
Poughkeepse and Professor Ewood Worcester OF south
Bethlehem, Penn The congress will continue In
session for three days. This is the fourteenth meeting
since its organization.
large crowd, mostly Of ladies' gathered this morn
ing a full hour before the time for the preliminary
service at the Epiphany Church. The desire ana
curiosity TO see and hear Bishop BROOKS
were evidently intense At the beginning
OF the service, which was opened WIN
singing by Q large choir about twenty MINISTER'S
bishops apd priests, in their white robes ned IN iroh
the vestry and TOOK their seaIs III 'Ho '"
within the chancel.
After the service OF prayer Bishop Brooks stately
and commanding Of presence passed from the chancei
I'D into the pulpit. With tremulous ana sone"ii~'
husky voice, he began by alluding to tne previous
gatherings of the Church Congress- and reierrea 70
their manifest interest and benefit Then, saying
that at such times of gathering it is good tnng 10
refer 10 some portion OF the Divine Word, ne read
from the ninth chapter Of Matthew the passage which
tells OF Chriss power put forth in the healing OF 'e
man sick with the palsy, and pronouhcns the iosNo
ness of his sins. This act was declared 10 po oe Va
the MANY surprises with which Christ moved the peo
ME such az revealed deeper, richer truth uah can
usually be discovered the surface This true Oh
NJ
u.s. it is to awaken and quicken minds ha' 'ne'
NAV be enabled the clearer to comprehend and receive
the Divine teaching. Thus 1t Is that God acceh'uao
the unity Of human life. Win strong einphasis ."e
shop made patent the fact that this Is tho aay ior
the deeper realization and proounder understanding Oh
Clrists saving grace; that his salvation Is lhe un
versal and divine help which he is ever ready 10 I'M
mart through mind 10 BODY soul and spirit, sometimes
reaching the body through the soul and again touching
the soud through the body With one man lie enters
through one door, 10 another He comes BY dlHereh'
way but to all, when He enters lie comes directly
fully into the soul one enters into the conpe'e
auditorium Of cathedral whether he steps through
the main entrance by side door. Dr. BrooKs al
vanced the idea that all art, all science and states
manship everything Of human interest but several
ways of Gods operation and manifestation. Go deep
enough into any of these and you Will ma the
soul of mainland there you may find God-and there
also God may find the man. Those who would divorce
all religion from art and science are making
fatal mistake. The three cannot be aenated, for
they are elements OF the human nature Of which re-
llgion is one. They must be used not as the allies
or confederates Of religion, but with It, In each
may be found the universal need for Godthe cry Of
the soul for the true the beautiful and the good This
need is met by the divtnely human Christ and the
eternal spirit OF truth. Divine power and grace may
enter through any and every portal OF the souls temple
Bishop Brooks speaks with such rapdity that he is
~ tha
speaks not merely with his tongue and lips. but with
his whole body with hands and lips and head, exhibit
ing an intensity Of thought and feeling when gives
marked emphasis 10 his words His address to-day
seemed to be purely extemporaneous, yet giving evil
dence of well elaborated thought.
Following the sermon and the communion service
Senator Edmunds read from manuscript a written
address to the members Of the Congress.
Lamentng the absence OF Bishop Paret,
presiding over this diocese, he congratulated
the clergy on the opening Of this the fourteenth
Church Congress- under such suspicious circumstances
1t met for the first time in this capital WHERE as III
all the land the Church is independent OF the staee
and the state independent OF the Church. and where
each may freely and fully exercise its functions WITHOUT
interference with the other. The field was Tree To
BOTH for the promotion, on the one hand Oh reheiou
and virtue and on the other OF law, justice anu
political equality. The Senator declared that inc
present gathering designed to discuss various
topics that tended 10 pronloe tie iheroa'S vi h'''
as we'll as the cause OF religion. The work to be done
was to find the ways and means by which the oiVinc
peace and good will might be made known anu IN
parted TO all men not merely to those OF high rank
moor and sOrrowful the ignorant and the wicked
these being a constant element In the Life OF the
wOrll -. o =, ,,o
most difficult problems Of social ana political,
nhosophy and science well, the ART OF
rrightly applying them TO existing conditions OF
society Tor the equal distribution and realization
and Spirit mail
perity This was the dream Of Plato, which is becom
Ing fulfilled more and in the marked progress at
present Of the worlds thought and acuon. ,.,.
Every true disciple OF every creed must heartily
respond to the desire Mr. Edmunds expressed at the
close Of his address that this great Episcopal Church
might neither faint nor grow weary, but with per-
sistence as constant the law Of gravtaton In the
physical world press with its eyes always turned
10 the polestar OF its life. undsturoed by enDarrass-
ment and unawed by disaster
NOTES OF THE STAGE.