Evening journal., 1891-07-30
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
WASH tNGToN TRIsuNE HAS A BIG
ARTICLE FROM BISHOP COLEMAN.


WASH tNGToN TRIsuNE HAS A 5l,
ARTICLE FROM BISHOP COLEMAN.
The Policy of the Churcb-The specia
Efforts That Are Being Made for q
Promotion ana Development of Par
tienlAr -Episoopalisnism'
Present Condition.
Right Rev Leighton Coleman, s. 4. ID.
d ID. bishop of Delaware has written TO
the National Tribune Of Washington, d
| O., an interesting article that fills nearl,
| FIVE columns of that paper. The grticlg
is on American Episeopacy, and WA
| written at the solicitation of the pub
fishers of the Tribune, who had II copy
| righted end it appeared in the issue OF
| July % The following statements ars
taken from the article;
In carrying on her various departments
| of industry, she relies not only upon the
| ordinary agencies and such societies as
have assumed more especially the promo
tion OF the objects above mentiored but
also upon such organizations as St. An
| drew's Brotherhood, the Girls Friendly
Society, the Young Mems Friendly Soci-
ETY.; but chiefly, it may be said, upon
sisterhoods
"Of these last there are now large
number, and the demand for their assist.
ance is so much on the increase that It is
found to be an utter impossibllity So sat
isfy it with the present sEpply OF sisters,
go entirely has the former preiudice
| against them disappeared.
ttIlpHroppQapa alaa ura haaonnfnn- ts,ara
numerous, and steps have recently been
taken whereby their number will be con
siderably increased aud their efficiency
promoted Parish guilds, too, are being
generally formed, and through the sub
| division Of work made possible by their
division into chapters with specific duties
assigned them, are elicitnig much more
general and hearty cooperation than has
ever before been realized.
AS to the presentIstatistics, is is diff
cult to get complete returns from all
dioceses. but the following will be found
sufficiently accurate for the purposes
of thisarticle. They are below the truth
rather than over it, They are for the year
l990-91
Missionary jurisdictions. !. ....... IA
Priests and Deacons, about ......... 4lo6
Parishes, ab ut t....... .. ... 3lOO
bona-tde members. .about............. :, 1900
THE membership Of the Episcopal
Church Is often very much underesti-
mated when compared with that of other
religious bodies, because of her commun-
icants only being taken into account.
whereas 1t is entirely safe to multiply
tbfu lutfa- ha- G.wa - -
number not Of her adherents, but of
those who are members by baptism. II we
were to anumerate those who adhere to
her, or count themselves as practically
belonging to her, we should clai n con
siderably more than 2, 500 000
"one very important fact is to be borne
in mind, viz: That the American Epis
copal Church is only one out Of number
Of branches Of the Universal Episcopal
Church, which In membership far out
numbers all other religious societies COM
bined the proportion being not less than
three TO one
THE growth which has already been
tabulated, is remarkable. 1t is larger In
proportion than that Of any other
Protestant communion, and verv mueb
larger than that OF most of them. Its
ratio Of growth is now quite ia advance
Of the ratio In the growth Of the popula
tion at large
And this growth represents accretion
from all the other religious bodies. in.
cluding the Roman Catholic In the
course OF every yeac considerable mum
Der Of such minister's and thousands OF
lay members are conforming to this
Church, while it is a rare occurrence for
any Episcopalian to become anything
else. 1t is safe also to say that among
the vast majority Of those who are not
now members Of this Church she is their
predetermined second choice
Among the reasoEs which impel so
many to her fold is her freedom from
ENHANCEMENT in the affairs Of this life.
While she teaches loyalty to the powers
that be, and sets her face against any
thing like corruption in politics, she yet
studiously and consistently avoids all
partisanship and all subserviency to
political leaders and use of politicians
methods for the accomplishment Of her
spiritual ends. Thus those who come to
worship with her may feel themselves
assured Of the rest and refreshment that
they need after the weeks turmoil and
combat.
This article has been written by one
who is enthusiastic in his attachment to
this church, but he is not aware Of any
inaccuracy ia his statements or of any
uncharitable reflections upon other re-
ligious societies. Indeed, he would be at
this time especially on his guard against
any such reflection, inasmuch as this
same church is now taking the lead in
practical efforts toward Christian unity"
In speaking editorially Of the article,
the Tribune pays a high tribute to Bis
hop Coleman's scholarly attainments 1t
says:
"our readers are favored this week
with an account of the Protestant Epis-
copsl Church in America by the Right
Rev. leighton Coleman, s. I. D., D.,
bishop of Delaware The article carries
its own praise It is clearly written,
able and an admirable presentation
of the history. present condition,
work and futures prospects OF one
Of our greatest religious bodies Bishop
Coleman has a high reputation SIS a
scholar and thinker, and this article
justiies his reputation. 1t will be read
with interest. not only by Episcopalians.
but by all who are interested in Christian
work.
Next week we shall give "Presby-
terlanism in America, by another emf
nent divine-Rev Henry NJ. MacCracken,
d D., LII. D., Vice Chancellor of the
University Of the City of New York.