Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-06-21
ST. JAMES PARISH HOUSE
The Many Benefits to Accrue From Its
Establishment

The Many Benefits to Accrue From Its
Establishment
Mr.. EDIToR-I must thank you for the
cordial way in which the HERALD seconds
and is promoting.with its influence, the
project of a down town building as a
center of benevolent and educational en-
terprise. Backed, as the work is, by the
wardens and vestrymen of st. James
Episcopal Church, and endorsed by so
many of our prominent citizens, feel that
even in these close financial times 1t Will
be no difficult task to put into operation
the several features of the plan. 1t would
| be impossible to cOndense into news
paper article the details of the project in
question. We are simply planting seed,
and its growth will indicate the develop
ment of just such plant as the seed VII
naturally produce, adapted to the ell
mate of this city. IL IS to be an open
hand Of welcome extended to all who Will
grasp it, and desire to be led to whatever
elevates and ennobleS and develops the
good. the true. and the beautiful. The
project is under the special care and legal
ownership of the Episcopal church, but
/ as the work develops and its various fea-
lures are placed under the direction OF
committees, without regard TO religious
/ belief the whole community Will see how,
/ in the truest sense of the word, 1t is 'un-
sectaran" in operation.
There was a time fifty years ago, Mr..
! Editor, when Christian church largely
/ limited its sphere to maintaining Sunday
services, and a weekly hour OF devotion
| for the more earnest, and stand ready
with charitable hand in cases of great
distress The minister's chief work was
the preparation Of the Sunday sermons
| and house to house visitation among his
flock. But all this is changed; and the
Christianity Of today works as well as
wOTships, labOrS as well as believes, and
makes every noble enterprise and activity
the fruit of its deyOtions. Christian
thought seeks to touch every great prob
lem of the day, and Christian love seeks
to meet every human need. And th'
spirit of the age is well represented IL
those instances i'm which the question
comes before a congregation: Which shall
we do-build a church or a workshop
And the answer is: The wOrk-shOp-th
center of influence in activities; the opel
hand to the needs of humanity.
And besides all this, il is my wish to &C
complish another purpose in the propose
parish house. The world is full Of amuse
, ments, and they have been so surrounde
. with evil influences where the tendenc
has been to sin, that some Christia
bodies have condemned amusementS. Tn
4 general idea prevails that amusement
p. are worldly. and that the Christian mu,
i renounce them. Tire fact is that amusC
I ments are noble and have the
n place in life and the prov
, ince of Christianity Is not to condemn
: but to take those very Amusement
: and rescue them from their debasemeT
?. and give them to the people departe
4 from their temptations and their sin
|, Here is great problem. Can this
4 done? The answer is: We propose I
T. try and we believe the general sentimeI
+ the community will sustain us in tn
effort.
We realize the financial stringency
e these DAYS, we have therefore arranged
d very modest building for the present an
10 shall put it on leased ground. A sur
less that 5000, will put our machinery
- operation aud the running expenses W
h be largely met by moderate membersh
,r fees I'm the. several departments. Furth
details viii be laid before the committ
on ways and means and be made pub
oi in due time. But | ask, through 20
n. columns. for generous cont
70 buttons to this practical form
Christianity and to this effort
G unite the heart of this city with war
ID hand Of sympathy, and to advance wha
L ever appeals to the noble within I
Again thanking you for the HERALI
= good words. | am,
ic Very sincerely yours,
l.. w. APPLICABLE,
m Rector of St. James Church