Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-10-27
The Pastoral Letter.

As stated in Wednesday UAHklIE
the Episcopal Convention closed in
Baltimore on Tuesday night with the
reading of the pastoral letter-the
Bishops letter to the people. 1t was
was read by Bishop Thompson, of Mis-
sissippi. and though quite long, it com
mandei throughout the attention OF
the large audience. 1t began by congrat-
ulating the convention on the compile
ton and adoption of the Revised Prayer
Book and calls on the clergy and their
congregations to order the details of
public worship and the administra-
ton of the sacraments and the rites OF
the church strictly according to its ru-
brics. The second part is devoted to
Christian unity. The stand taken by
the Episcopal Church is clearly de-
fined and satisfaction expressed at the
results thus far accomplished. The
third treats of the canons of ordination
and advises due preparation of the can
didates for the ministry.
The fourth is addressed to the clergy
with respect to the sermons. They are
advised "to preach the Gospel" and
the latter goes on to say:
sit has seemed to us that this prime
duty has been somewhat obscured. We
have nothing to say here of the relative
Importance of preaching and admins
tration. Each has its place, but what
ever else it may do or be, living
church must be q preaching and a
teaching church. 1t would be some
thing to alarm if our preaching were
such that our people should become
clamorous for less and less of it.
Make the pulpit n throne of
light. Let it teach, not alone
to move or excite emotion, least of all
to win mems admiration of eloquent
periods. beautiful diction and graceful
delivery. Definite, positive doctrine
about the deepest things is ours to
teach if we have it, but if only guesses
of our own and speculations which are
the lroth of common surface, thought
less thinking, then our place ofutterance
may be anywhere in all the world save
in the pulpits of the Church"
The fifth reminds the clergy that
they must care for the lambs as well as
for the sheep, and the education of the
Young is referred to in unmistakle lam
guage. The sixth refers to IAN evil we
have seen and much bemoan.a growing
tendency toward short and uncertain
tenure of pastoral Office
The laity is urged to help carry out
the Church's law which contcmplates
long pastorat 5.
The seventh bears on marriage and
divorce. 1t condemns "the lawless
legislation of so many of oar States, ("
and says the Church of God can have
no regard for such legislation. We are
convinced that much, ifnot all OF the
looseness with which the marriage
bond is treated in legislation and prac-
tice is due to the first falsehood which
considers the individual as the unit
of human society, and demands, there
fore, that the motive of civil arrange
ments shall be the pleasure and con-
tentment of the individual. As mat
ter of historical fact as well of scien-
tific determination, the family is the
unit and the well being of the individ-
ual can be rightly sought only in and
through the well being of the family.
The last and concluding portions of
the letter are devoted to work, and
reference is made to the increased
field necessitating the appointment of
additional missionary bishops.