Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-26
THE EFIsCOPALIANs ADJOURN.
End of the Great Convention After Three
Weeks

roiSrs IN THE PASTORAL LErrZR-MTscELLASE-
ocs BUSINESS CLEARED rP-SEw BISHOPS
cHosrN-coxnTssIoS on coSsTrrUTIoS AND
cASoSs-kIssroSAn COUNCIL
With the reading last night of the pastoral
letter Of the bishops the general convention Of
1872 closed at Baltimore. The text Of the new
PRAYER book used for the first time. The
bishops attended in q body. Bishop Doane Of
Albany read the prayers, Rev. DIR. Samuel Hart,
the newly elected secretary OF the house Of
bishops. read the lessons and Bishop Thomp-
son Of Mississippi read the pastoral letter. The
service closed with the singing Of the grand old
Coronation Hymn"
THE PASTORAL LETTER.
The pastoral letter is in part as follows:
ITO our well-beloved. the presbyters and
deacons. fellow-labOrers in the apostolic
ministry and TO the faithful IN Christ Jesus, the
bishops send greeting in the name Of the Lord /:
I'VE ask you 20 Join us in thanksgiving to our
gracious God that great and serious work
which has engaged the church for many years
has been completed and closed in the conven-
ton Of 1892. and that the Book of Common
Prayer, revised, amended and enriched by the
labors Of learned and godly men. has now. after
careful consideration BY both houses of this
convention. been constitutionallv set forth for
the use OF the church.
"In our pastoral letter and in our declaration
of 1856 we set forth the grounds upon which the
church stands for unity. They were sub
stantially adopted and proclaimed IN
the Lambeth declaration Of ISIS b. the
assembled episcopate of the whole Anglican
communion. In that declaration we set aside
all mere matters OF preference AMI MANY things
which are very precious 10 our hearts and
yonrs. We came down TO the bare foundations.
without which organized Christianity can
long continue to exist. We said. in effect, that
for the sake Of the oneness our dear Lord
prayed for on the nigh; in which He was be-
trsyed would WELD. = need were. al but
these first principles
I'VE expected no wonderful result. We were
casting seed into the ground which was to grow
IN Gods time. By some our word we're mis-
understood: by others thew were CarelCS-ly dis
missed: but there were not few who their
meaning, who considered them seriously, who
hare endeavOred to weigh them Justly and who
have consequently been drawn very near to us
in sympathy. The result has been no disap-
pointment. In any case We have borne orr
testimony. We have delivered our own souls.
We have made our protest against an ancient
wrong. We have taken the apostolic position.
THE CHURCH STANDS FOR UNITY.
"The church stands fer unity. That was
Clearly announced once more. Thereafter there
could he mistake. She stand for the one
rstholic brotherhood Of Christian men, for the
ancient freedom Of Christian thinking and
Christian seton. for deliverance from the
tyranny of uau-made creeds and confessions.
she is the pillar and ground Of the Encharge-
able Truth. the witness and keeper through
&c ages of the faith once for all delivered to
ne saints She stands for the liberty wherevith
ne truth has made her free. Let her children .
pray for the peace OF Jerusalem. Let them
Danish all narrOwness and prejudice. all pride
and cOnceit. Let them gladly acknowledge all
that Is good and gracious in our separated
brethren. Let them say: Grace be unto all
them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sin
cerity. Unity will come a crown of victory,
not to theological strife, but TO Christian love
From the long story OF the church warfare let
u learn that the cOnquests of love are the only
eOnquests which abide. Be steadfast. BE
patient Of mems prejudices and weaknesses.
PRAY on and hope on. Hold out loving hands
TO men. and so shall the Lords last prayer find
In Hi- own time its answer.
I'VE haze very gravely considered the canons
concerning ordination and the due preparation
Of candidates for the sacred ministry. High
character and sound learning in the clergy are
essential TO the worthy work of the church. in
this time and land especially. We have reason
20 be thankful that the church has ALWAYS de
manded and has so constantly found these in
her ministry. But the door to the priesthood
should be even more carefully guarded in the
time TO come Devotion, Instrumentation,
clear intelligence, a learning abreast of the
times. secular knowledge. as well a. thorough
training in theolOgy-that queen of all the
science--are impeTativClv required IN those
who set to teach the people of this
age More Shan ever must the priests lips keep
knowledge clear. theological knowl-
edge-and more than ever must the prudence
the meekness. the patience and the tact of a
trained intellect and devout soul be ex-
hibited in gentle manners by the pastors of the
flock.
I'VE earnestly charge our brethren OF the
clergy to remember that the foremost and
most abiding Of their duties Is to preach the
gospel This Is the first command in our
commission: Go We into all the world and
preach the gospel To every creature IL has
seemed to Us that this primal duty has been
somewhat ob-cured We have nothing 10 say
here II the relative importance OF preaching
and administration Zach has its place. but
whatever else IL NAV be. living church mus.
b. preaching and teaching church. II
would be something to alarm II our preaching
were such that our people should become
c!amorou- for less and less Of il. In that case
We are convinced that the clamor would not be
against preaching. but against the kind of
preaching not against the length OF the SER
mon. but against the kind Of sermon. Still as
of old. men a.e touched and held BY the strong
wise. tender words Of other men. II the power
- TIRE pulpit l. less IN our time. rs some. not
W. a--ert. a. j, from no change IN the nature or
rl-cum-tancc- Of man. The evidence j. all
bout IL. Tn" printed column cr the printed
tg- can never reach the inmost heart of men
tAA' f'A't tuf hil ltEsAAQlfE
SO 81 living person
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
We are commanded 20 care for the lambs
A. We as The sheep. Feed NV lambs remains
forever solemn burden on The soul Of bishops
Ant clergy. A-e We obeving the command. We
rsrU sulle the differences OF times ard the diff
CUltir- % p~,-~ut Circumstance. But doe the
sunday school ~ IT. bet estate quite fulfill the
meaning IT this mar hing ORDER l. the 'lealet'
q its substitute :0r that little catechi-m
VIA l. Wi=sst men have declared 10 be the pest
Treatise on d0gWa;Ic 'heolOgy in the smallest
compass, ever IeLICl bv man. and which is
81. lsNel 10 the -if acIties 81 a child! Does the
SEndas school teacher al k:s best. or the Sun
d. -Chooi superintendent at his best quite
flltl the Office Ot pastor, standing with the
Lord precious little ones around him. pa-
usutI.. lovingly and with horitv instructing
an lradiug them l. the beloved of the Lord
whom may dare offend az his soul's
pen. IL l. wise 10 all LelIs and al helpers
bUt ~ charge the clergy 20 resign into no other
hsrI- whatever the care and trust OF the / ord =
little ones We charge you 20 7, gard this most
precio- - all the Offices - YOUR ministry a. vour
o~n sTs,Isl responsibility and while you NAV
u-s all aids 90 easier learning or larger iustra-
ton. We expect you To teach the old church
cat, hI-m the central form and expression
Of fai h ard duty. and the Hoy Scriptures bv
which the shall be made wise unto salvation