Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-06
THE PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY SUN
DAY SCHOOLS.

Controversy Between Bishop Paret and
the President of the Sunday school Union.
Bishop Paret of the Protestant Episcopal
diocese of Maryland has written a letter adj
dressed to the clergy and church people of
Prince Georges county, counseling them
against cooperating with the Maryland Sunday
School Union to promote the Sunday school
interests of the county. The bishop resents
the imputation that the county is proper mis-
sionary ground, and calls attention to the fact
that there are not less than twenty-one Sunday
schools of tie Protestant Episcopal Church
alone in that county, and that every inch of the
county is portioned out by distinct lines into
parishes. The bishop further says that ''it will
not help Christian unity to establish, under the
form Of undenominational Sunday schools,
those which in their method Of worship are
contrary to those of this church. rs being I'M
li.urgical, and in their methods of instruction
and discipline differ from them widely"
This letter, it is stated, was originally ad-
dressed to Mr.. +. H. Smith as president Of the
Prince Georges County Sunday School Asso.
citation.
Mr.. SMITHS REPLY.
A STAR reporter today called Mr.. Smiths
attention to the letter of the bishop published
in the Baltimore american.
II have read the statement you mention in
the american" said Mr. Smith. with surprise
and regret. Itis ah illustration Of how an hon
est effort to promote good cause may by mis-
direction seriously injure instead OF help the
cause The letter which Bishop Paret pub
fishes is q private letter written to me on the
subject OF a private conversation between us
several days previously. The occasion of the
conversation Was this: | had recently attended
a meeting Of the Presbyterian synod in Balti-
more. i'll which a delegation of bishops ap-
peared from the Episcopal convention. then
closing its session in that city, representing the
commission Of church unity. Thor addresses
strongly urged the practical union OF Protestant
denominations and stated that while such
formal union was not at this time practicable.
there should be cooperation in general relig
ious work. As the president. for the time
being. of the Prince Georges County Sunday
School Association. 1t occurred to me that this
was an occasion for such cooperation. The
organization was formed about two years ago.
during which time in the conventions held the
Episcopal Sunday schools in the respective To-
cations were very cordial aud hearty in their
cooperation. Tho principal address at Hyatts-
vile was by Rev. DR.. Wroth Of Baltimore. and
in the convention held at Bowie in November
last the ablest address was by the rector of the
church in that town. The association having
determined to extend it's work through the
county during the present year. l conferred
with Bishop Paret on that subject. The con-
ycrsation was very frank and cordial, and Mr.
carefully and write me within few days. which
he did.
The letter contains important errors in
what occurred in the conversation and makes
me msrepresent the Maryland Sunday School
Union, all of which informed him Immediately
by letter. do not understand why the bishop
should resent the suggestion tina: the county is
proper ground for home missionary work. II
any mistake, however, has been made on that
subject 1t Is the mistake OF the bishop and not
mine. L said to him that had no personal
knowledge of the condition of the Sunday
school work in the county outside OF the western
border where live; that in mixing with Prince
Georges politics had had occasion to become
acquainted with a considerable number of
saloons where political meetings we're held, but
not with churches or Sunday school work. but
had been informed that the county stood at the
bottom Of the list in Maryland in its Sunday
school efficiency, and asked him il that report
was correct, to which he replied that it was.
with the exception Of one other county, which
Was below Prince Georges in its standing
''In regard to the establishment Of undenom-
national schools it was distinctly stated that
our purpose and that Of the Maryland Sunday
School Union was. not to establish new schools
but to encourage and assist schools already in
existence in charge Of the varions Protestant
denominations of which, as am informed, there
are at least fifty in the county.
There are several other points in the bish-
ops letter to which 1 should take exception.
but have said enough to give general I'm
preston of the history Of the matter which has
become public by, as it seems to me, the uu-
usual course taken by Bishop Paret in printing
the letter referred to. 1t is not for me to ex-
press an opinion whether the recommendation
he makes are, or are not, in the direction of
church unity"