The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-10-23
in CONVOCATION.
EPISCOPAL CLERGY OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA MEET.
Tho Preliminary Session Opened With
Evening Prayers and Paper by
Judge Ii. Il. Lee of Los
Angeles.

The convocatiou of the Episcopal
church OF Southern California held its
first session last evening in st. Paul's
church.
The assembly being merely prelimi.
nary to the real work. which will be
taken up today. the attendance was
somewhat limited. OF the clergy
present were Right Reverend Bishop
Nichols. Rev. Dean Restaick of San
Diego; Rev. B. W. r. Tayler of st.
John 8. Los Angeles; Rev. A. S. Clark,
Christ's church, Los Angeles; Rev.
John Gray. st. Paul's. Los Angeles Rev.
DR.. Frew, Church of the Epiphany,
East Los Angeles; Rev. J. D. H. Brown.
Pomona; Rev. M. @. Dotren. DID,,
Riverside; Rev. DR.. Easter, Redlsnds;
Rev. j. Deyo, Coronado; Rev. A.
Fletcher, South Riverside, and several
others. There were considerable
number of lay delegates from the diff
ferent portions of The southern country,
and altogether TN, ceremonies incident
to tho opening OF convocation we're
solemn and impressive.
As the long line Of clergy entered the
IL.
listers, and the shadow of the CROSS
borne aloft Was thrown back upon the
bishop and the Representatives of the
church, there was something inspiring
in the sight. The organ pealed forth
and the professional hymn was selecte
to especially suit the occasion.
At the close OF the evening prayers
the hymn, Onward, Christian Soldiers,
was sung in recession, after which the
congregation adjourned to the guild
hall. where Judge H. T. Lee of this city
read O very thoughtful and interesting
paper on the subject, Do the Clergy and
Laiiy Understand One Another?
The subject Judge Lee was called upon
to deal with was in many of its phases
of a delicate character, but while cover
ing his subject with q fair amount OF
thoroughnese, the speaker contrived to
refrain from wounding the susceptible
ties of his hearers. He began by in
dulging in a "Reminiscences OF his boy
hood days, when party agreed to correct
their shortcomings by boldly and truth
fully criticieing each others faults. The
first trial was not pronounced success.
zone critic" said Judge Lee. fused a
dissecting knife and the other used q
meat AK"
With thoughtfulneas the speaker
stesred 6 middle course. In abiding to
the laxity of interest TOO often expressed
by congregations, he said:
"The pastor must be man of strik-
ing character and imbued with the true
spirit OF the Master to contend against
such Indifference ON the part of the con-
gregation. We, the laity, are to large
extent just what we choose to be. In
our system of church polity laymen have
immense influence and almost absolute
control in THE country, and it is not
unfrequently recklessly used. Has not
the clergyman in charge OF parish a
right to expect sympathy and support =?
The layman who looks not behind the
man to his mission has not had his eyes
opened as member OF Christ's church.
The work ia ours as well as his, and if he
is honest, sincere and faithful in his
calling he ought to receive support and
sympathy"
Judge Lee proceeded to touch upon
the attitude taken towards the pastor
by many congregations having distinc-
ton in point of ritual. He briefly but
strongly referred to the tendency to ex-
altation of narrow sacerdotalism, and
a centering of ideas in the priest as dis
tinguished from the man in the high
church, and an inclination in the low
church, on the other hand, to pin their
faith to the individual rather than tie
priest.
At the conclusion Of the paper an AMI
mated discussion took place. in which
both clergy and laity participated.
This morning, at 80, holy commun-
ion will be administered. Right Rev
erened Bishop Nichols being the cele-
brant. He will also preach the sermon.
At 2 O'Clock in the afternoon an essay
will be read by Rev. A. Fletcher OF South
Riverside, and at 7:30 in the evening
there will be a missionary service, at
which DIR. M. @. Doten OF Riverside and
Rev. j. d. III. Brown OF Pomona will de-.
liver addresses.