Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-25
DIVISION OF THE DIOCESE
Bishop Paret Discourses on the Sub
ject.
What the Erection of q New BishOpric
Will Cost and Its Endowment
SugGested.

The division of this Episcopal diocese has
been made the subject of series Of twenty
sermons, the first of which Bishop Paret
delivered yesterday at st. Michael and All
Angels Church, Baltimore. 1t will be re-
membered that at the convention of the
diocese last May 1t was decided by a;unan-
imous vote OF both clergymen and laynlen
that the development of the church and its
future welfare require the division of the
diocese, with the establishment of another
bishopric, having Washington as its seat.
Bishop Paret, in his sermon; said:
"a new diocese requires another bishop,
another convention, with all the necessary
expenses attending it's organization and
work. And the committee for Washington
have estimated that 1t will be necessary for
them, in addition to present resources, to
raise the annual sum Of $500, which would
be equal to the interest at 5 per cent on
$4,000. They have heartily and wisely de-
termined to raise that principal sum and
invest 1t, and in the few weeks for which
they have been at work they have already
pledged to them the sum Of $4,000.
THE diocese remaining, with Baltimore
as its central city. will lose from it's avail
able income by the going off of Washing
ton 81, 1871. 1t will save by reduction in GER
sum of $2,15i to be provided, and a princi-
pal sum of $4,000 ought to be provided to
meet this need Of annual interest.
The committee appointed for the Balti-
more portion OF the present diocese have
mad before them the proposal to do as
Washington is doing, and as almost all the
other dioceses in the land have done or are
DONG; that is, to raise the whole principal
a c a md to hn sv,,-o
has met with some opposition, and another
plan OF voluntary additions to the present
assessment has been urged; that is, that
the vestries of some of the parishes should,
by their own vote and free will, largely
increase the amount they are contributing
1or diocesan expenses.
Parish Assessments.
This diocese of Maryland, with all its
present strength. including the two great
cities has sorely fretted under the burden
OF the very moderate present assessment
upon the parishes. Every year protests
come from vestries asking to be excused
from part. Every year some assessments
remain entirely unpaid.
The committee of ways and means will
tell you that the assessments at the pres
ent scale do not by any means meet our
and that we are each year
drawing upon u balance that was accumu-
lated during the two years in which the
bishopric was vacant. Heavier assessment
even II voluntarily accepted at the first,
will soon grow to be burdensome. The first
generous impulse will grow cold.
Besides. the parochial prosperity upon
which such kind offers are founded Is a
very variable thing This very city will
give you some striking instances of par
ishes, once very strong, left weak and al
most stranded by the changes of shifting
population. One of the strongest now in
no fNy oil of tn;
to two three thousand dol
lars during the last three years by finan-
cial changes. removals and deaths. Besides
this, the vestry cannot control the generosity
or power of the people. And yet again, If
it is promised by the vote of the vestry
this year, 1t can just as easily be with
drawn by the vote Of the vestry next year.
bishop may, in the very fulfillment Of
his duty, come into collision with vestry
may become. deservedly or undeservedly,
Such things have happened. And
there IS sad experience in our ecclesiastical
history to emphasize the warning OF this
And there is yet another difficulty. Grant
that these generous impulses do not die
out or falter: there are other obligations
to be met.
THE missionary work of the church
must not fall to any lower level. The once
closed churches must not be closed again.
Our work of theological education must not
suffer. You know with what struggle and
we are uOluR our present WOTk III
these matters, and you know human ma
ture so well as to be assured that if men,
even with prcfessed willingness, double
their contribution for the diocesan expenses
there will be less enthusiasm and less CIV
ing for missions.
II can not let the episcopate thrive at
the cost of our poorer parishes and mis-
work. There must be some other
way besides that Of additional assessment.
Endowment the True Method.
1.-THE true method is that Of endowment.
But some churchmen tell us that they do
rot believe in endowments. They say that
each generation must provide for itself in
religious matters. Stop a moment. Provide
for itself? Is that what our giving Is for?
Is that the selfish principle which governs
1t? No, brethren, it is an unworthy thought.
you are to provide the means for doing
the Lords work nobly. The church's work
is not saving our souls; 1t is going after ALL
1t is not for ministering to those who pay;
1t is for reaching and blessing those who
cannot pay. 1t Is not working for this
1t is for building and strength
ening and charging the church for yet
grander work in the times that are to
follow.
1.-The children of this world are wiser.
They do not leave the next generation to
provide for itself. They recognize that law
holy words, that the parents should lay up
for the children.
Every man who leaves money for his
children speaks his protest against that cry
Of no endowments. Every life insurance
refutes it. Every great commercial enter
prise which Is to outlast life protests
against it in every dollar of capital invest
ed for future results.
"Why, all the commercial methods of the
world tell the same story. If man is to
build up or carry on business he endows
it by the capital which he invests. If
steamboat company is to be established or
a great railroad built 1t must be first en-
dowed by the money accumulated from the
Money provided beforehand
is the great commercial law. If club is
to be formed and club house built those
interested come together and endow it by
providing beforehand the money needed to
make it honorably secure"
The Fish Law.
There Is a warrant out for the arrest of
Augustus L. Grimes for alleged viola
tfop Of tho Ia for no protactiop Of oh