Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-10

and thoroughly practical The scarcity |
of men and means would not so often
be the cry. anoi plea when fresh or en-
larged calls are made for church extern
sion il there were not the enormous
wastefuluess Of our division. Mention
has already been made of the serious
obstacle in the way OF missionary work
that exists by reason OF the same di-
vision. In one foreign land there are
at work in well-known section nut
less than score OF different churches
and sects, large part of whose lRbors
consist Of endeavoring TO encruach upon
and appropriate each others gain.
In speaking of Christian unity some
may ask whether the expectation is not
truly visionary. In answer TO this he
said that nothing was visionary for
which the Lord Himself prayed. lie
has ordained that this unity shall be
and it shall be visible. IL would seem
that there is really less difficulty in
the way of its accomplishment than
there is in mems tolerating each
others differing political opinions
while living by the million under one
government.
Bishop Coleman expressed the belief
that Christian unity would eventually
tbbult duQ duflhbll ut6 utHEtTb III ldbDE
and pray with that END in view, because
the Episcopal Church was the only one
on which all could unite, and advised
them not to be discouraged by the fact
that the membership in this country
is as yet smaller than that OF some
other denominations.
'The character of the recent papal
enoyclical. " be said. 'gives but little
Nf hpt, fNr .n.ix.
with that branch of the Catholic
church. While one gladly acknowledges
the charitable spirit as expressed 10
much of its language, one cannot hut
lament the counteragting affect of its
ill-grounded assumptions To my own
mind it looks as 1t Divine Providence
oven by this unfortunate and otherwise
Ineffective pronunoiamento is directing
our steps all the more to reunion with
the Greek church. Tho cordial and
honorable reception lately accorded by
distinguished representatives Of that
church to the archbishop of York would
seem to furnish additional reason for
believing that ere lung such an undcr.
| standing between us may be reached as
| shall greatly facilitate the grand work
which We have SO much at heart. -
In conclusion, Bishop Coleman said
| that he has an unalterable faith in
| the coming of this organic reunion.
Surely, surely" he said, as one
| contemplates what is yet to be dono in
the world ere it may ba deemed ready
for His temperance one cannot but
yearn for an united church. Such
organic unity is not only desirable, but
essential for church growth. 1t is pos
sibie. 1t is Gods will. We can trust
Him as to the time. Be it ours TO
| share in it's accomplishment in faith,
in hope and, above all, incharity.
The bishops charge was listened to
attentively and ELECTED the most favor
able comment.
| The chief feature of the afternoon
meeting was the bishops annual ad-
4 dress, in which he said;
! This assembling Of ourselves
together in the beautiful capital of our
commonwealth brings afresh to our
minds evidence of that irrepressible life
which OF necessity belongs to the Cath
olic church. Notwithstanding the
early labors Of faithful missionaries
from our motherhood of England and
the results thereof which promised to
be permanent and influential, 1T is
within the recollection of some still
| t'ih6 'Nuh phc az iCcNcl hus
we'll nigh dead. Indeed it had ap.
preached 80 close to utter extinction,
as to make the retention of it's propert,
a matter of doubt. The efforts put forth
to retain it and to resume regular min
istrations here had about them rht
nature of purely missionary work.
Such condition of affairs appear.
almost Incredible if not impoasible
when we c9uaints~ourselves with tht
condition of vitality and prosperit,
which has existed of late, and which
the present beloved rector is doing 81
much by Gods blessing, to still fuIthe
improve. 1t is, al | have already said
a proof of the Church's irrepresslbl
life. You cannot kill her. She may h
, wounded and show plainly enough, il
the arrest of her campaign against III
world, how much she has been blurred
+ She may lack nourishment. almost /
the point of starvation. aud as conse
quence her work may languish if no
for while, altogether cease. But sh
. is too instinct with the unconquerabl
D might and the never failing grace q
> her risen and assembled Lord to disap
pear wholly or irretrevably.
8 with such an endowment, she cannu
a but grow, if men will only let her grow
Y lue TehhoDS lur ueT ueCHueDCD are
8 be found in ourselves, not in her. lie
: charter is Divine and SO, directly or in
0 directly, are her institutions. He
o recognized methods of administratio
Q have stood the test of centuries. lie
message is unalterable. Her depent
] ence upon the omnipotent aid of he
t adorable head is as reliable as ever. W
D cannot, therefore, excuse ourselves fl
r want of growth or energy by attribu
ing it to the death or removal Of on
: member or family and another. Thi
o may indeed account for some change
Q in the figures reported aad temporarily
# for some diminution Of labor. Bt
# such should be the effect of church lii
8 everywhere that, with the remainin
Q members of the community, thei
9 should be, both by accessions to tb
9 church and by enlarged activity on Ii
Q part of those already belonging to he
s such quickened sense of privilege an
y responsibility as would soon make gou
y the temporary loss.
70 'These annual gatherings of I'll
IS diocese afford convenient opportunitit
% to the clergy and laity of ascertaniu!
,r as well as may he. the state of til
10 church in their several cares. Viii
ia statistics can only give u8 an approx
1t mate view of the real condition
/. affairs they seryg TO inform the ditfe
It ent parts of the whole church conCerl
d ing each other and oitentime furnish
1t wholesome etimulent 20 greater exertiC
10 and liberality. | am thankful TO 81
's that the records of the past year al
nf,tf titFN