The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-01

He thought the drift Of the whole move
mant was In the direction Of the Roman
church and said that in many things DR..
Dalton stands alone in the diocese OF
Maine, but in his outspoken opposition
to the ritualists because Of the tendency
Of their teaching, he has the sympathy
and support of the vast majority Of the
clergy and iaity of our church. He re-
viewed the different features and signs OF
ritualism and said that when any man
begins propaganda to educate the peo-
pie to dem n more than the ci urch pro-
vides In her erseds and ritual, he is dis
loyal man, whether he be bishop In the
church of God or a missionary serving
handful of people in Aroostook county"
He quoted again from DR.. Dalton who
SAID, 1.-THE sum of it Is that the external
fabric of the church has been extended
by free use Of money sent into Maine.
while intellectually, morally and spirit
ually, the standard has been lowered ana
onsequently the Episcopal church In
Maine has not the influence 1t had thirty
years ago."
Rev. Mr.. Shepherd thought there was
a diversity of opinion as to the correctness
of DIR. Dalton's judgment but Of this one
ing there can be no difference The in
tellectual, moral and spiritual influence
of the Episcopal church in Maine is far
below what it ought to be, and might be
il different methods were pursued.
He referred to the Diocesan school sys-
tenn as a failure because the schools were
established too soon. st. Catherine
school has been reopened but 1t is handi-
capped at the start because the parish
church where it's students are expected
to worship. is preparing to Introduce an
extreme ritual. To serve the Episcopal
church with a ritual. (which suggests the
livery of Rome, Is not only to alternate
the great body Of our people, but 1t Is
also TO arouse the hostility of the Protes-
tant population of the State OF Maine.
Rev. MIR. Shepherd praised the noble
charity of the House of the Good Shep-
terd of Rookland, Me, but thought it
was poor business policy to attempt TO
care for more helpless orphans than we
have money to pay for 1t Is not In &C.
cord witt sound business principles to
spend more money than one secures. Ii
is n policy which must end in bankruptcy
and disgrace before the commercial world
If the income of the House of the Good
Shepherd can only care for fifteen chill
dren, why attempt to care for thirty?
Rev. Mr.. Shepherd next took up the
missionary work of the diocese and said
1.-The Journal of 1898 will show that we
reported 1858 communicates, scholars in
the sunday school 341. In the Chestnut
large as the Cathedral, the Sunday school
numbers over 600 scholars That church
is served by one man. Our churches are
served by four men and yet the combined
strength of all our Sunday schools Is
Only half that of the Chestnut street
church."
He made an appeal for aggressive work
and said I'VE possess at tle present time
a cathedral but it is made of paper. 1t is
lacking in every idea for which the cathe-
dral stands except that it contains the
chair of the Bishop of Diocese. " 1t sends
out no priest into the outlying towns
near 1t. 1t is not in touch with the mis-
sion work of our church in Maine. st.
Stephens and st. Paul's In the struggle
to save themselves are weaker today
than they W ere ten years ago.
TO the suggestion that there was not
money enough for aggressive work in the
State, the preacher said the amount OF
money now expended. If differently dis
tributed would be sufficient for present
needs. The spirit of parochialism which
has proved the curse of the church should
be abandoned and clergy and laity feel
that 1t is high time to build up the church
of Maine.