The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-11-17
Mr.. PYLE'S TALK.
The Sermon That Caused
the Sensation a Week
Ago.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
He Was Accused of Saying
Hard Things About His
Parish-The Full
Text.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

sensation and considerable comment
among his parishioners:-
To-day brings before us all the thought
of the blessed dead and the saints in
heaven. 1t will come to our minds and
hearts especially at the time of the offer
ing of the great sacrifice when the Holy
Eucharist is celebrated, by which we are
brought closest to those dear ones of
God. Today is also an anniversary in
this parish. May you be pleased to re-
member the parish priest in your prayers.
Four years ago, on All Saints Day, he
became rector of this parish. During
these few years he has endeavored to do
Gods work and teach all Gods truth
to declare the whole counsel of God.
Within the last half century the Epis-
copal Church has striven to point to men,
in her teaching office, the pure doctrines of
Christianity, which include the need for
men of the sacramental life. Her duty
would be left undone did she deliver
moral essays and sermons on the topics
of the day, and stop there She must go
further and tell men of their need of the
Seven Sacraments and the necessity of
those two great sacraments of the Gospel,
Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. This
latter may mean poverty, and being mis-
understood. The Church must stick to
the teaching of st. Paul. If she is but
a Protestant sect let her join with some
other one and strengthen it. She cannot
join with the Popish Church without her
children losing the sacred chalice of her
Lords Precious Blood, as well as COM
pelling them to accept the modern false
doctrines of Infallibility of the Pope, Inn
<n Of "a -
gin, compulsory confession, the worship
Of saints, etc. The Faith once for all
delivered to the saints is what she must
uneompromisingly teach. Therefore, from
iris pulpit the mysteries of the Chris
tiau religion have been taught-that
Christ is God, who, as priest
and victim, atoned for our sins on
he altar of the Cross, arose from the
Dead, ascended into Heaven, sent the
Hoy Ghost to sanctify the Church. He
appointed seven sacraments for every
soul of man on earth. He appointed the
senred ministry of bishops, priests and
s&aeons as His accredited ambassadors.
Tssponsible to Him alone. If the preacher
1eaches other than the unchanging faith
+ does It at the risk of losing his own
In Holy Baptism souls are born
again. In Holy Communion the true
Lady and blood of Christ are received,
taken and eaten. The proper preparation
for this sacrament has always been taught
fere--that is preparation OF soul ana Douy.
The soul by careful self-examination and
the body by fasting from all food from
the night before. This is no new thing.
It is taught by the Roman Catholic
Church. the Greek Church, by the Presby-
terrain Westminster Confession of Faith,
bv Zwing9e the Swiss refoTmer; by John
Wesley. the misguided priest of the. Eng
lish Church, whose guild afterward sPnt
off. forming the Methodist body; besides
the Armenian, Coptic, Syrian and all other
ancient churches. Self indulgence and
&l1t
ancient rule, but self denial and personal
devotion to our God would compel US to
follow it. Many people keep Sundays by
attending divine service and Friday by
fasting from meat and stinting the table.
Many more give literally of their sub
stance as God has prospered them. We
rob God If we give Him back less than
one-seventh of our time or one-tenth of
eur income. There are many men yet
who, alasi give more money for tobacco
and their newspapers than to God. and
women likewise who spend more money on
table 1uxuries and card prizes than to
the maintenance of the worship of God.
Many have taken the church seriously
and made 1t an every day affair. Many
make early and frequent communions,
read their Bibles daily say morning
prayers and striving after greater charity
for their neighbors.
"In the last four years our Sunday
school is half as large again although we
have such eramped rooms TO hold the ses-
sions. in We endeavor to teach them the
rnents and all other things that a
Christian ought to believe to his souls
health that they persevere in the Chris
tian life and practice of Christs virtues.
We have enrolled 240 scholars. The Guild
work has been very successful The
Ladies' Aid Society relieved much dis
tress. The ROYAL Ten with the st. Agnes
Guild have raised much money to pay off
street assessment of Pearsall avenue. The
st. Margaret's Guild carpeted the church
and added to the hangings for the, pulpit:
1iasc Guild maid the hills Qf
the church and helDed pay debts of
church st. Marv's Guild has helped in
MANY ways and has undertaken to pay
off the promsory note of 1925 now. stand
ing against the. church. The Guild of the
Guardian Angel, for little children. has
done much to meet the extra bills Of i'm
proyement. etc. A Guild Hall is badly
needed. ST. Stephens Club. club for
young BOYS has recently been organized
and meets in the dining room of the rec
adequate for village church are not
sufficient to enable us to do the work of a
city parish. We hope such hall as the
above will soon be built adjoining the
''During the four years s12 900 has been
raised in this parish s2Soo % debt debts
ing has been repainted on outside
and recarpeted, the terrace regarded and
the fence replaced. The organ has been
male choir added. BESIDES these things
iaces and embroideries have been no.
mated, new brass altar cross, desk and
miesel, stone font, professional cross,
parish register. choir vestments, prayer
books hvrnals also stoles, a silver
chalice and paten and brass aims disks
have been giver to replace those stolen
on January "a 1899
"Of the priesflv work done only God
knows The fruit viii be seen on the
great resurrection r'orning. There have
been 9S Infants and 20 adults baptised 103
confirmed The commitment list has
grown from IS to 230: ~ marriages: 81
Christian buria1s. I have catechised Sun
day school III times. nreached 32S sermons.
made 16S addresses, given 220 instructions
for baptism and confirmation and cee-
brated Holy Communion 759 times. About
e000 parochial calls have been made to
well and sick. 1t has fallen to nv lot 70
comfort the afflicted. to kpee at the bed
side of the sick and dying. to visit the
pnfnrtunata in prison, to bury the dead.
Besides this, to suffer to be stoned in the
streets. n1isrepresented, to be BETRAYED by
Friends, to be refused admission to houses
Of Christians. TO he criticized on the
streets. in houses and in sa1none
Now. as to the future We had almost
5000 in debts in 1856. S3 800 in 1898 and
aow it stands about $500 This we
hone tn have paid Off in five
tears The church and It's services
.npld be adorned and beautiful the organ
'eturned, walls painted, the noor recar-
*