The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-16
OPENING OF
DIOCESAN
CONVENTION

as n chuTCh we owe duties Oh loNe
and ministration and the blessings of
a Christian civilization. of which we
are stewards, to the millions of neg
lected souls thus placed at our very
DOORS" The bishop next gave re-
surhe of the improvements in the dio-
cese during the past year in the mat
ter of new church buildings.
He announced that he has now ap-
pointed as deacon to assist him
in his work as a general missionary
the Rev. Reginald Heber Radcliffe, who
has been for five years the efficient
arch-deacon of Colorado. During the
year nine clergymen have been re-
ceived into the diocese from other dio-
ceses and three have been admitted by
ordination. There are now two par
ishes vacant, one at Lancaster and
one at Bethlehem.
After referring to the excellent work
done by the board of missions during
the year, he spoke as follows regard
ing the advantages of the Woman's
auxiliary:
"Any account of our years work
would be incomplete which failed to
recognize the large share in the real
life and progress of the church borne
Dy IDe w OMAN ) duNllldIS. am Bliu
to know that several new and vigor-
Gus branches have been started re-
Gently, while others for a long time
dormant have been revived. AS the
bishop of this diocese I do not see how
l could successfully cope with the
anxious problems which confront us
without the aid of these noble women.
"They embody in each parish the
nfa1, ,e. -,
than the essential Christian idea. Any
clergyman in this age of the worlds
progress who fails to see that the
spiritual life of his parish and its sue
cess in all directions are bound up in
its missionary interest is to- be pitied.
If our people are alive to the
needs OF general and diocesan mis-
sions they are sure to be interested in
all that concerns the best life of the
parish. There is no agency at pres
ent so effective and helpful in stimu-
lating and fostering this under vision
of knowledge and duty as well or
ganized branch of the Woman's auXil-
iary.
"All Of the highly successful parishes
realize this, and more and more I can
see evidence that all are beginning to
comprehend the fact that the diocese.
and not the parish, is the true measure
and unit, and that a parochialism or
congregationalism which ignores the
corporate life of the whole church has
within it the seeds of decay and
DEATH
CAUSE OF MISSIONS.
He suggested that the second even
ing of the convention, that is tonight,
be given over to the cause of missions.
so that the women, who have their
business meeting on the next day,
might be present. He stated that he
felt the need of an organization in the
form of a church club, the members Of
which could meet once year and con-
slider diocesan interests in general.
Regarding the proposed division of the
diocese, he said:
4 now pass to the matter of the d.
vision of the diocese. There would ap-
pear to be no necessity on my part to
repeat what ! have said at our last
two conventions on the same subject.
My convictions are the same, namely,
that the question, as I view it, is large
ly one of finances. I presume it is ad-
mitted bv all that the division of the
diocese, or some other form of relief,
must be accomplished before many
years. The only difference of opinion
would be as to whether such action is
now expedient, and in this connection
even those who would not desire an
immediate division, or consider that
the time has not yet arrived. would be
strongly in favor of placing ourselveS
in such financial condition as to make
it possible when the time comes.
I'VE have an episcopal fund of about
$41,500, yielding an income of $3.50.
Our Christmas fund is about $4,000.
Through the efforts of the Women's S
auxiliary we have the Bishop Rulison
Memorial fund Of about $1,000. The
division of the diocese would mean the
division of all these funds, and would
leave the old and new dioceses with
insufficient support for their bishops
and their work. There would, there
fore, be a necessity for raising a large
sum of money.
"Surely 100000 ought to be regard
ed as the minimum especially as the
rates of interest are so low and two
per cent. government bonds are sell
ing at a premium, and we can hardly
hope to realize more than five per
cent, if that. On this basis, each do
cese would only have $500 as an in
come from endowment.
Last year by the action of the conven-
tion large and thoroughly represen-
tatlve committee was appointed to re-
port ines of division. The report is
before you and is all that could be
desired. Indeed ii has placed the do
cese and the convention under most
grateful obligations for the admirable
manner in which it has discharged its
duty.
Through it's able and industrious
chairman an enormous amount OF
work has been done and much val
Qable information given and data pre-
Sented have been placed before us
in a form at once so attractive and
intelligible that ii leaves nothing tc
be desired. Moreover, the COMMITTEES
has confined itself strictly to the spirit
and letter of the resolution under
which it was appointed, and has re.
Trained from expressing any prefer
ence whatever for any one or more
of the proposed lines. Thus the wholj
subject is before the convention. to bC
dealt with as it may seem to yoI
wisest and best.
BISHOPS SUGGESTIONS.
"As / have always said. the mos
satisfactory evidence OF our real de
sire and sincerity in this matter il
not SO much what We say as what W.
are willing TO do, in order to accom-
plish what all admit will be, befor,
many years, a necessity Whether di
vision Of the diocese shall come nov
or in later years, it seems to me tina
we ought, at this convention. to pas