The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-12
BISHOP CLARK
WRITES PAS TORAL.
Urges Voters to Do Their Duty and
Refers to the Dangers Threat
ened by PlutOcratS.

A pastoral letter from the venerable
Bishop Thomas March Clark, ID. D., was
read in many OF the Episcopal churches
throughout Rhode Island yesterday. Bish-
op Clark Is one OF the Oldest bishops In
the world, having been consecrated, Dec.
g. 1854. Owing TO his advanced age, he is
unable TO visit the churches any longer.
He still keeps in touch with his people
through the medium OF his letters, which
are greatly esteemed even by persons not
connected with the Episcopal denomina-
tion. Bishop Clark is the presiding bishop
OF the Episcopal church I'm this country
and is admired for his wonderful person.
ality.
The bishops letter treats OF many vital
and interesting topics on public questions
II is substantially as follows:
CENTURY's WONDERFUL PROGRESS
my dear brethren:
''As / am unable to visit the churches
OF the diocese any longer. / desire once
more to address few plain words by
letter to the people among whom have
minlSteTed iOr so many years.
I'VE are living in a wonderful age. In
everything which pertains to our materi-
al welfare, progress has been made
during the last hundred years which sur
passes all that has been accomplished in
the previous history OF the world Forces
have been developed, discoveries made in
the realms OF nature difficulties overcome
dreamed of In the ages gone by. Changes
are going on in every department OF
thought and action, the final results of
which cannot be predicted at present. The
great question TO be determined U.s. how
is all this material progress likely to af-
feet the moral and religious welfare OF
society? The marvellous accumulation of
wealth in this land is one of the most
significant features of the day. The mil
lionaire is no longer al curiosity. There |
are many rich men whose wealth Is esti- |
mated by tens OF millions. and this is |
considered, by many persons, the most |
threatening feature In our free republic.
DUTIES OF THE RICH.
'If this wealth is devoted entirely to |
the pursuit of pleasure and the selfish |
qualification of its possessors, If they |
manifest no concern for the wants and |
have no interest in sending the gospel !,
to the pershing heathen-if they take |
unfair advantage of the necessities and |
ignorance of those with whom they deal
forgetting that the gospel teaches us
that all forms OF secular business should
be conducted on the principal of mutual
ployer to the buyer and seller, the en-
player and the employed; II their exist
ence is OF no benefit to the world 1t
would have been far better had they
never been born.
IF this were the position assumed by
sll our rich and prosperous people. sooner
or later. the most disastrous results would
ensue. and the dangers of Plutocracy may
be one of the greatest peris which threat
en- the peace and order of the community.
One OF the strange and melancholy
features OF the present day. is the ia
eility with which the most absurd delu-
sons get possession of the public mind.
Striking Instances of this are seen i'm |
Mormonism. Christian Science, so-called,
and on more limited scale oriental the
oeophic fancies. IL is marvellous that so
many of our well informed respectable |
people are led away by these folliesi IL
II only sure and certain faith, founded
on the incarnation OF our Lord and His
atoning sacrifice which can stand against
these wiles of Satan.
1T is very much to be deplored that
% many of our respectable and inteli-
gent citizens show such an utter lack of
such distractions to exist, al prevent the
interest in the public welfare. by neg
lecting their duty as voters, leaving the
door open FOR unscrupulous politicians To
get complete control of public affairs and
run the machine for their personal
smolument. Every good citizen should
regard IL as sacred duty to secure, II
possible the nomination for office OF the
best and wisest men in the community.
and then 10 do all that he can to induce
others to vote for them.
CHURCH WORK HINDERED.
THE work Of the church Is hlndered by