The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-16
Signs Pointing TO ChurchIy Prosper
ity and n Coming Together of
Hitherto Divided Forces.
PROGRESS OF THE AGITATION
A FEW OF THE MOVEMENTS ARE
NOT ENTIRELY HARMONIOUS,
But the Majority Promise to BE Fair
~ SuccessfuI-A Review of Pres
ent Church Conditions.

Correspondence Of the Indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, Feb 4.-Great and memorable
will be this coronation year. judging by
what the first month has brought forth. for
other reasons than the absorbing spectacle
scheduled 20 take place in June. The crown
ing of King Edward and Queen Alexandra
will stir the social and political world as
nothing has done since the lovely and
youthful Victoria came TO her inheritance
In 1898. But behind politics and the throne,
and having, in this country, vital relation
TO them, are the state church and the still
wider circle OF influence which embraces
all the churches and the cause of religion
in general, and it is interesting to note that
within that realm events are occurring
which are as certain to make the year 1902
a red-letter one as is the brilliant cere-
monial which will take place five months
hence In Westminster Abbey Unfortu-
nately. some OF these religious movements.
so far as they have gone in the first month
o. the year. are ominous or strife and dis
ruption. But others presage churchly pros
perity and the coming together of forces
which have long been weakened by foolish
divisions.
Canon Hensley Henson is still at the
front as a pleader for UNCONVENTIONAL re-
union. To properly rate this state church
dignitary one must remember that he is a
canon of Westminster Abbey, and also the
rector of ST. Margaret's, the historic and
aristocratic church which stands on the
same site as the Abbey, and which, If you
are seeking to enter the Abbey by the north
transept seems, in its chimes and beautiful
architecture. to be a rival of the larger
and better-known temple in Offering you
the opportunities of impressive worship. To
the readers OF these letters it is already
known that Canon Henson signalized the
closing Of the old year by a series of re-
markable sermons, denvered TO crowded
congregations in the church where the cor
onation will take place In these, he con-
demned the exclusiveness of his own fold
and raised his voice in favor of intercom-
munication-that is. the exchange of pull
pits and other acts of brotherliness-be-
tween ministers OF the establishment and
pastors of the dissenting denominations.
CANON HENSON'S BELIEFS.
Canon Henson doesn't believe in apostolic
succession in the sense in which his own
church hOIls TO it, On the contrary, he
recognizes that bodies like the Wesleyans.
the Congregationalists, the Baptsts and
the Presbyterians are as really churches of
Christ as is the Church Of England, and
that their ministers are as truly ministers
of Christ. This was strong doctrine to
enunciate from the pulpit of Westminster
Abbey. Many thought his series of eight
sermons would be rudely broken in upon by
the bishop. in other words, that he would
be silenced. But he was not, and now, from
having at the close of the old year preached
these doctrines in his own pulpit, he has
gone. in the first month Of the new year,
TO repeat them at City Road Chapel-John
Wesley's chapel-before a company Of
Methodist preachers. Here is the religious
development OF the coronation year which
distinctly presages good. 1t may be long
before this daring ecclesiastic gains his
point but all must admire his broad
minded courage, and all welI-wishers of
England should hope that eventually, I'M
der leadership of this kind the Established
Church and the free churches will attain
10 something like a working reunion.
This reference to the MethOdists reminds
US that in what is known here as the Wes-
leyan Church, the largest OF the seven or
eight bodies which own allegiance to John
Wesley, the coronation year viii be mem
orable because at any moment from now
the announcement may be made that this
church has completed the raising of it's
twentieth century fund. The total aimed at
was $5.O00.O 0O and it lacks now about $780,
Oo0 OF that sum. On the last Sunday of the
old year its cash collections for this fund
were over 100000. Public appeals have now
ceased, but, led by r. w. Perks, NJ. p,
who has engineered this enterprise from
the first, the rich men Of Methodism are
at the present moment silently fumblng
for the balance in their own pockets and
1t is a foregone certainty that before King
will be forthcoming. and the capstone be
thus put upon an undertaking which is
relatively far beyond what has been done
in the same line by American NIethOdists,
and so far beyond what other English
churches have done in twentieth century
money raising that English critics are con-
stantly holding it up as = reproachful ex-
ample 70 the other churches
CRITICISMS OF STATE CHURCH.
The State Church notwithstanding the
poverty Of many of its clergy. has inaugu-
rated no notwithstanding fund, and for
their remissness in a situation of great
need the authorities of that church are be
ing severely taken 10 task. Among those
who in this matter are seeking, TO wake up
the Anglican bishops is Sir John Leng, one
OF the gentlemen from whom 1 quoted a
week ago on the broauer qUestion-how 20
wake up England. BY the Bishop OF Lon
don Sir John had been invited To a dinner
IN behalf OF a fund for the education OF
poor clergymen's sons. a function Of an
nual recurrence, and the bishop in his let
ter hade made some statements about the
beggarly incomes OF the clergy. There are
1.4el clergymen. he said, whose incomes do
not exceed $50 g year, AGA whose average
income is under $50. and 700 curates
whose incomes co not average $50 per an
mum. The dinner by which il was proposed
20 aid these men Sir John Leng could not
attend, but the letter he sent was read and
has been published. IN this ne SAYS that TO
put the state clergy on a proper basis Of
support what is needed is not such chart
table and variable aid as public dinners af-
ford, but determined effort by the mem
bers or the Church OF England 10 do for
the clergy OF that church what has heen
done for both the asrgy OF the Estab-