The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-19

The Senli-annual banquet OF the
church club of the Episcopal diocese
of Central Pennsylvania held last night
in the board of trade assembly room
proved u most delightful affair. No
less than three bishops and II number
of representative members of the
church from all parts or the diocese
were in attendance.
The church club is essentially Il social
organization. the object of which is
the bringing of the representative men
Of all the churches of the diocese into
closer relationship with each other so
that valuable Interchange Of ideas
upon matters relating to church work
may become possible. 1t represents In
it's membership the best culture and
the best citizenship to be found within
the church as the men who attended
last nights dinner plainly indicated.
james NJ. Lamberton. of Harrisburg,
the president, presided as "ruler of the
feast" and occupied the central place
of honor at the head of the table. At
his right sat Rt. Rev. S. c. Partridge,
ID. D.. bishop of Kyoto. Japan and at
his left sat Rt. Rev. Cameron Maun,
ID. D., bishop of North Dakota. The
others who had seats at this table
were Rt Rev. Ethelbert Talbot. d. D.,
l.. l.. d., bishop Of Central Pennsyl
vania; Rev. DR.. Rogers Israel, rector
of st. Luke's church; Ewing l.. Miller,
of Philadelphia and Major Everett
Warren, of this city.
Address Of Welcome.
The discussion of the elaborate menu
which had been provided occupied the
attention of the guests until nearly
1890 o'clock when the speechmaking
began. Mr.. Lamberton made a few in
trOductory remarks and introduced the
first speaker, Major Everett Warren
who delivered an address Of welcome.
Major Warren was in his best form
and recounted several witty anecdotes
regarding his student days at Yale
college where he was a class-mate Of
both Bishop Partridge and Mr. Lam
bertOn. After formally welcoming the
guests to this city he outlined at some
length what he believed to be the pur-
pose and the object of the church club.
"It is to me-" said he, "the express
sion Of a desire on the part of the
people in the pew to support the clergy
more Loyalty and to further more en-
Enthusiastically the best interests Of the
church.
His closing reference to Bishop Tai
bot as "the best bishop in the house Of
bishops of the United States" provoked
the very loudest and heartiest kind Of
applause.
The most thoroughly entertaining and
probably the best speech of the night
was that delivered by Bishop Partridge
who spoke on '"rhe Church's Opportun-
ity in Japan" Bishop Partridge is one
of the youngest bishops in the Epis-
copal church and his singularly hand
some face seems to be constantly BEAM
ing with the best of goodnature.
He referred to Japan as "the king
dom of the SUNRISE" which is the literal
translation of the name and outlined
at some length the system of church or
which is in force there. The
Church of England. the Episcopal
church and the native church are all
in one organization known as the "Holy
Catholic church." The kingdom is
divided into six missionary jursdic-
tions the central of which is divided
among the English and the American
bishops. There is one prayer-book
which is neither English nor American
and accordingly but one form of SER
vice.
Japanese Priests.
Many of the Japanese, he said, have
been ordained priests, but it has not
been deemed wise as yet to give to |
them the episcopate. Many over-en-
thusiastic Americans, forgetting that it |
takes years and years to mould and |
form a strong foundation, favor giving |
the episcopate to the Japanese at the |
present time, he said. but despite the |
clamor from this source. such a step |
will not be taken for many years yet.
The church is organized in Japan on |
orderly and systematic lines, he said, |
and no attempt is being made by it to |
the country or to intro
luce Western civilization, which is not |
always an unmixed blessing in far
away parts of the world. The custom
IF ordaining every native who shows
4 little religious enthusiasm and zeal
IS not followed, and only those are
to the priesthood who have
grown up with the church and who
lave spent years and years in train
ng for the work.
1--WE are giving the Japanese the
Scriptures" said he, "but we are not
following the lead of some of the other
by distributing Bibles by the
wholesale among the natives. Such q
method is productive of no sure and
astins results and tends to encour-
'ge disrespect for the Word of God
IN the part of the people, who have
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