The Washington times., 1902-05-06
Says 1t viii Become the
Church of Ameri-
can People.
EFFECT ON CIVIL LIBERTY
Interesting Historical Discourse at Meet
ing of churchmen's League in Epiphany
Parish Hall-Growth of Organization In
This Country Since 1907.

The rector of Epiphany Protestant
Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Mchim'
speaking at the regular spring meeting Oh
the Churchman's League at the parish
hall last night. predicted for Episcopacy
n future which should make it the church
of the American people. He eulogized
the Episcopal Church and traced its great
effect upon the establishment oil civic
liberty in America, taking for his sub
iect THE History, Policy, and Prospects
of the Protestant Episcopal Church"
'There stands in Golden Gate Park, San
Francisco" said DIR. McKim, "a granite
cross liz commemoration Of the first use
of the Episcopal prayer book in America,
by Rev. Francis Fletcher, on board Sir
Francis brakes vessel which visited the
Pacific in 1855. But the birth of the
Episcopal religion in this country was not
at San, Francisco. but at jamestown,
when. in 1907, Rev. Robert Hunt conduct
cd The first service on the banks of the
James.
with the advent Of the trorbles in the
colonies leading up to the Declaration OF
Independence the Episcopal Church fell
under suspicion. The name. the Church
Of England was not regarded with favor.
Moreover. the clergy were British born,
and owed allegiance to the English Church.
The War Of Independence.
"a large majority of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence, however,
were Episcopalians, noteworthy among
them jefferson, Washington. Hamilton,
and Marshall Virginia was an Episcopal
colony, and the illustrious part she took
in the war for independence is recognized
by historians. Her sons stood for reli-
gious liberty and civic liberty. The clergy
maintained their allegiance to England,
but the laity supported the liberty move
ment in the colonies.
In 1883. the date of the signing Of the
Federal Constitution, the constitution of
the church was ratified. The same men
were instrumental in effecting the consum-
nation of both, and the same tendencies
in both were seen, the endeavor to strike
a balance between federalism and State
equality
= DR.. McRim traced the growth of the
Episcopal Church from the date of the
settlement at jamestown claiming in this
connection that this country owes much
TO jamestown and the Episcopal Church.
and showed how great the increase in the
strength of the church has been. In the
last decade, he said. the growth has been
three times as great as the increase in
the population.
Church Always Existed
He characterized as ridiculous the as
sumption that Henry VIII established the
Episcopal church, and demonstrated that
the church had always existed from the
time of Christ.
I'VE may hope ultimately" he said,
that the Episcopal church will become
the church of the American people, to
bring together the row divided forces OF
religion. and become, indeed, the Church
of the Reconciliation
Preceding the address by DR.. McKim a
business meeting was held and officers
elected as follows:
President, William ID. Baldwin; first
vice president, Bernard p Lamberton;
second vice president, Frederick A. Mill
er; third vice president, William c.
Rives; secretary. Ed f. LOCKER; treasurer.
William p. Young.
An executive committee was elected
composed Of the officers and the follow
ing: Rev. Thomas J. Packard, Rev.
Richard p. Williams, Rev. c. r. Stet-
son. and Mr.. Henry d. Fry.