The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-08
A LETTER FOR LENT
Bishop Edsall Issues a Pastoral Ad-
- dress to the Diocese. ~" ( 60 {. =,
MORE WORK FOR MISSIONS URGED
Parishes Which Have Not. Contribut
ted Asked to Give-Others to :
. Give More. II: S s
Bishop S.. G. Edsall has issued pax pax

Bishop s. G.. Edsall has issued pas
toral letter to be brought to. the attenS
ton Of, the congregations. by the .Episcot
pal clergy Of the diocese Of Minnesota and
in the next issue of the Church Record.
The bishop makes a. strong plea for mis-
sions. He presents in turn the duty OF
the church toward parochial, diocesan and
general work in this line. Il
eve are about to begin our observance
Of the holy season of Lent" reads the
letter: ''In addition to those duties Of
public and private prayer, fasting, alb
stinence, self-denial and aims giving,
which your immediate pastors will lay
before you, beg you to give earnest con-
sideration to the following plain state-
ment of certain facts with reference to
our duties to missions"
There is first of all missionary work
to be done in ones own parish, the bishop
adds. The carrying on of this work will
demand the expenditure of labor and
money; and these offerings of labor and
spirit, are In a true sense gifts to mis-
sions. afk..Z<s.,s.
Diocesan missions stand next in order
to parochial work. In the -self-supoprting
dioceses Of the middle west the work Of
diocesan missions is Of paramount inn
portance. The bishop lays great stress
on the large opportunity and obligation
y
new fields and of carrying on the. work
already begun to a state Of self-support.
The bishop believes it especially im-
portant that the claims Of diocesan mis-
sions be not ignored because the gem
eral board of missions. which. has for
many years extended generous aid to the
diocese, believes that it should now stand
alone. The grant is being reduced and
the diocese should be content: with an ap2
preparation for Swedish and Indian work.
The last division Of missionary work
is the general work Of the church. This
includes missions in eighteen districts
in this country, in colonial possessions
and foreign lands, The board extends aid
to fortytWo dioceses, giving in Mime
sofa last year, for instance $3.50. Every
one owes duty to the general missionary
work and every one should give according
to his ability. 80 g, ID.
!. Bishop Edsall,. pays "a compliment to
that of the Sunday schools, but the Of
ferings by parishes, missions and indi-
yiduals to general missions are not graft
flying. Exclusive Of Sunday school,
woman's auxiliary and special gifts. less
than 5000 was given to general missions
for the year ending June l. The bishops
letter concludes:
NV exhortation to you is that each parish
and mission by open offering, private solicit
tation or otherwise, may do. the best it can
to make it's offerings for general missions fol
the year ending Sept. 1 >. next, equal the
amount of the apportionment set opposite its
name.
gest: a. That every parish and mission which
failed to take an Offering or offerings for do
nestle and foreign missions for the year end
ing Sept. l. last, make certain that it does
take such an offering this year. (2) That
those parishes and missions which made
creditable offerings last year (haying in view
their financial strength) strive to make an
increase Of at least Is per cent. 81 That
mostfof our congregations which made OFFER
ings last year set before themselves az q
minimum mir 1 of effort the goal fsa 50 per cent
Increase. ISL. !. ' 81 ~
Some parishes and missions may attain the
glorious honor OF reaching the full amount