Evening star., 1902-01-24
EPISCOPAL CHURCH CLUBS
TENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE HELD
IN NEW HAVEN.
Large Attendance of Delegates and
Important Matters Discussed
at the Meeting.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

NEW HAVEN, January o. 1902.
The tenth annual conference of Episco-
pal Church Clubs of the United States met
at New Haven today.
There are nineteen clubs or dioceses be-
longing to the conference, sixteen of which
were represented by siXty-three delegates.
The Churchman'S League was represented
by Gen. Thomas H LOCKER, Gen. Cecil Clay
and w. H Singleton.
The conference opened at 0 a. m. with the
celebration of the holy communion at Trim
ity Church, of which Mr.. Douglas, formerly
Of ST. Johns, Washington, was at one time
rector and Mr.. Bispham, formerly of st.
Michael and All Angels, assistant. The
bishop Of Connecticut, Right Rev. c. B.
Brewster, DID,, was the ce+ebrant, assisted
by two curates Before administering the
communion the bishop made an address,, IN
which he forcibiy and earnestly set forth
the position of the laymen in the church,
accentuated their Importance as q compo-
nent, and also urged upon the delegates
the Importance of missions.
The business meeting was called to order
in Trinity parish house by the president,
Prof. James H. billiard, president of the
Church Club of Louisiana who read an in
teresting paper upon the Importance of lay
work and unity of effort by laymen.
The first regular paper was The Educa-
tion of Young Men for the Ministry by
d.
This paper was in the form of suggestive
questions for the delegates to solve rather
than any specific advice or direction. The
salient points raised were intellectual fit
ness. natural and acquired; high order of
scholarship, better mental training, aboli-
tion of free tuition in semnaries and all
gratuities which tend to lessen the dignity
of the recipients; comparison of the care
in the selection and the emoluments paid
by laymen to others, such a lawyer and
doctor with the laxity or Indifference in
the selection of and salary given min
iSter and such requirements as should
bring about the reaching and teaching Of
the gospel of Christ with subordnaton
of all the immaterial things to be found
connected with church worship.
A long and animated discussion followed
and was participated in by delegates from
nearly all the cubs represented. While
there was some divergence of opinion as
to specific details, the general trend of the
speeches was along the lines of the paper,
almost all of the speakers expressing their
appreciation thereof.
During the noon adjournment the dele
gates were conducted about Yale College,
the secretary, Rev. Anson Phelps Stokes,
jr., being cicerone.
At the afternoon session Judge Z. L. Mar
vim, LID, of Cleveland, read a carefully
prepared paper upon Some of the Duties
and Some of the Rights of Laymen in the
Church This did not specifically set
forth what it's title might appear to de-
mand, but rather presented view, from
the authors standpoint, of certain exist
ing conditions or influences to which lay
men should direct their attention.
The paper noted the growth of cert: in
pTa ctices and obserVanceS which had grown
up during the past century to wnicn some
gave special and important significance and
regarded as essential, while others looked
upon them as lmmaterial cr at most only
to be tolerated; that the fayorers thereof
insisted that there was churchly sanction
and authority therefor, and that the de-
niers thereof were not churchmen, prop
osition which the paper strenuously depre-
Gated and denied.
Owing to the lateness of the hour there
was only one speaker, who argued ener-
getically for the authority of the church.
After a few remarks by the bishop, whom
the president asked to address the confer
ence, business matters were taken up
Pittsburg was selected the place for the
next meeting. Mr.. c. E. Denton of Roches-
ter was elected president and Mr. T. E.
Browne Of Chicago was reelected secretary
and treasurer.
In the evening a dinner was given the
delegates and other guests by the Church
Club of Connectic at Harmonic Hall.
There were about $50 persons at the din
ner. Mr.. Burton Mansfield of the local
club presided and acted as toastmaster.
Among the guests were the bishop Of the
diocese and the following, who spoke:
Prof. James H. Dllard, The Rector That
Is Always Needed" Right Rev Charles II.
Brent, bishb2 to the Philippines, The Ma
tlonal Aspect of the Churchs Mission to the
Philippines" Capt. Alfred T. Mahan,
Church Clubs and Public Questions" Rev.
Anson Phelps Stokes, jr., The Pulpit and
Manhood" and Robert Treat Paine, "A
Vision Of the Church's Future Success"
Mr.. Silas McBee Of the Churchman,
though not down for a set speech, closed
the list of speakers.
The conference was regarded as one Of
the most interesting and instructive, and
by unanimous vote it was decided that
at inc ,P
one, as heretofore.
w. H. SINGLETON