The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-20

i Tie uelesdleS W TIE convention. Uul blSC
a large number Of Episcopalians from
all parts of the city as we'll were pres
ent. The rectors of all the local
churches and several from outside the
city occupied seats within the chan
eel
Rt. Rev. Bishop Talbot presided and
introduced as the first speaker, Rt. Rev
Bishop Partridge, Of Japan, who
preached one of the finest missionary
sermons heard in this city in many
| years, basing his words on the oft quot
ed text beginning, "Go ye into all the
world
These words, the bishop declared. are
the keynote Of the whole gospel and
they are the guide to those who would
seek to know what must be done for
the Gentiles. The latter, he said, must
be first enlightened as to their duty to
themselves, their brother men and their
God. This enlightenment can come only
from the church Of God, which is di-
vinely commissioned to spread His
truth to all the world.
Mission of the Church.
| After the Gentle has been enlightened
it is the mission of the church to re-
| deem him physically. mentally and
| morallyto redeem him from his sin.
salvation for the heathen," the bishop
said, is an old fashioned theme which
has come to be generally regarded as a
canting expression, but it's good to get
back to the old things sometimes. ours
is an old church and it's our mission to
| teach the old things" he said.
| The third duty of the Christian
church is to give the GENTLE the in
heritance Of the saints, to bring them
| within the fold Of the Christian faith
and up to the doorway of Gods own
| house.
The bishop then discussed the present
social condition of Japan. The Japan
ese priests are seeking to bring back
the old worship of the spirits of the
heroes and men of greatness but there
| is no effort being made to put in prac-
| tice the teachings which they impart
| to the people. Eight whole streets in
Kyoto, he said, are devoted to dens Of
| the very vilest and most debauched
| beings and the very finest and most
| luxurious in these haunts of sin are
reserved for the use Of the native
priests.
Many we'll wishers Of the Japanese
nation are asserting, he said, that a
general belief in personal God is not
necessary for the national success OF
Japan. These people assert that all
that is necessary Is a revision of the
moral code and that when the revised
rules of conduct are taught all the peo-
pie will become moral. The bishop de-
clared this to be an absolutely false
notion.
mo system" said he, "can raise any
| man to higher and better living unless
it finds its source in Him whose voice
is heard behind the riven clouds"
Their Love Of Nature.
He spoke of the inherent love of nat
ure which is to be found among the
Japanese people, and said that it sur
passes the conception Of any person
who Mas not came into close touch with
them. The church is utilizing their love
| of nature in bringing the people to love
natures God, he said.
Missionary work, he declared. has q
vital interest for every Christian. 1t
broadens his horizon, raises him into
grander conception and loftiei' view
of Him who is the Redeemer of all
mankind, of His brother, who is God.
The second address was made by Rt
Rev. Bishop Cameron Mann, of North
Dakota, who was a classmate of Bishop
Talbot in the theological seminary and
who pictured the condition, prospects
and needs of his diocese.
The civilization of North Dakota, he
said, is practically only twenty five
years old. The state comprises an
area of $4,000 square miles or as large
territory as the entire state of New
York and half of Pennsylvania. The
population is nearly 100000 and no less
than $4,000 people have settled within
it's borders since the first of the present
year. 1t is purely an agricultural state
their being no forests, no mines and
consequently no manufacturing estab-
lshments of any consequence.
To look after the needs of this vast
territory the Episcopal church has only
twenty clergymen. These minister at
forty-one organized missions and about
thirty unorganized missions. There are
twenty-eight church buildings and
fourteen rectories. Since January last
not single additional clergyman has
been secured despite the great increase
in population.
Will Receive Support.
Inc cnurch tnat gets established IN
western community first is the church
that Is going to receive the support Of
the inhabitants, the bishop said, and
1t is the business of the Episcopalians
of this country to see that their church
is established first wherever possible.
There Is something attractive~about the
church service which draws many into
it.
The bishop said that he needs f
more clergymen at once and that
has had no less than six voluntec:
from among young men who are to he
ordained next June. He needs 10000
he said, to carry on the work, s., 900 to
assist in paying the salaries of add-
tional clergymen and $1,000 to be used
in assisting in the erection of churches
in various parts of the state.
Immediately following the service an
informal reception was rendered the
visiting bishops in the parish house.
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City and School Taxes 1909.