The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-26
EPISCOP ALIANS
END SESSION
Bishop Potter Reads Pastoral
Letter Touching on the
Problems Before Country
HE DISCUSSES DIVORCE
Says Present Conditions Are
Such as to Be Menace
to American Civilization

BOSTON, Oct. 25.-The trennial gen
eraI convention Of the Episcopal church,
which has been in session here since
October ., was ended to-day with
public service in Trinity Church
From the pulpit Bishop Potter OF
New York read a pastoral letter ad-
dressed to the church at large. The
communication, which consisted or
more than 5000 words, considered the
problems now before the country. Re-
garding divorce the letter said that the
facility with which the marriage rela-
ton may be taken on and put on Is one
Of the menaces Of American civilization,
to the possible perils Of which Chris
titan people are as yet very imperfectly
aroused. The letter made a plea for the
permanence and security OF the family.
1t also discussed the negro problem.
stating that the church was taking
steps to correct the situation so far as
possible. Other pressing questions were
dealt with.
THE FAMILY THREATENED.
The letter paid a,high tribute to the
Archbishop OF Canterbury, saying that
his visit has cemented the two great
peoples. After pointing out the ne
cessity Of supporting missions in Jap
an. China and other Oriental districts,
the letter continued:
It is q question which We In this republic
may wisely consider, whether with greater
freedom we have always won q great purity
Of Righteousness. At the basis Of our social
EirdinE at our oriental brethren for their po-
lygamic constitution Of that institution II Is
worth while to ask ourselves the question
whether the laws Of this land are not In dan
ger Of bringing in. though by quite another
road, worse evil.
The letter takes up what 1t terms
those two great problems which to-
day supremely confront the republic
the labor question and the race Is
sue" OF the first the pastoral de-
clares that whatever labor organiza-
lions have accomplished they have
mainly moved along lines which are
the glory of our democratic institu-
TONS"
MUST FACE RACE ISSUE.
Touching the race problem, the let
ter. after referring to the appointment
of a joint commission to investigate
the question, says:
II by giving them (ths negroes) freedom
we have only given them the power to work
mischief; and II lynching has come to be de-
tended as necessary protection to FAMILIES
then surely we are face to face with q situa-
ton at once desperate and dishonoring. We
part Of our social system and II the church
can have nothing to say about 1t, then she
simply disowns her God and her master.
The letter closes with a warm in
dorsement of the International Peace
Congress, saying:
The creation Of The Hague tribunal and the
recognition II not the formal adoption Of in
ternational courts OF arbitration by some Of
the foremost empires OF Europe has indicated
the recognition of an altered Sentiment IN re-
gard to the arbitrament OF war. OF most pro-
found significance
Little business Of Importance was
transacted at the final business session.
A resolution permitting foreign congre-
cations to use forms OF service In their
own tongue was adopted after a sharp
contest. This legislation was enacted
specifically for the benefit Of Swedish
congreg cations In Minnesota
? The next convention will be held In
Richmond, Va, in 1907.