The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-02-13
ST. THOMAS CHURCH.
BISHOP M'VICKAR GUEST AND SPEAKER OF THE EVENING.
Wit and Good Fellowship Flow at St. Thomas First Banquet-First Din- ner Given in History of the Parish.

It was very sociable banquet last evening; wit and good fellowship fol- lowed at the social gathering at the New Haven house. The occasion for the gathering was a parish dinner giv- en by the men of St. Thomas church to the Rt. Rev. William N. Mcyicker, ILL. D., bishop of Rhode Island diocese, and life long friend of Phillips Brooks. Bishop McVicker made the ad- dress of the evening on Missions, and addresses were also made by the pres ent rector, Rev, William A. Beardsley
 and Lawyer Mansfield. The Hon. Joel A. Sperry presided. The church choir, led by Prof. Charles Bonney, sang sev- eral melodies. The bishop said in part:
 "I am meeting the fate of the after dinner speaker Here we are associated with men of striking and clever per- sonalities; everything is placed before
 US to tempt our appetite; in fact, this | environment is apathetic to serious thinking. Yet I am here and my re-
 marks will be on the field of Mis- ! sions.' My position reminds me of the | somnambulist who was arrested late l doing his antics. Said he: You can't arr
 rest me; I'm somnambulist.' I don't
 care if you are said the policeman; ! you cant walk the streets In your ' night clothes
 "The day which saw the dawn of
 mems church clubs saw a revival of the ] mission work of our churches. The bur-
 den of the clergy is now being borne by
 the laymen. It Is right, for the task is
 too great for us. We welcome your as- ! sstance, It is not wise to leave all the
 cares of the church to the clergy; the
 laymen themselves must not only form
 the raw material for selecting the cler- gy, but they should take up their work { also.
 "The Ivy clubs began discussions of
 the shortcomings of the clergy; more l thorough preparation for clergy eandi-
 dates, thus this laity so rightly inquis-
 itive inquired into the missions and so ! practical thoughts and work began It's
 destiny. It is great move and op- 1 portunity for the Christian laity to get i, together to be in touch with one anoth- l CT to discuss problems which are near est and dearest to our lives--practlaa! \ reform results from such gatherings" | It is the laity of our church wno stand for all righteous movements and | so sr-ely Is that body extending their 1 influence. The man who says he does l not take any interest in the missions, 1 gentlemen, such a man suffers a lack of | modsrnity; he lacks a Christian foun- | dation. He must wake up to the ca
 dence of the tread of progress In | Japan I saw a good deal of the for : eign life l do not take any stock in | the talk that missions never have any 1 practical benefit. All lifes progress
 depends cn each individual attitude to
 such questions. To the laymen of our l Christian churches lies a great resp3n
 sibility-you are the power of the ! church. If the clergy fail, largely the 1 failure is your blame. How mus, The laity move? First, inform yourself, ed | uCate yourself on the missionary his- tory and vicissitudes; try to appreciate
 the trying circumstances of the mis-
 sionary; read of such lives before you 1 criticise, sympathize with those men
 who carry the gospel. which they love
 so well. Then you will think missions
 are worth while. Be ready to say
 good word always for such a glorious
 enterprise and cause.
 I If you have the spirit to be a mis-
 sionary among your American fellow
 men surely you must then have ere
 denoe, loyalty and love for the cause | of the missions
 | "Oh, yes, laymen, what opportuni-
 ties you have? What a splendid chance you have to do a glorious duty to our