Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-15


financial assistance which IL has rem
dered the bishop in his work has been
INVALUABLE. $50. + 49, .,
to all the churches of this diocese cards
calling for certain information Tor the
census of religious bodies. quite nun
ber have not been returned nor has
fhere been any response to a~remlhoer
sent out l have been asked by the OIL
rector OF the census bureau TO can the
attention of the rectors to TINS matter
at this diocesan convention, and empha-
size the Importance of an early response
on the part of those who have not al
ready reported. The census bureau must
depead very largely. OF course. upon the
co-operation of the ecclesiastical author
lilies for securing satisfactory returns.
Some years ago. when 1 was In Eng.
land, Mr. Chas. ]. Booth, who wrote the
celebrated book on Life and Labor In
Tendon. told me that his greatest help
In securing accuracy was In the cooper
alton of the rectors of parishes, ana
attention to the request OF the census
bureau.
Parish Registers.
"And this brings us to a similar mat
ter of Importance regarding our own
statistics For a long time the church
in this country has felt the need of more
accurate regulations regarding the keep
ing of parish registers. and especially
the enrolment and transfer of communi-
cants. Some dioceSeS. notably those OF
Ohio and Massachusetts, have made eX-
cellent canonical regulations, which
commend to your perusal.
The matter Is complicated one, IL
ought to be carefully considered, and
recommend that a COMMITTEES be appoint-
ed for this purpose.
And while / am upon this subject l
want to call to the attention OF the
rectorS the absolute need OF being as
prompt and business-lke as possible IN
financial matters The parishes stand as
Of md In
so important this the church ought
to lead the world. not be led by 1t.
We must not allow the children of this
world to he in their generation wiser
than the children of light l earnestly
hope that the rectors of parishes. the
treasurers of various societies and the
members of vestries will set the exam
pie to the outside world Of being prompt,
isystematic business. like and accurate in
all money matters.
Aged and Infirm Clergy.
LET me call your attention to the aged
and infirm clergy fund of our diocese
Under the efficient management of the pres
ent treasurer. together with the help tina
Is given by the gene. Il clergy relief fund
we have been able to do much more for on,
benefciaries than was done in past years
but We should not be satisfied until every
clergyman of the diocese may feel, wher
he reaches an advanced age-when he car
work no longer-that he will be taken car,
of by the church in the same way that OF
ficers of the army and navy are provided
for by the government
I'VE owe a debt of gratitude to the gen
eral clergy relief fund for having supple
mented our efforts in caring for the clergy
men of this diocese. Without its help d.
not know just what we should have done
1t is simple matter of justice and equity
that / should call to your attention tina
this fund is now contributing 81, 100 for tht
relief of our clergy and their widows: ane
the secretary has written me a kind letter
telling me that the board of trustees fee
that they are doing more for US than fol
other dioceses. While they appropriate this
s.. 100, only twelve out of the sixty-six par
fishes and missions have contributed to the
fund the sum of $316.5S
you see that we are here facing condi
ton. Unless more parishes contribute to
the general fund 1t will be impossible for
me to ask any further donations from it."
Three Hundredth Anniversary.
1.-The three hundredth anniversary of the
first communion service of our prayer book
in the civilization of America at James
town in 1901 will fail the third Sunday
after Trinity-June 49, 1t Is to be hoped
that that day will be marked as a day OF
special thanksgiving IN our church through
out the United States: that 1t will be OBJ
served by a corporate communion OF men
tyby the presentation of the mems missionary
thank offering for the foundation of oul
church in this land and IN other appropriate
ways. 'E 7"- t- ,-'- - 5i'''NS-
.'f-''I would especially recommend that this
day be observed, and that rectors make suci
reference to the occasion as may be appro
pirate and memorable In the minds of oul
congregations -
AT the last meeting of the board Of
managers of diocesan missions the methoC
of raising the appropriation was CAREFUL,
discussed and the suggestion made that II
would be desirable to obtain. II possible
the voluntary cooperation of the vestries
and parishes in obtaining, the necessary
funds.
Call for Volunteer Pledges.
ITO this end it was proposed that, in
stead of the usual apportionment of a GER
tain sum to each parish by committee or
- apportionment, it would be more satisfac
tory II. when the convention voted to ap
p propriate a certain sum, 1t should also taks
order for the raising of that sum by the
voluntary pledges of the parishes But, IL
order that each parish should be able t.
- state what IL would voluntarily contribute
toward the whole amount, 1t was further
- suggested that the bishop should address
communication to each rector and vestry
= considerable time before the convention
setting forth in detail the nee; Of tn,
work of missions. where new " Dirk coult
probably be undertaken, and giving sucf
fnforma ton from the board of managers
as would set the whole need before each
vestry, and requesting each to conside
1t in vestry meeting and IL possible In a
meeting or the whole congregation, so as
they might promise that the parish would
90 Tor diocesan missions. giving them SONS
discretionary power to increase their pledg
II necessary. Then at the ensuing conven
ton II would be feasible. while the con
% yention. as the board OF missions Is dis
cussing the appropriation to take order a.
to how II Is to be raised by the voluntary
disappointment of the parishes.
1T seems to me that there Is a grea
deal in this suggestion: that 1t will brin,
the subject of the Importance of diocesan
missions as wildly before the minds o
the vestries and OF the congregations a.
Is before that of the rector himself
IF this plan should meet the approval
OF the convention, 1t would be necessar,
10 make some changes in the canons: and
erefore 1 recommend that this who'll
matter be referred to the COMMITTEES O,
canons. with the request that they repor
upon II as soon as practicable to this con
vention" WAS '
Color Question.
With regard to the color problem. tn,
bishop said:
Here in our midst. in a population Of
ninety millions. we have ten millions-o,
more than one person in ten---belongine Il
weaker race. And If had time to re