The Washington herald., 1909-02-01

Bishop Harding performed his hrst
duty in the episcopal habit last even
INK. when he dedicated the Mission ef the
Nativity. at Fourteenth and a streets
southeast, as house Of God
It Is 4 small shrine that the devoted
people Of the chapel have erected It Is
as modest and unpretentious as Puri-
ian meeting house hewn in. the pioneer
davs but II stands as the monument TO
The efforts Of a small hand Of church
goers. who have already succeeded IN
tightening their shoulders OF half q the
real estate and construction debt The
whole involves s11,0oe-
Almost SeIf-SuPpOrtinE.
A young and earnest rector. formerly
Bishop Hardlng's assistant at St. Pauls.
has lei the mission IN the erection Of this
altar. He IS Rev. Enoch Thompson. and
l,e has not merely. established the chapel
but built it up until It has practically
reached a seIf-supporting basis Ground
was broken FOR the little church but a
brief three months age. and a New Years
service was held within its walls Il was
aimed 70 make a record in speedy con-
struction. and probably no other church
in Washington rose from broken earth
n so short a period
Bishop Harding preached before a con
=regati0n 50 large that the door wGs de-
MED late comers- His topic was prayer.
He introduced his theme by relating the
scOurging OF the mOney-Changers from
The temple.
Christ was stirred 10 indignation when
He saw them" said the preacher. 1T was
not that they were m0ney-ChanEeTs. II
was because they thought Of nothing but
heir greed. trained their fingers 10 do
caught but grasp. Complete absorption
in Sordid cause IS a most tragic sight
n the eyes OF God
The road 10 salvation is prayer. The
lay is fraught with the divinely human
clement Of mystery; II is full OF accident
and the unknown. and he who fathOms
It's depths OF joys and sorTOws without a
chart and without a guide Is supremely
reckless The guide IS prayer II should
both open and conclude the day. Il IS one
Of the highest OF earthly duties.
This house Of prayer shows the aTchi-
tecturaI adjustment Of our spiritual per
spective. IN the center, claiming al eyes,
IS the altar the table Of God. the focus
Of worship and Of the Eucharist To is
left IS the pulpit. the Tadiating point OF
cheer and assurance TO sustain one in the
secular anXieties Of the six days Beyond
the congregation. the pew. as a symbol
Il good fellowship and Of brotheTly love
Tribute to Late Bishop.
NO tribute could I pay unto the lat,
Bishop SatterIee more fitting than L
say he was a man OF prayer Prsyei
more than sustained him; i made bin
one OF the gentlest and noblest men
have ever known. It was the grea
impetus in his al too brief episcOpacy
Il was prayer which led him 20 establisl
the work for the building Of q grea
national cathedral at St AIban, and fl
al the many activities OF his bishopric-
Bishop Harding concluded his sermon
with q personal note Of greeting 20 IN
mission. He asked for their support. g.
they should have his He congratulate
them on the completion Of the chapel
My farewell sermOn2'
Bishop Harding greeted the interrOga
ton as II il were an intruder and a.
inteTloper Il stole in upon the genia
current Of his thought as a topic he ha'
forbidden himself. one that he had def
nitely ana finally DISMISSED.
There is not going 70 be any farewell
sermon" he said, with Episcopal empha
SIS. The people OF St PauIs are not g0in
10 lose ne any more than I am going I
lose them. Why should 1 preach q fare
vel sermon when I am going 70 be wit
them in the heart Of this city-always j
spirit. If not in bOdy?'
The second Bishop of Washingto
beamed with great satisfaction over thi
thought. for his people" OF St. Paul
are confessedly very dear 10 him, even
he has taken a multitude Of paTishe
under his wing.
VIII Be "Chief Rector
Il am not 70 be rector Of St Paul
any longer" he continued. but N
to be. in a sense which IS very gratefu
10 my mind. its chief rector. That !
what bishop is. isn't it?
TT was not until to-day that 7 realize
myself as 8 bishop. Tonight I left S
PauTs Church 10 preach before anothe
congregation in pursuance Of my EpiscC
pal duties. II was an experience that
bad anticipated a thousand times. but
found It very strange in fact was NJ
among faces as familiar TO me as thos
Of my family, but I was stiU among m
people
What I have to say TO St Paurs
have already said have told them tha
my sympathy and aid would always
theirs; have urged them to tender a
hearty support 70 the new rector. who
ever he may be- as they did 10 ne
have never considered these words I
the nature OF a farewell: in fact, I coul
not bring myself 10 think that theT
would be any real farewell between Us.
Bishop Harding viii officiate at s
Paul's for the last time next Sundal
His assistant. Rev Charles HOImead. II
viii be in charge until z new rector
selected Rev Robert Talbot, 20 whor
a cali has been extended. probably wi
be IN Washington this week 70 look ovs
the field. and may preach in St Paul
next Sunday. He has promised TO CON
for a conference as soon as possible
Three Hundred Are Fed