Evening star., 1909-02-14
Larger Endowment.
Rev. Dr. Randolph H. McKim Asks Parishioners Of
Epiphany Church to Increase the Parish
Endowment $4,000 by Easter.

Episcopalians throughout the District or
Columbia, as we'll as laymen of other de-
nominations, have been much Interested
in recent discourse of Rev. Dr. Ran
dolph H. McKim rector of the Church of
the Epiphany. in which he tells OF the
work which has been accomplished in
that parish during the past score years
he has served it. and asks S2oo"O addl-
fionai endowment by Easter
II am lookins back over the path we
have walked together as traveller at
evening surveys from some hilltop on the
road by which he has journeyed through
out the day" said tie rector in opening
his address.
A Checkered Path.
1T has been a checkered path, he con-
tinueo; sometimes in light; sometimes III
shadoa: sometimes in sunshine; some
times i'm storm: sometimes along smooth
and grassy meadows: sometimes over
rough and stony places. Neither for you
nor for me has life been always spanned
by bright skies. Both you and l. dear
friends have known afflCtion ana ad-
versity these twenty years past. we
have had the common lot OF man 10
gether we have Tejoiced: together we nave
mourned: together we have laporeo-
G0mtlmpS y
..But still as we look back over the
road we have come together, ! think we
may, like Samuel, raise our EpeheLer,
our stone of help-and say with thanR1uI
hearts, Hitherto hath the LORD heipeo
u.s."
Guidance of God.
In continuing Dr. McKim pointed to the
work done by the parish during his rec
torate. ITO begin with material things,
feel that we had the help and guidance
OF God in the great architectural changes
in the church ediice begun and carried
out at large expense In the year 1880.
whereby the interior of this building was
SO marvelously Transformed, crowned
with grace and beauty. and made 1nstinct
with the spirit of reverence and deVotlon
so that as one enters this church today
the exclamation rises unbidden to the
lips, This Is none other than the mousse
of God and the gate OF heaven"
'"rhe blessing and the help of God were
with us. too. when in 1891 We undertook
to build new parish buiiding IN H. SCUM
Washington at cost of over $1,000, and
again in 1892 we built our large and beau-
tiful chapel adjoining the parish house,
10Th and c streets southwest. A 1eW
years ago a fourth story was added 10
the parish house there: and altogether we
have invested there for the evangelization
and upl!ft of the people in that part or
our parish more than $5S.Ooo BY the
blessing
sistant clergy there the work has greatly
prospered and our hearts have been made
glad
with a similar feeling we reflect on the
remarkable expansion Of the endowment
fund of the church home. The old build
ing has recently been sold. and large
and beautiful property on MASSACHUSETTS,
avenue has been bought, where the In
mates are now happily settled. While
plans are preparing for the erection in
the rear of the present house a large ana
well equipped building of freproof con-
struction.
But the activity of this dear old parish
has not been confined within her own
parish lines spacious as these are. 1t
was the rector and vestry Of this church
that first projected new church near
Dupont Circle. and when circumstances
deprived her Of the privilege of building
it herself she threw her influence into the
scale in 1891 in favor of the new parish
there tSt. Thomas). and effectively met
the opposition to its formation. Ihen
when it was formed thirty of her fami-
lies went out with her blessing to cast in
their lot with the new enterprise
Aid for Diocesan Work.
DIR. Mckim then referred to the fact
that since the formation of the Episcopal
diocese OF Washington. fourteen years
ago, Epiphany Church has contributed TO
diocesan objects s72.691.63.
1.-The Eye. Ear and Throat Hospital
may be said." he continued. ''to owe it's
existence to the fact that the influence of
Epiphany was thrown into the scale In
favor of its establishment at moment in
the preliminary discussions when the plan
was in danger of being abandoned. In
less than three years this institution re-
ceived from members of this parish in
various donations an aggregate of $45,-
$685."
During DIR. McKim's pastorate he said.
%
COMMUNICATE list. The present member
ship Is 1850.
You know" he continued, that in the
years gone by some advocated pulling
down this lighthouse Of God and building
new one uptown, where it would be so
much easier to supply il with oil. But
think you agree with me that to do that
would have been a betrayal OF trust. You
have been with me in the fight I have
made to keep this church where it is. and
| am sdre you as thankful as | am
that we chose the more difficult rather
than the easy path. and determined not
TO forsake the people down town, but to
stand at our post and strengthen and for
tify our lighthouse at any cost of labor
and self denial. So here the dear church
stands, and here. God helping us, ii will
stand: and here we believe our children
and children's children will keep it stand
ing as a light shining in dark place.
Never was 1t more needed than now.
Never was its work more varied or more
enectlNe. Never Ola IL touch the cODlnu-
nifty at more points than it does now
Eight hundred and fifty families or parts
OF families there are to whom the parish
church ministers. besides many others
who are occasional attendants. Four hum
dred and seventy-five more families are
reached by chapel in South Wash
ington-in all. $50 families in the parish.
So that the extent and magnitude of the
work alone constitute a strong appeal to
our love and generous loyalty.
Asks Larger Endowment.
On closing DR.. McKim asked that $40,
on additional endowment he raised by
Easter, making the total amount $4,000
THE time has come my dear friends,
he said, when We must rouse ourselves to
a supreme effort in this behalf. VIII you
respond to my appeal? May l feel that
my twenty years service among you
gives me the privilege OF asking you tc
cooperate heartily with me i'm the effort
TO take a great step forward in our TWEEN
ty-first year?
II do not believe that i shall appeal il
vain. You will recognize the necessity
You feel the constraining force of the
motive I urge You will respond with
enthus siasm to the call. lou will feel that
II is God Himself who commands "Speal
unto the Children of Israel that they s,
forward
I'm His name, then, and for His dear
Sons sake. l ask YOU TO resolve that IL
the year 1909 you will add S20.000 to The
endowment fund Of this parish. Let u