Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-14

AND SERMON

morning on the occasion of the annual
visitation of tine Rt. Rev. James
Henry Darlington, d. D., LII. d. bis
hop of the diocese of Harrisburg. A
class of twenty young men and women
was confirmed and the bishop deliver
ed masterly discourse explanatory of
the great missionary movement and
| embodying a direct appeal to the con-
| gregation to make such contributions
! to the cause as will enable the diocese
to raise the sum apportioned to it.
| At the close of the ordinance of con-
! firmation the bishop addressed the
| class His remarks were very SYM
/ pathetic and helpful dwelling upon
! the difference between great and little
sins and urging the members in the
new life not to become discouraged i'll
their failures frequently as they may
occur, to live up to the highest ideals
| of Christian life. Small sins in
/ themselves are not fatal; by taking
| them to the Savior forgiveness is OBJ
| tanned and the soul is strengthened to
resist them. On the other hand small
sins, if indulged, grow into large sins,
which finally enslave the soul.
The sermon dwelt upon the great
missionary movement, started by lay
men, and was a most stirring appeal
| The text was taken from st. john
10th chapter, 10th verse: And other
sheep [ have, which are not of this
fold them also must bring and they
shall hear my voice, and there shall
be one fold and one shepherd "
The bishop began by adverting to
the fact that all bishops are equal.
The Oldest is always the presiding bis
hop, provided he is physically able;
thus the bishop of the smallest diocese
may become presiding bishop, if he
lives long enough. The congregations
are not independent; they are indiv-
iduals, it is true, but they all move as
one church. AS such this year they are
expected to raise one million dollars
for missionary purposes. Each diosese
has its part to fill.
The diocese of Harrisburg is but five
years old, which is the limit of time,
the bishop explained, that he has been
with the churches here. Owing to the
short time that it has been in exist
ence, of the million dollars to be rails
ed only 600 has been apportioned to
this diocese. The amount apportioned
last year was $2,7
The bishop very eloquently describ-
ed the general awakening of the peo-
pie, especially the laymen's missionary
movement Seven weeks ago he ac-
cepted an invitation to preside at the
greatest missionary meeting ever held.
1t took place in New York and was
attended by six thousand persons,
among whom were j. Pierpont Nor
gan, the son of John ID. Rockefeller
and a score of other millionaires, who
were intensely enthusiastic on the sub
ject of spreading the gospel and then
and there subscribed for the cause
sums that were in proportion to their
great wealth. In the past the work
of raising money for foreign mission
devolved ON the minister's the layman
now have voluntarily taken the work
out of their hands. The bishop eX-
pressed confidence not only that the
| Episcopal church will succeed i'll rails
| ing one million dollars, but also that
| the diocese of Harrisburg is going to
raise the amount apportioned or even
more.
He proceeded to explain the different
methods of raising the money needed
and recommended the duplex envelope,
which by experiment has been found
very useful. He cited an instance in
his experience when by means of this
envelope on single Sunday $500
were raised for the purpose of estab-
fishing home for the blind.
! The old way of taking up annual
/ collections for missions, the bishop ex-
/ planned, is superseded by other and bet
/ ter methods. Men are simply pouring
out their wealth. One man gave five
millions in single day. The desired
result however, can only be attained
| by all persons the humble as we'll as
! the high, doing their part. At no mat
| ter in what denomination all who have
/ been baptised in the name of the "Fa-
! ther, Son and Holy Ghost" should
consider it their duty to contribute to
the extent of their ability that the
knowledge of Jesus Christ may be car
ried to the remotest parts of the earth.
The Moravians, the speaker said,
compose the greatest missionary..church
on earth. The mother church in Eng
land contributes relatively more than
! the church in this country. The old
Scotch Covenanters Presbyterian
have a remarkable record for giving.
In conclusion, the bishop exhibited a
series of charts prepared by the lay
men relating to faraway work. These
showed how relatively small is the
area represented by missionary effort
ON the face of the great dark territory
Ill which Christianity has never been
taught 1t also showed the number
and the location of the missionaries
at work as against the immense DoDu