The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-28
BISHOP HALLS LETTER
On the Lenten Season, Which Was Read
in Vermont Churches.

Un IAe Lenten season, which was ReaC
in Vermont Churches.
Bishop Halls pastoral letter for Lent
body, which is much in peoples thoughts
churches in the diocese Of Vermont Sun.
day, was as follows
To the congregations Of the diocese OF
Vermont:
My dear people:
The reunion Of Christians from many
separate and rival societies into one
body, whic his much in peoples thoughts
at the present time, may well suggest
a subject for my lenten pastoral letter
this year.
/ | shall not here enter on any discus
sion of the question OF reunion.
have said and published a good deal
about this from different points of view,
in my charge for 1910 on 4The Apostolic
Ministry" in paper on Christian unity
read at the conference of the New Eng
land missionary department in 1909, and
in little book containing the substance
OF the retreat addresses given last fall
on The Sevenfold Unity of the Church, +"
which ! venture to think may be help
full for reading in church or privately
during Lent. My object now Is to point
out some duties connected with this sub
lect which we should have in mind, par
ticularly at this time.
|. We ought to make it matter OF
constant prayer in public and in private,
that almighty God by His spirit will
guide His people, and especially all who
are in positions Of authority or leader
ship, to see and do His will in this re-
gard. The greater the difficulties in the
way, the louder the call for prayer We
must ask not that our plans may be
carried out, but that we may all be
shown what is Gods will, and may be
enabled to put down prejudiees and
selfish interests that stand in the way
OF its accomplishment
We never celebrate the holy com
munion without offering a prayer that
God viii inspire the universal church
with the spirit Of truth, unity, and con
cord; and that all those who confess His
holy name may agree in the truth Of
His holy word, and live in unity and
cody love. Let us resolve to Join In
this and on the similar prayer Of the
daily service, with earnestness and real
devotion lt75
2 AS [ have often explained to you,
Lent is time for common or collective,
and not merely for individual. repren-
lance. We are, with Daniel, to confess
our sins and the sins OF our people T
Let us humble ourselves before God for
the sins and faults which have 50 large.
II led to the divisions among Christians /
pride and arrogance, disobedience and +
wordiiness and negligence, a
low standing Of Christian life, selfish 1
ness and an absence Of generosity and /
g. In particular let us examine our.
selves as to our own faults against the
common life of the church For instance.
10 we recognize our responsibility for
example and influence, for the use Of
money and time and ability. not for our
Individual pleasure or advancement, but
Tor the good Of others, as stewards Of
4od's manifold gifts
4 The oneness Of the whole church (.
Dught to be reflected in the unity Of each
congregation. Self-afTacement, rather
han a determination 10 rule, ought to
,e the characteristic OF Christian peo-
BE, Individually and in sets Those who
re placed in any position Of authority 1
re to rule with meekness and considera-
ion, and with the remembrance that !
hey too are under higher authority. I