Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-20
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
IN ANNUAL SESSION
CONTINUED from First Page.)

for churches by holding entertain
ments and amusements is a hopeless
one, was the statement of the bishop
in his opening address. He continued
that some of the parishes had per-
mitted an objectionable line of amuse-
ment to be held, and insisted that
anything of this character should be
discontinued.
At the suggestion of Bishop Lines
committee was appointed to send
special message of coincidence on the
death of Bishop Doane to Bishop
Richard Henry Nelson. of Albany. in
behalf of the Newark diocese. The
funeral of Bishop Doane was held
today at Albany.
On the subject of entertainments
the bishop spoke as follows;
ut is to be said also that many
religious people desire to have their
religion ordered in an easy-go1ng and
attractive way. everything made
pleasant and agreeable to their taste.
There is a disposition to spend money
upon adornment, in making the
church attractive and pleasant to the
eye and ear. So we are trying to
draw people to the church, and are
training up a new generation to sup
port the church by providing abund-
ant amusement and entertainment.
1t is found in many cases that largely
attended church clubs and societies
, contribute very few to the congrega-
ton. We make a mistake If we go
into competition with those who make
business of providing amusement
for the public There are a good
many parishes and missions where
there should be more strict supervi-
sion of entertainments by the clergy
and officers of the church. Churches
are losing respect in communities be-
cause forms of amusement are al
lowed which are Objectionable. The
line of propriety is passed and the
good name, of the church suffers
We cannot afford to have anything
done in the name of the church which
sacrifices propriety and dignity Moth
| ing ought to be permitted in a parish
house which selfzrespecting men and
women would not permit in their own
homes. To try to build up the church
on amusements and entertainments is
hopeless undertaking. What we
build in this way will be ever tum-
bling down. The members of a par
ish church or of mission may well
be thought of as members of one
family, but it ought to be a WE'LL
ordered. dignified, self-respecting
family. the spiritual end of the
church's life and work never OBJ
secured"
After referring to those who had
died, and particularly to Bishop
Doane, the bishop took up the ques-
ton of church unity, treating, with
out any direct mention, the fhigh'
and Glow church difference.
On this subject he said in part:
There is a peculiarly strong call
now to all the members of the church
to keep the spirit of unity and kind
ness, as the assurance of greater
efficiency There will be in a large
church, where proper liberty in re-
spect to opinion and practise is main
tanned, very decided differences, but
these may be the expression of life
and interest, and mean good rather
than harm. if only they exist with
IChristian charity. In our larger COM
munities there will be services which
are plain, and services which are
elaborate. and all may go on without
Injury to the church. II is hard foI
many to accept this Development Of
our church life but it is a mark OF
large mindedness and generous out.
look to do so. Where there is but
one church in a community, it surely
ought to be so ordered that all rea-
sonable- church people may find in Il
/ a church home and spiritual help.
People become so attached to theil
own way that they think 1t is tn,
only way to worship, and they arr
rather intolerant of others. Tit
church is sure to be injured whel
people try to press their own way un
duly. and represent it as the onl,
proper way. When there were bu
few church people in the land GU
ways were much alike, and it was |
great source of strength to have on
people feel at home in the churcl
wherever they went. This could no
continue as the church grew larger
hut the spirit of charity ought to re
lmain that people may continue T.
! feel the sense of brotherhood ant
! have the home feeling wherever the,
: may be.
Cause of Unhappy Divisions
"rhe unhappy divisions Of English
! speaking Christianity came largel
from the endeayor to enforce uni