Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-04-09

AL taith cuufch Will De open AL
day on Good Friday, and from noon
TO 3 p M. service viii be continuous,
in conformity with tbs following let
ter from J. Il. McIlvaine:
PITTsBURg, Pa, Mch. 9th, 1914.
Reverend and Dear Sir:
At the last General Convention a
resolution was passed unanimously by
the House of Deputies, Resolved, the
House OF Bishops concurring, That we
commend TO all Christian people the
observance OF ten minutes thoughtful
silence at three O'Clock on Good Fri
day in recognition and congmemora-
ton of the sacrifice and death OF the
worlds Saviour The House OF
Bishops adopted the following substi-
tute: "Resolved, the House OF Depu-
ties concurring, That we recognize
with sympathy the inability OF many
Christian people to share in the age
long custom of setting apart Good
Friday as day of Public and private
devotion in COMMUNICATION OF the
sacrifice of our Lord. In view of this
fact VIC call upon them at noon on that
day to unite IN at least a few minutes
of special persona contemplation of
Christ crucified. y The House OF
Deputies. concurred In the substitute.
Possibly a word Of explanation in
regard to the motive and meaning of
this action of the General Convention
may be acceptable to those Of the
clergy who we're not present.
When President of the United States
dies, during his term of Office, at the
-. 1.
cessation of business for few mo-
ments throughout the country; the
country is silent out OF respect for his
memory. When the President of a
great railroad system dies there Is a
cessation of business In its shops and
Offices for few minutes at the hour Of
his funeral; the system is silent out OF
respect for his memory. The veterans
of the Grand Army observe few
minutes silence at noon on Memorial
Day In commemoration of the death
OF their comrades. II Is the worlds
way of showing respect. There is no
expression of recognition or commem-
Grafton OF the sacrifice and death Of
the worlds Saviour by the great
Christian world. II observes Christ
mas in recognition OF His birth; it
very largely observes Easter In com
remuneration OF His resurrection:
the Church has its Eucharist and IFS
Good Friday services; but for multi
tudes OF people who call themselves
Christians, who believe in Christ, who
honor His memory and trust in His
atoning death, there IL no expression
or commemoration OF His death which
at all corresponds with that OF His
birth and resurrection. II Is hoped
that this may appeal 10 them, that
they may feel lbs reasonablencss and
appropriateness, and that ii may draw
them TO that larger expression offaith
and love which the Church affords;
that IL IL IS adopted and observed by
our own Church il may appeal 10 other
Christian Communions, as our observ-
ance OF Christmas and Good Friday
has done. 1t is indeed a little thing,
utterly inadequate, but anything would
be inadequate, and something Is bet
ter than nothing The Reverand
Clergy are asked 10 commend II ear
nestly 20 their people, to their Clerical
Unions, TO the Ministerial Unions 81
other Christian bodies, TO do what
they may 10 commend 10 TO all Chris
tian people," AS no committee was
appointed by the Convention 70 remind
the Church Of It's action, have ven
tured to take upon myself the liberty
Of so doing. Faithfully yours,
). II. McILyAINE.
Meditations will be delivered on tho
seven last words from the cross. The
cross and It's lessons, are as vital and
important for us as they were 1906
years ago.
The rector most affeetionately In.
vites the man with or without q creed,
for VIC all belong TO God.
The program for Easter Day Service
follows;
Organists, Miss Ethel Cantor and
Mr. w Wescott