The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-10
PROGRESS Of
CHURCH IN IOWA
Interview With Bishop Morrison,
Who Finds Notable Increase of
Religious Spirit In
the state.
HAS PRAISE FOR KEoKUK
Work Being Carried on Here by Rev.
John c. Sage is Mentioned
a. Rather Re
markabIe.
HAS PRAISE FOR KEoKUK

With the annual diocesan conven-
ton of the Episcopal church in Iowa
only a week off, Bishop Morrison de-
clares that the condition of the Epis-
copal church in Iowa Is very encourag-
ing. He thinks tina. this improved
condition of church affairs and a
rather marked increase in religious
interest and the faithfulness OF pro-
fessed religious people is probably
true Of all the churches. At any rate
the bishop evidently rejoices in the
signs Of interest and progress in the
Episcopal church and is certainly
Optimistic and looks forward to day
of greater influence and vigor for the
church In Iowa. He declares that he
lis sure that men are becoming more
interested in the moral and the spir-
|itual side of life. He has always had
faith that although waves Of skep.-
ticism may occasionally sweep over
the country, life remains the same.
the world is the same old world all
the time, has the same problems to
solve and the same needs to meet
tina. it has had through the centuries,
and that Just as surely as the needle
of the compass returns to point to the
pole star so mankind returns to the
fundamentals of faith. They may be
dressed differently, 20 be In step with
modern thought and knowledge, but
they are no more really changed than
ARE men or life or the world in which
we live. With this same confidence
and optimism Bishop Morrison views
the outlook of the church in Iowa and
finds much in the present situation
that justifies his belief. He will have
a message of encouragement to de-
liver to the diocesan convention when
lit opens in st. Paul's, Council Bluffs,
next Sunday, May II.
The Growth Of the chuch.
Knowing that Bishop Morrison has
travelled hundreds of miles through
|ou. the state in the past few months,
and is in close touch with all the in
terests of the Iowa church, repre-
sentative Of The Gate City called
upon him Saturday.
What do you find to be the condi-
ton Of the church in Iowa?" Bishop
Morrison was asked.
The answer was that The general
conditions were quite satisfactory, and
after a moments reflection Bishop
Morrison plunged into review of the
situation that touched a number of in
teresting poin:s of the growth of the
church in Iowa.
The important thing" he said, lis
whether the consciousness of the
church is finding the living God and
whether the members of the church
care, not particularly to gain acknowl
edged place and influence, marked by
wealth and numbers, but for the ex-
tension of the kingdom of heaven
among men-God's immediate rule in
the heart and conscience, and the in
fiuence of the spirit Of the Lord Jesus
and the application of His teaching to
life. The church Is not an end but
means to an end-to save individual
men from the dominance of The lower
nature and through such men to bring
into being a better social, economic
and political order
TT is easy, therefore. to make a
and convincing statement
as 20 how the church is doing Its
work. The kingdom of heaven cometh
not with observation. 1t is something
Of which you can only be conscious,
except as you see the life and &C.
complishments of the church in per-
spective. There is, however. an at
and just at present the
winds of The spirit seem to be fresher
and more invigorating. l have found
people more. devout. more determined
to be faithful. There is some increase
in attendance, and most of our par
ishes report better kept Lent than
they have enjoyed for years. Yes. I
am sure tina. there is the promise OF
a religious awakening. have every
where found a more hopeful spirit.
perhaps at any time during my
Probably all this is true
of all denominations. 1t is certainly