Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-19
URGES BROADER
SCOPE OF CHURCH
Men of Trinity Episcopal Parish
Discuss Changes at Get
Together" Meeting.

4 broader scope in the activities
of the members of the congregation
of the Trinity Church was the sub
ject of a lengthy discussion last
night at a "get-together" meeting
of men in the parish house of the
church, in Rector street, in which
Cortlandt Parker, John +. Hardin,
Rev Mercer C. Johnston, the rector
Rt. Rev. Edwin S. Lines, bishop of
the Newark diocese of the Episcopal
Church, and William T. Upton, of
Bloomfield, were the principal speak
ers.
Rev. Mr.. Johnston declared that the
church should be the worSingmen's
church, and declared that he would
do all in his power to fill the pews,
but in that work, he said, he wanted
the cooperation of the members of
the congregation.
A family church was the subject
of Bishop Lines's address. He said
that the institution should be just the
same as it was years ago Hospital
ity on the part of members of the
congregation. he said, was potent
factor in bringing about the proper
relationship among its members.
In discussion of the history of the
church and the needs of the congre-
cation, paper read by Mr.. Parker
was in part as follows:
"As a member of Trinity Church
and as a vestryman l am naturally
deeply interested in the financial con-
dition of the church. for 1 recognize
that without necessary funds its use
fulness must be greatly impaired. The
present, I think, is secure, but for the
future | feel somewhat anxious. 1t
is our duty, l think, not only to pro-
vide for the present, but, IN part at
lease, for the future,
"As for the days that are 10 come,
| rejoice that our church occupies
conspicuous and commanding posi-
ton. [ was much struck with. a re-
mark | once heard made by a cler-
gyman, The Almighty builds the
churches and the devil chooses their
sites. A good location is necessary
for a church as for any business, and
we cannot but applaud the wisdom of
our forefathers who placed the
church just where it is. We shall
always have central and favorable
location for conducting church ser
vices in accordance with our belief.
But the conditions in the neigh
borhood have changed and are
changing. . The small stores dependent
on the custom of few people which
formerly fiourished in Broad street
are disappearing. In their places we
find extensive department stores
doing an enormous business on small
sales To many people Heretofore, for
many years, Trinity's congregation
was made up largely of parishioners
oil die4f.f tot al
the two parks. That section of the
city is rapidly going into business,
and the class of people who once oc-
cupied it have moved elsewhere.
I'm very old times Trinity was the
Anglican church in what is now
the four counties of Essex, Hud-
son. Bergen and Passaic. People
came to it from beyond the Orange
Mountains and from the vicinity of
Rutherford. 1t was the church of a
large territory. Shall we not have
to return TO the former ways and
cease TO be merely a parish church,
serving small section of the city,
and become a popular church with
the whole teeming city for Il. parish?
II think this is our noble destiny.
One wise bishop sees that, and our
sagacious rector is preparing for the
change when it shall come, if it is
not already upon us. In what actions
shall be taken for the good of the
church and in assisting to adopt the
church to new environments and re-
sponsibilities our spiritual pastors
and masters have had and will have
the hearty support and cooperation
of the vestry and of the congrega-
ton. We have the moral force and
religious devotion and enthusiasm of
our rector and leader; we can depend
upon the loyalty. liberality and CO.
operation of the members of the con-
gregation. and we have our dear old
church and this useful and well-sit-
uated parish house in which to work
out the great problem that is before
HIS. Let US be confident that the
members of Trinity Church will we'll
use the stepping stones of the past
to go forward to higher and greater
things"