Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-11-12
ARcHDEAcoNRY GAVE WELCOME
Continued from Page Fivel

communities in which they exist. do
not maintain the same position or rel
alive strength which they originally
| had. Some have increased and some
diminished, but all have interesting
histories, an dali have people in need
of priestly and episcopal aid.
In the beginning Of our Connecti-
| cut church history members of diff
ferent denominations differed strongly,
and sometimes violently, but at least
all were earnest, and each party was
sure it was right and that the other
was wrong.
The great difficulty today with peo-
| pie of all Protestant denominations is
| Indifference, indicated in various ways,
and. among others, in poor church at
tendance.
1t seems 10 me that Indifference and
lack of interest are associated with
and perhaps originate in uncertainty
as to what things are to be believed
Uncertainty about the main facts on
which religion is founded weakens the
motive for religious action.
In an age when everything sacred
and everything given US by authority,
is questioned, should not our spiritual
pastors and masters in the various de-
nominations be more careful both to
make sure of their own agreement on
. the essentials of the Christian faith.
and also to make most plain to their
| foclzs that, as to those essentials, there
is an absolute certainty.
The ordinary layman has scant time
| TO study these matters. He needs to
| find neither doubt nor hesitation as to
essentials on the part of his spiritual
guides
To illustrate: The laity are told
that the Scriptures contain every
| thing necessary for man to believe
out that some parts of them are not
to be taken literally. and the laity see
no general agreement among the
/ teachers where the line between lit
eral and non-literal is to be drawn.
The ordinary man lacks and needs
assurance as to what is fixed, certain
and Interchangeable. 1t is of little prac-
| teal use to him 10 be told that such
ana such passages must not be taken
literally: he needs to be told what are
literally true. He realizes that a re-
ligion of doubtful revity is worth Moth
ing! He needs above all things the
most clear, definite and constant in
structfon about the absolute and lit
eral verify of the essentials of
Christianity. If he fully believes and
realizes these as being as certain as
the facts which he encounters in his
daily life. the probability is that they
will influence his conduct If their
truth is to him AN open question. he
will make but a poor Christian SOL
der
Do the Protestant clergy appreciate
the Importance of effort in this di-
rection?
Our Episcopa, guidance has been
helpful to live Christianity in the
past. Let us hope that by the efforts
of both clergy and laity, together with
the increased Episcopal aid which the
dlocese is hereafter to have our own
branch OF the church in particular. as
well as all others, may gain a strong
er. closer and more positive faith, to
the increase of correctness and de-
Grease of indifference.
With two such efficient and Iowa
bic men for our chief pastors we
should hope for, and work for, good
| things for the future of our diocese,
and. on behalf of our Eastern Con-
necticut laymen, assure them of our
constant regard, affection and support
On Behalf of City Churches.
In introducing DR.. S. H. Howe as
the next speaker Toastmaster Brown
| referred to the fact that Rev. Mr. Cole
man and Rev. Mr.. Cobb were also
guests of the evening" but that Rev.
DE- j. b. Slocum of the Central Bap-
list church had been unavoidably de-
tanned. As dean of the pastors he said
tnat DIR. Howe would represent the
churches of the city in welcome to
the bishopsS -9si5sr
| DR.. Howe Expressed the delight he
relt at seat with the company and
extended to the bishops q most cor
| dial greeting on behalf of the church,
es or the city. congratulating them
upon the growth of the denomination
which this appointment of a suffragan
pisnop indicated. DR.. Howe expressed
MS great obligation in an intellectual
way to the great thinkers of the Epis-
copal church. To take these away
from his library would be to skeleton
lie his collection of books, he said.
he expressed great admiration Of the
tremendous work for Christianity done
by the Episcopal church in the past Is
years and to its great missionary ac-
| uytty throughout the world
In concluding DIR. Howe said he felt
It was time for the Christian church.
es to get close together on the great
fundamentals they believe. After all
We must bear in mind that we are
pelIevers In the fundamentals, the
Things that the world needs. It's a
@me Tor US to mass our forces and
race the great facts that are facing
Us today. It's a deeper question than
British supremacy Or Teutonic suc-
cess. Out Of this war we are going to
live In new world and there is. to
be massing or the Christian forces