The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-19

supplied with lessons on religious nur-
/ ture In the home, a list of books on
the training of children and copies of
an attractive card, entitled The Ideals
I OF Parenthood" He urged libraries
/ to provide alcoves of books helpful
! to parents in the training Of their
children.
DR.. Gardeners report showed there
| are many students from church farli-
( lies in the non~church schools. In
many of these schools, he pointed out,
no provision whatever Is made for
religious instruction, and he declared ::
There ought to be some direct edu-
cational provision for the pastoral care
of these unshepherded children"
There are some $4,000 college stu
dents in the province" he said, ''for
whom the church makes no provision
for pastoral care. In this connection
the General Board of Religious Edu-
cation recommends that the nearest
local parish should reach out for the
students
Ministerial Material Decreases.
The report called attention to the
alarming decrease in the number of
province during the last twenty five
years, During this time the church
in this province" says the report, has
grown 81 per cent in communicates,
but the candidates for holy orders have
decreased ii per cent"
A resolution offered by DR.. Gardiner
and adopted by the synod was:
Resolved. That 1t be recommended
to the diocesan authorities that one
of the most important and fundamen-
tai missionary opportunities and du-
ties is to provide for the religious
care of our church students in our
schools and colleges and that the use
of missionary funds for this purpose
is not only proper. but should be one
of the first liens on such funds. as
one OF the most distinctively mis-
sionary works that the dioceses can
do
Rev William f. Gardner d. D.. gen
eral secretary of the general board.
addressed the synod, explaining the or
ganiZation, scope, aims and problems
of the general board, and bespoke ~"
cooperation and support OF rne
church throughout the province in us
work.
In the conference and discussion
training and Of increasing of candi-
dates for the ministry were given
thoughtful consideration.
Bethlehem Diocese an Exception.
The discussion emphasized the fact
that the diocese of Bethlehem Is 8
notable exception with regard to the
decrease in candidacy for the minis
try, At Leonard Hall, in that diocese
1t was shown, there are forty men
now being prepared for the ministry,
who, without the help of this nome
and free tuition. would not have con-
sidered this calling or, from financial
reasons, would he unable to secure
the necessary education.
Some . OF these men now training
were breaker boys in the mines. and
they have proved themselves to be
the finest of men. No other diocese
has SO many men training for the
ministry
standard Plan of Examinations.
At one of its sessions during this
synod the standing commission on
religious education created q perma.
nent committee on theological educa
ton with special care of all matters
pertaining to instruction in divinity
and of the relations OF this commits
sion to the seminaries within the Dor
| ders of this province, as we'll as If
the canonical examinations and the
work of chaplains.
| A large number OF the examining
chaplains from nine dioceses attended
| the meetings of this conference on the
second day of the synod, and by unani-
nous vote agreed that it Is both de-
sirable and feasible to adopt a stand
ard plan Of examinations for this pros
vince. and discussed the chief points
of the standard A great many ques
| tons Of Importance arose in the course
! of the debate. and were committed TO
seven subcommittees to study, work
| out and report at a meeting of two
days in Washington next February.
The conference hopes to present a
full report on the subject of examina-
''~'' :" t)o@ spring Of 1916 and to the
synod at its next session.