Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-07
LIVING CHURCH PUTS
SOME SHARP QUERIES
to- WHARTON PEPPER
Comments on Churchman'S At
titude Toward Episcopal
Periodicals, Quoting Let
ters to Bishop
ECHO OF PANAMA ACTION

] The current number of the Living
Church reviews in an editorial article a
pamphlet just published by the Bishop of
Marquette. one of the five members of the
} Episcopal Board Of nfssions who resigned
because of the Panama action. Bishop
Williams calls his pamphlet "rhe Legal
, Discussion of the Panama Congress" and
reviews the differences between him and
George Wharton Pepper, of this city.
The Bishop holds that the Board of
Missions is the agent of general conven-
tion in missionary propaganda and that
its rights and duties are such as are
recognized in the law Of agency. Mr..
Pepper denies that the board is legally
the agent of general convention though
adding: ~ very much wish that this
really were the legal situation"
The Living Church comments ut Is
20 years too late for Mr.. Peppers thor
oughly crastian doctrine to be accepted
by the American Church. For three-quar-
ters of century 1t has been assumed by
the Church and by the Board of Missions
that the latter, though incorporated so
that it could legally administer trusts,
was an ecclesiastical organization. Gre
ated by General Convention and subject
to the direction of that body. AS such il
has received innumerable bequests =
IL has through its officers and many of
its members Gncluding Mr.. Pepper, re-
peatcdly avowed that its work is the
mission of the Church"
Mr. Pepper wrote a letter to the Bishop
of Marquette containing this phrase, "As
! seldom see the Church papers" The
Living Church says I'm regard to this:
I'VE quite realize that in these words
MIR Pepper clOquently expresses his opin-
ion OF the American Church press 1t is
not favorable opinion, nor is it one to
which he has arrived only recently. 1t
only hs that ha tcaIIp,,,
church papers because he does not deem
them worthy of his perusal. Al alike
they are waved aside as containing moth
ing that Is. of interest or of value to
him, our own respect for Mr. Pepper is
so much greater than mis- for the church
press that we shall venture some COM
ment on that view; not, indeed, for his
own eyes, for he will not see il, and be-
cause obviously no view that we can ex-
press on any subject will be OF value to
him"
The editorial proceeds to demonstrate
Mr. Peppers representative position in
the church by enumerating the positions
he holds on various commissions and
boards. 1t argues that Mr.. Pepper Is the
representative of the whole number of
American churchmen who "are his con-
stituents."
Now how is tho constituent to COM
municate with his representatives" The
writer says, He may treat our opin-
ions with contempt, and, indeed, that may
be all they are worth"
The personal letter is considered 10 have
disadvantage II is suggested that the
columns Of The Living Church are one
of the places where one would naturally
find the opinions of individuals.
The Dean of New York and the ONLY
living eN-president of the House of
Deputies, with others. wrote on subjects
Tlla n ha ne 81.
slons TO the periodical. "And are they
not men of sufficient dignity for Mr.
Pepper to deem them tit to submit sug-
gestions to him. asks the editorial.
1t says THE exaggerated individualism
of Mr., Peppers varied positions on the
questions that come before the church is
probably largely due to his unwilling
ness to put himself i'm touch with IN.
thought and the knowledge of the work
of the church"