The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-14

urerS holding back offerings that have been designated for missionary and other objects. Then also there is hope that even. a single case of a treasurer who steals from the church may be a thing of the past, unknown and impossible today. The wardens' reports have, in a score of instances, where there are invested funds, fail ed to indicate compliance With the provisions of caron iii, Of the security of Trust Funds To this failure I have called attention in each instance. One vestry has formally thanked me for calling attention to the canon and voted to comply with it's specific re- quirements.
 While have found nnyseIr con- strained to refer to this subject and to speak plainly I would here, and in this connection make recognition of the invaluable service rendered by large-hearted and able men who in the midst of the duties of professional or business life devote themselves so generously for the churches sake, to care of financial details and patient consideration of difficult questions, as members of vestries, and also of the committees and commissions of this convention. Their devotion and eff ciency are gratefully appreciated. Salaries of the Clergy
 Speaking to such men about par oc1ia1 finances. let me remind you of the steady increase in the cost of the necessariesa of life and of the fact that most of the clergy are receiv- ing the same amount of salary that was paid years ago. You can figure for yourself the actual reduction in the stipend received. Many of the clergy of this diocese even with the aid of the committee on better sup port, are receiving less than the min imum paid in the missionary field of | f1zH look to a, few of us to contribute to eke out your pastors mea gre stipend. Recently have been glad to learn of two parishes that have increased the salary. There ought to be more. ask the representatives of our par isIles here assembled seriously to consider the subject of an increase of the reetor's salary where there has been no increase during the decade. In almost every parish it can be done, if you men will take hold and take the lead.
 State and County Institutions.
 Recently visiting a state sanitarium having many patients found there was no regular visiting on the part of any religious body. Other insti- tutions are visited by our people, for example, in the New Haven and New London archdeaconries. The wards of the Hartford hospital have for
 
 day. The Rev. Henry s. Harte is do- ing an interesting work at the State Prison, the Rev. Henry s. White head is caring for the Middletown asylum, and there are other in stances.
 tions where. I believe, regular visit ing would be welcomed. The matter ought to be systematically taken up. now command it earnestly to the at tention of the archdeaconries. There are clergymen who might spare time for such duty under the usual direc- tion of the arch deacon. Our arch. deaconry organization, is, believe, capable of producing more of result If not, let it's machinery be mended and adjusted to greater efficiency. Rural Missions
 'In Litchfie1d arch. deaconry we are starting Missions house at West Morris, X St. Faith's-in-the-Fields which I recently visited, and which hope may prove center of minis | tration to many people, young and i old, scattered through that region and unshepherded.
 t'The Emmanuel Church, Killing worths after notable improvements at the hands of the pastor himself and
 his people, will this month have an 1 interesting celebration.
 Patriotism
 To-day is Flag Day. At this, time l it were i'll to forget loyalty to the things whereof our flag is symbol. Pa
 triotism may have sometimes been ] the last refuge of a scoundreI,' as re- 4 ligion is the primary pretense of a | hypocrite, but, as we pray for the increase of true religion so we may | cherish a genuine patriotism. This
 is quite in line with that interna- l tionalism many of us are now look l inc for in Coid
 Illus: As Antonius, my city and coun- try is Rome, but a man, the world. ,
 That personal life is rooted in ones
 own home does not prevent love of the whole country. Even so love of l country need not limit one's outlook
 and sympathy. To be an American
 need not mean a single heartbeat | less of fellow feeling with democracy
 and freedom fought, for in France, or | make one less aspire to be a citizen | of the world. It were well for the | church of Washington and Patrick
 Henry, or Madison and Jay, to in l culcate the high patriotism which
 means to be not recreant to those ideals for which the fathers of this
 country so devoted1y stood. and also | to be not blind to shortcomings of l the nation today
 1 With the continuance of the war, 1 there threatens a grave peril. When l there is so much of unspeakable suf- fering beyond the seas accomplishing it's stern work of chastenfng we in
 America have need to beware of the
 peril of deterioration. It is for us l to pray against that fate of smooth | and comfortable ease, to pray for up- | lift and for vision, that we on our part lest we become ignob1e, may
 somehow fill up that which is lack l ing of strenuous discipline and that 1 this people may turn to the surees Eof the reverence and seIf-control and tions great.
 l eff this wicked war, so wantomly
 begun, shall at last and in the tri-
 umph of the cause of right and hu-
 manity and liberty, it will be a new
 and different world. May God pre- pare LIS for what he is preparine for