Evening journal., 1917-05-09

BISHOP FREDERICK. j. KINSMAN
vention shall be upon the blank form
adopted by the General Convention"
and also providing that "the fsca
year shall begin January first"
Bishop Kinsman recommended tina
i'm accord with the new legislation
finance committee of seven members
be appointed by the Convention tC
maintain general supervision of the
financial affairs of the Diocese and
act as financial adviser of the Bishop
and. upon request of individual par
ishes.
Condition Of the Diocese
! Parochial dowments.-During the
past year more money has been given
/ for parochial endowment than in any
preceding year in the history of the
/ Diocese. The most notable gift has
been that of over $4,000 for the en-
dowment of Old Swedes, Wilmington,
] presented to the trustees of the Dio-
cese on Trinity Sunday Thus sum was
given by many citizens of Whining
ton; but the prompt raising Of it was
due to the initiative and good man
agement of the rector of Trinity Par
ish. Quite recently, by the will of Mrs.
Henry c. Jones, Trinity Parish re-
ceived $4,000 endowment. of which
$4,000 was for the Old Swedes Church,
the endowment fund for which now
amounts to about $4,000.
Several of the smaller parishes have
received gifts of the same sort. St.
Philips, Laurel received from the es-
tate of Mrs. Daniel Short an endow-
ment of about $4,000 Those who
know the conditions Of church-WOrk
in our country towns will appreciate
the importance of such a fund. No
smaller endowment would be suhl-
cient to give stability to our work;
but, in my judgment, a larger one
would be detrimental There can be
no healthy parochial life unless the
necessity for self-support involves ac.
tivity and generosity in the entire con-
gregation. A moderate endowment is
a blessing, a necessity in some places;
large endowment would in many
places be a handicap, If not an actual
curse. st. Thomas, Newark, also has
received two bequests from Mrs. Har-
riet l.. Curtis and her son. Harlow II.
Curtis, making the endowment funds
OF ST. Thomas given by members of
the Curtis family amount TO $4,000.
This provision by will for the needs
of a parish which owes so much to
their active interest is a piece with
the many services rendered by the
Curtis family to st. Thomas, Newark,
and TO the Diocese.
aHaHH aN.a
gifts to the Church is expressed by
the terms i'm which Mr. Harlow Hurd
Curtis made his bequest to the New
ark parish observing with great sor-
row the way so many persons of
wealth selilshly die. leaving nothing
to God Who hath prospered them in
life, and letting their mother-church
struggle along in poverty while they
add riches to the already rich. /
make this bequest in grateful remem-
brance Of all Gods blessings to me in
life, faith in our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ health, friends. food.
raiment, and the spiritual aids furn-
ished by this visible Church" 10 is
only those who know what the Church
is who can always be counted on to
support and further its work.
Improvements to Church Property.
Important improvements have been
made TO our church property. st. An.
drew's. Wilmington. has in process of
erection a par sh-house adequate for
extensive institutional work: St.
Johns, Wilmington. has purchased
four acres of land adjoining the church
lot and has plans for the Improvement
of both church and parish-house and
for erection of new buildings: Cal
vary, Wilmington, has redecorated its
Sunday school room; Christ Church.
Christiana Hundred. has been given a
mosaic altar, the most costly and beau
tiful in the Diocese, and is installing
"a new organ, St. Thomas. Newark.
has also a new organ; Christ Church.
Dover, has a new entrance to the
church and is building a brick wall
about the churchyard; st. Peters.
Lewes. has improved its rectory: St.
Georges, Indian River, has built a
bell tower and church porch.
The Missions.
The year in our Diocesan Missions
has been uneyentful We have had for
the first time the full benefit of the
Williams Fund. the value of which
Mission has been organized. The con.
gregation of Trinity Church, Clayton.
having petitioned to be constituted a
Mission, owing to inability to main
tain the seifsupporting status OF a
parish, / constituted it a Mission on
April 10 1917 There is nothing else
of special importance to report of the
Missions save that It is expected that
during the summer a new chancel will
be built for 81. Marks. Little Creek.
and that soon a new church will be
provided for st. Matthew's, Whining.
ton.
Clerical Changes.
Several new rectorships have been
inaugurated during the year The Rev
erend Addison Ewing has become Rec.
tor of Emmanuel Church. New Castle:
the Reverend Roberts Coles. OF Christ
Church. Chfistiana Hundred: the Rev-
erend Chas. Henry Black Turner. ID
d.. has returned TO St. Peters. Lewis.
which he ought never 70 have left The
Reverend Samuel Steinmetz. after a
brief but energetic rectorship Of Cal.
vary, Wilmington. has recently re.
moved 70 Philadelphia; the Reverend
William Hill Gibbons has become as
sistant at st. Johns. Wilmington. We
have lost by death one who has been
working with us for three years. the
Reverend Charles l.. Fischer. ID ID .
formerly professor IN the theological
SEMINARY az Gambler. Ohio. and a
priest Of the Diocese OF Southern