The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-05-21
Up TO CHURCH
TO MAKE WORLD
A SAFE PLACE
Present World CONFUSION
Epoch Of Speech By Bish-
op Brewster.
PENSION SYSTEM
ADOPTED BY CHURCH
Close to 1000 in Diocese Are
Now in Service of United
States.

Hartford, May 21-The present |
world CONFUSION must mark the close |
of an epoch, said Bishop Chauncey
B. Brewster of the diocese of Connec-
ticut in his address at the opening of |
the annual two days convention of !
the diocese here today After four
centuries Of individualism, he said, |
the world was about to enter upon an
era of social democracy, and it was
for the church to make democracy
safe for the world" and to save it |
from materialism, Grass and cruel
selishness, and to give it vision. |
ideals and inspiration.
Recent unattended disclosures"
he said, "by those who are in a po-
sition to know, have confirmed the |
worlds verdict and demonstrated
upon what country rests, to quote |
from the last German ambassador at
London, the sole guilt for the world
war The conviction of that awful
responsibility, people are learning,
furnishes a perspective whereby to
view all the events and incidents OF
the conflict.
Meanwhile, as 'the moral issues
are ever more clearly discerned, there
emerge spiritual factors. There is
more and more gaining what might
be described as religious conception
of the war as regards our part in It.
There is increasing recognition that
this country is waging war not mere
ly for self-defence, not for any gain
or with purposes of national self in
terest, not in a spirit of revenge or
hate, but for an idea, for humanity,
for the soul, as a lofty crusade for
the highest things.
l see reasons why we may expect
here true revival of religion, not
revival of an emotional or loudly de-
monstrative kind, not in technical
terms of ecclesiasticism or theoIogiz-
ing, a revival which largely disregard
ing traditional methods, and tren-
scending formal definitions, shall con-
slst in very simple and quickening
processes of turning to God. There is
going to be more of conversion, more
| earnest resort to God as a refuge
and stronghold, more laying hold of
|
than there was a. while ago.
| 1.-THE present world CONFUSION must
mark the close of an epoch. 1t would
seem to mean the break up of a. So
cial order which is not to be recon
structed. Already we may see signs
of transition from an era character
lied by competitive struggle to an era
of cooperative Fellowship. After four
oF
we want to save political and relig-
ious liberty and personal responsible
ity, we are about to enter upon an
era of social democracy.
There is always, and particularly
now, need of that which the church
can supply, to make democracy safe
for the world, to save democracy from
materialsm, from Grass and cruel sell
fishness, to give it vision, ideals and
inspiration"
Referring directly to the affairs of
the diocese Bishop Brewster expressed
his appreciation "of the sympathy and
the hearty and unfailing help" of
Suffragan Bishop E. Campion Ache
son of Middletown, and stated that
the pension system having been
adopted by the church, the payment
of the assessment was a simple act of
loyalty The response had been gen.
lerous, he said, and the case of a sin
gle parish which had deliberately and
explicitly refused to pay it's assess
ment raised a question between dis
loyalty and meanneSS, which I will
not attempt to determine Several
churches during the year had in
creased the rector's salary, and he
hoped others would follow the exam
pie He announced the acceptance by
Rev. William P. Ladrd of the office of
dean of Berkeley Divinity school. The
bishop called attention to the decreas-
ing number of appicpants for orders,
said that the question of filing this
gap after the war must he considered,
and urged the clergymen to present
to their people the claims of the
Christian ministry and the general
subject of religious education. One OF
the special duties of the church al
this time was to see that the spiritua
needs of the soldiers and sailors who
may be stationed in Connecticut are
properly cared for, and that the young
women who in increasing number are
taking up the work left by the men
? must be surrounded with all good in
fuences.
It is estimated, he said, that a
= least $500 men and more, probabl.
5000 or 1000 from the diocese ar
in service. He said that only 800
- names had been registered so far an
urged the clergy to send the name
of their parishioners now in servic
to Rev. Arthur F. Lewis at North Ha
ven for registration. Eleven of tn
i clergy are absent on war work, one O
q whom, Rev. Parker Vanamese, rec
+ tor of St. Johns church, Essex, ha
been wounded while in service as
first lieutenant, the first casualty sus
n tanned, he added, by any clergymal
of the American church.
t Within seven months five clergy
e men of the diocese have died, Rev
James D. S. Pardee. retired; Rev
Frederick D. Buckley. for Is year
e rector of Trinity church, Waterbury
Rev. George Buck, Rev. Henry N
Sherman, who had been archdeaco
Of Fairfield. and archdeacon of Iitcn
=, field, deputy to the general conven
= ton, examining chaplain, member c
Y the standing committee and for 1
years rector of St, PauFs church
Bridgeport; Rev. DR.. Robert H. Neidt
y for Is years rector of st. Paul
church, New Canaan.