Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-08
ASK Big LAYMEN
TOFILLP PULPITS
Episcopal Church Conven.
tion Urges Recruits for
Depleted Ranks
BAYARD IS CHANCELLOR

men. and the election OF James william
Bayard AZ chancellor were the chief
oeVelopments at today's session OF the
annual convention Of the Episcopa,
Church Of the Diocese of Pennsylvania
me convention is being held in the
nnureh Of st, Luke and the Epiphany.
ihir'eenth street below Spruce
toward the close of the afternoon
session, tne convention was aroused by
an attack on the church pension fund
by the Rev. j. l.. Provost. 81 pau,.s
church. West Whiteland
Mr. frevost declared there had been
a mismanaRement OF funds and that
nose IN charge of the disposition of the
tunds hhd not kept their promises
" was pointed out today that the war
mad greatly reduced the enrolment in
theological seminaries. and it was sug-
gested that parish priests and others
seek out such men and bring them 10
the bishop for his advice.
II was shown that the first year of the
war had reduced candidates for the
ministry by IS per cent and thnt the
increasing appeal for men will prove
still more serious.
An illustration of the scarcity Of can.
didates was shown by the case of tho
seminary in Philadelphia. Its enrolment
IN the undergraduate department last
year was forty-threc Next wear. ac-
cording to the present outlook. the on
roliment vii be from twelve to fifteen
men.
Many Posts UnffIIed
The commission on candidate. ,o. ,,,.
orders urged that tho right mo, i,o
ueiberately sought out and personally
approached with the cal, In the n,iris,,.,.
The report sad. among Other ,hinrs.
In our report to the convention a
go, so We calle" attention TO the grave
s,.ua.ioh ' IN regard to the numbers and
uuai.y Oh men oHering themselves for
VI .'le ministry we shall not
repeat the argument but we feel i'm
~ ovr oo,.,, a.'"r,ne ts nam headings:
1 nn ~.o,.,,nu'''ca,,ts ~ increased in the
quarter century ending with 1913 four
the ,siocese comnosing ~ .., III
M, .sio, .'po'ins 'ne province OF
""snins.oh Iewer men were ordained
Cs) the ratio Of comn,un,can,s n ~, ,n ioso
A.. r,..u ,.ui'dh's 's 10 clergy
III our .hurch mas increased twice as
fast as the average increase for seven
other leading communions. fp ,,.
-. .-,, -, - ~ " we
mission stations ns we have clergy to
, ,"", 80 ~, ,,,,. 1U' o"' 'sclul,s' 10 tne ex-
teht oi nearly o' per cent. are drawn
not from families of our own Church.
,,,,,. hod;a,. ~, a, ,,,i,a -
% s.vus oou'' III, w, !" sp,,e OF 1ne OBVIOUS
who enter the ministry, that portion NJ
our ,,,an,hsr.hin whjoh ,o,,,a -. o' vi
provide It's sons with this preparation,
is vet furnishing far less than its proper
proportion OF recruits; 90 there Is a
total lack OF any system or plan for
the recruiting for the ministry"
The Resolution
..,..,
tions n,ads was offered by the comn,is-
49, msa roso,,,,on ~ -. sH INNS
SION Inc resolution IN part follows;
be asked to consider the advlsability OF is
ministry. which may be used in private or
in public Worship.
Resolved. That this convention earnestly
calls the attention OF the clergy and laity
ana NOT eSst 81 OF cr, ,ns ire vs. IN me diocese
to The Importance Of direct personal sif"rts
to secure them; ..
The h,snon n, the aIonsse arinr
by such agency as he may deem best. to
the special chnplains and parochiai clergy
wers,tY students To- present IN. cali Inr ~ u ,he
ministry. especially by personal interviews
with selected men ,,
tho stems already taken by the commits sion
in regard to recruiting. and the further prof.
ects outlined In this ,rport; and that II re.
"a committee OF three clergymen and three
laymen, to be known as the committee on
recrul'ing Wm"sp sihio u ~ ~ tnas, un 20 rarrS
and in other ways at their discretion, sub
iect alway to the approval OF the bishop. to
iuTther ree'uT,.btnf; Tbo; NJ MI t"e conyen',or ,r
the suggestion Of the commission In rega rd
to recruiting among men ~ more mature
Ssa Shs,. 20 se.k out such men: thai II .sts .hs
the bishop. the standing committee and the
',na,r ,hs pr"sent canons OF General con.
vantion. to admit such men without exacting
the full technical intellectual requirements
usual IN lns semjnaTles to proyde spsciai i
preparation for such men and II possible s2e-
cial financial nsss'anee sh s,sr wnsse hceded
ohhoispshins hasp.hi as described in this report he
cormendad to the diocesan board
The attack on the church pension
fund by Mr.. PreNost was mace whi'e
the convention was considering a resolu-
Fund amounting to $3.50, 900, with the
church pension fund.
o"e"'s @"a".'"o"@1
Il do not want the fund to get into
the c,ulcnes Oh ,nose teop.y ..T, ~ ro,.a
York. said Mr., Provost They nave
not done what they nave promised ana