The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-10-16

EPISCOPAL CAM
PAICN COMING
The usual conception of campaign
as it has come to be understood during
and since the war period, is that Of 9
body of men united together to raise
funds for specific purpose, 1t remains
ed for the Episcopal Church of Amer
lea to capitalize this Campaign idea
for purposes hitherto foreign to it.
The Nationwide Campaign now in
hand is predicated not to raise fund
build church or pay off a debt, but
to arouse in it's members an awaken
ing of their Church responsibilities, OF
to use a trite expression to sell the
Church to it's membership
The problem that confronts the
Episcopal Church of America today is
one that has arisen, incidental to the
awakened consciousness of opportuni-
ties missed, and duties neglected. The
recent world disaster, was the factor
that awoke their ,slumbering consci-
ence, and it has now become apparent
to thinking churchmen that the picture
of our shortcomings as revealed to us
through the camera of this recent no
locaust must not be permitted to fade
away, but must be capitalized. for the
purpose of keeping constantly. before
US the necessity of united action for
the Kingdom Of God. l,5 81 4.E.>%se a3
It will not suffice that we limit the
privilege of membership in Christ's
Church to mere observance of Church
law and Church ritual, important as
these are, they are but part of the
entire obligation of membership. The
past as revealed to us, marks out 9
definite progam for each individual,
each parish, each diorese and the
church at large; We have not meas
ured up to our duties. All around us
are others, who like ourselves have
become slack in their service to the
Church and this is the problem that
confronts us individually and collect
lively. What are we going to do about
it?t Having determined fireplace in
which we can best serve, how are we
going to arouse the enthusiasm Of our
brothers! s$s'! t2& s H. a S.ir@F.i
This IN short is the problem that is
being! worked out by the Nation Wide
Campaign Committees, as noted in a
former article on this subject. A:state
diocesan meeting was held at Fargo
since which Regional meetings have
been held or are about to be held at
Grand Forks, Bismarck and Minot to
De followed by parpchial meetings in
each Parish in the State. At all these
meetings delegates have carefully con-
sidered plans for the revival of church
activities. Programs are being work
ed out that have for their purpose the
drawing together Of the members of
the church, to the end that it may
profit by the daily efforts of it's entire
army, rather than struggle along with
the intermittent energies of select
few. These. are pretty plain words,
but they are based on hard facts.
We have been chasing the shadows
and overlooking the substance. Our
rituals and dogmas have overshadow-
ed the real service that the Church OF
God has a right to expect of its Child
rem. Our past service has been large
" individual we now realize it must
be collectively as well. The Army Of
the Church Of God calls you, it has a
place for you where your individual
effort will so function with that of
your brother member that the collec-
tive result will be expressed in a
Church that is strong not in ritual
alone but in the fact that it's entire
membership is imbued with the self
sacrificing spirit that expresses itself
in service.
The religion of the trenches must
be the religion of the street. The idea
that Sunday observance is the sum to:
tai of Christian obligation is inimical
to a healthy Church body. The religion
Of the week day must be emphasized
The spirit of Christ must permeate the
Office and the play ground just in the
same proportion as it does the service
Of the Church on the Sabbath day
TIE life of the churchman must be con
sistent just as that of the soldier If
the trench; the work of the week day
must be preparatory to the zero hour
call to go over the top on Sunday.