The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-08-17
EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN
OKLAHOMA HOPES TO
WIDEN SCOPE Or WORK

Far.reaching plans for broadening
the scope and increasing the useful
ness and efficiency of the Episcopal
Church In Oklahoma have just been
formulated through the survey of the
resources of the Missionary district
of East Oklahoma, which has been
completed for the nationwide cam
paign of the church Educational and
humanitarian work upon n most clabo'
rate scale. involving enlargement OF
All Saints hospital, McAlester, construc'
ton Of new school buildings in various
parts Of the state. and an enlarged
staff of clerical as well as lay workers
with increased salaries, is planned TO
go hand In hand with the evangelical
work by the Rt. Rev. r. L. Thurston'
u. D., bishop in charge Of the dis
trict.
The definite purpose of the nation
wide campaign is to Inform the mind
and awaken the conscience" Of every
member Of the Episcopal church TO
the responsibilities which have been
entailed upon the Christian churches IN
consequence of the lessons taught by
the world war. 1t is the belief of the
directors OF this nationwide campaign
that the war has imposed upon the
church a stern duty TO reassert itself
as a national agency for the promo
ton of patriotism and the well'being
of all the people, through forward
movement Of continuing and lasting
character which shall have as its main
spring the incubation of the Chris
tian spirit among the American pco-
Pile.
In line with this policy the church
will regard as within it's proper sphere
every agency, policy or movement OIL
n religious or secular character Whlch
looks to the betterment of mankind
oklahoma, today one of the most Ilouf'
ishing states in the union, wa among
the first TO typify this broad-visionou
policy Of the church. Religion has not
kept pace with the general progress
of the commonwealth Churches are
widely scattered. Devoted itinorant
clergvmen still make long journeys to
meet their floclis.
Al Saints hospital, McAlester, the
only church hospital in this state, and
which rendered wonderful service duf-
ing the influenza epidemic, needs
new wing 20 cost $4,000 with addl-
tionaI attendants, including a visiting
nurse Thirteen additional clergymen
are needed by Bishop Thurston at min
imum salaries Of $l,S0O a year TO give
them a standing of equality with other
workers.
SpeciaI efforts to spread the work
amone the Indians are contemplate"
in the nationwide cmpaign survey
Ninc-tcnths of the population OF Sp'o
are Inlans. There and in the vicinity
of Bartlesynle, Coalgate, Lchigh, bc'
wey. Durant, Hugo and Pawhuska' e.
forts will be concentrated upon work
among the Indians, not only for thelr
Chr.b ,ianization, but to develop them
into healthy, self-respecting, sell sup
porting American citizens. I'm the
large cities. similarly, work among the
negro populations will be extended
In the large agricultural sections spe-
cial efforts will be made to solve the
growing problem OF the rural commun'
ity.
Altogether. it is planned to spend
during the next three years upon new
buildings and equipment total OF
s259 coo. The selfreiant members OF
the church in Oklahoma are asking the
church at large to supply only $G5,OOO.
Some idea of what Oklahoma plans
under the new era is to be had from
the fact that whereas in the past only
a pitful $11 800 has been spent yearly
for Episcopal church purposes it Is
now hoped to add annually to this eX'
pendlture the sum of $4,000, to be
raised through the nationwide cam
paign.