Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-02-06

I the 18TH annual convention OF the uio- !
cese of Vermont opened at st. Paufs
Church In this city yesterday morning
with good attendance of clergy and
delegates The first part of the meeting
was taken up with the roll call Of the
clergy and looking over the certificates of
the delegates. Reports were given, !
hmong which was that of John n. Wood |
fin of Rutland on the board of land
agents.
The convention service Holy Com
tnunion and the bishops charge were
held in the church at 10 o'clock. The !
bishop celebrated, assisted by the bishop |
coadjutor, the Rev G. Y. Bliss, the
Rev. G. w. Davenport, the Rev. Alfred
Poole Grint of St Johnsbury and the
Rev. Arthur Bessey of Milton as chap
lain.
BISHOP HALLS CHARGE
In his charge, the bishop said that he
would not dwell on what had been accom-
plished during his Is years in the State,
ms probably nothing out of the ordinary
had happened and much could have been
done better. but he would give advice
from the experience he had gained during
that time. He said that although he did
not imagine that Vermont's case was at
all singular, he had found that In this
State there was a constantly decreasing
number of clergy from Vermont. He
showed the number of native clergy in
the State when he was elevated to the
episcopate and quoted the latest figures,
showing the decrease.
1T seems 10 me-" said Bishop Han.
THAT we have been depending quite I'M
duly on other doceses for our clergy.
Our record is truly deplorable and is
heart-brealling to the bishop. What can
we learn from the figures we have?
First. that there is great need of fifty
prepared and devoted clergymen second.
we should provide a large enough st-
'pend; and third we should provide a good
field in which they may work
In many cases clergy come to church
who are untitled for their work. Their
dispositions are such that they are not
fitted to be clergymen, or perhaps they
are lazy. One reason why there have
been many unemployed clergymen is be-
cause could not recommend some of the
men who had been tried out in this do
cese and found unfit for their work Hon.
esty and regard for the church are two
essentials for good rector Our former
high intellectual qualifications can be let
down somewhat in these days because of
Ahe general intelligence of the people.
Broadly educated, however, they must
be. AS to character qualifications they
should be morally and religiously fitted to
thelr work. we doh expect perfection
but we do want thoughtful. serious men.
pa''eris ior o'iei men, rehslous anu
sympathetic.
There is one danger in the priesthood
we shouiu guard AGAINST ana that Is
making IL so attractive ana SO easy 10
attain 'hat the TACT tnat rector mas
eoou sociai position VIII e''rac' .ie ihen
NotI fha, Iacir To rhn n
fa'hei IMAM oesire u sei' Inc ma"
VINO piahs 10 become Clergyman sio"io
no, LOOK Oh the position as d sociai SUP
ping stone put' II necessary ne shouio
s'ep uown so.any' le,'onan' 49,,
is heeoeo II, churcn "orh' anu ''e ''e's'
ehouio pe aoie 10 iuiiiish mat
10 uo ms uu'y Wy community nc
shSuia remain 'here ut 'eas' reasonably ',' -, e
'ehsth oi ti.ie So INA, ne N'as WV ~
eo'huenoe y, 'n' PIople - -,
.na,. co.. ~ ~, ,,,ovor,an,s For GOOD and
he should regard social betterment as a
part of religion.
"Oftentimes it is desirable to have one
clergyman for several towns. In the past
this has been difficult as jealousy and
narrowness in the villages has made many
of them prefer an inferior minister if he
could be all their own.
The bishop told how some time ago his
home was used as a training school for
those who had Just come from the semi
nary and later il was used for a mission =
arv center. "
1.-The great need" he said, 'n this
Sliocese is for earnest, consecrated men
who will realize the opportunities OF
country life and will get into close touch
with the people so they may receive their
condolences"
The bishop said that the church should
aoin with other churches in carrying OH
good work. bur he believed that they
could never really be one church without
COMPROMISING themselves. He said one
Thing that was needed was an ideal OF
family life. to which everyone should
hsld
He concluded nv telling the people VIVA,
iynade UP a good Christian life, the goa
Ifor which they should aim.
1r,Ncr1ro,- AMI, Spr,,Ct,rc
' imIheuia'ey a'ter the sernoi me Gun
Veht'oh went again 10 'he PARISH house
Where they '"oh up tie rout'he pusiieSS
u Hhth iuheheoh was served III 'he u'iiiht
room at one O'CLOCK
AFTER iuhehcoh bT' a T. "l1ht OF 81
yohnsnury was the master Oh ceremonies
Dol sie sai' '"a' ',c "au io''' VIC s"'hei
ing HAPPY ana Jupiah'' not oniy De
cause Oh tne so1u a,ne ,he peope wer'
av'ns pu ISo eyon the v 95t %'i ann Msr