The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1919-06-02
Episcopal Convention To
Discuss Nation-W Work

Elkton, Md, June 2.-i'he pro-
gram of the Nationwide Campaign
of the Protestant Episcopal! Church,
undertaken for the expansion of the
activities of the church at home and
abroad. will be presented 20 the con-
vention of the Diocese of Easton,
which will be held in Elkton on
Tuesday, June 3. by the Rev. Chas.
E. Betticher, of New York city, Edi-
torial Secretary of the Board of
Missions.
Since the preliminary announce
ment of the plans of the Board of
Missions of the Episcopal Church for
a great awakening to the problems
of reconstruction, large majority
of the bishops of the church have
pledged their support to the move
ment. The program has been pre-
sented to numerous diocesan conven-
tions in the last few weeks, and in
emphasized by the appointment of
a campaign committee. 1t is expec-
ted that such 4 committee will be
organized in the Diocese of Easton
as a result of the Rev. Mr.. Bettich-
er's address to the convention.
The first step of such a campaign
committee would be the compilation
of the results of an accurate survey
of the problems of this diocese.
These local needs would receive first
consideration, according to the pro-
gram proposed by the Board of
Missions in co operation with the
Board of Religious Education, the
Joint Commission on Social Service,
and the other agencies of the church.
Already much has been done to
start off the campaign in way that
will insure its success. Each dio-
cesan convention that has been held
thus far and was accessible has been
addressed by leaders of the move
ment, who have outlined its scope.
Without exception these conventions
became enthusiastic when they learn
ed how great was tn eeffort to be
made, and they have been unanimous
in agreeing to back the campaign to
the limit of their resources. The
first of thes conventions was that
held in Pittsburgh on April %, and
the program outline, as presented by
the Rev. Robert w. Patton, D. D.,
National Director of the campaign,
was listened to with profound inter-
est. At the conclusion of his speech
general sentiment for cooperation
was voiced and as a result a commit
tee was appointed there and then to
confer with the bishop of the dio-
cese, the Rt. Rev. Cortlandt White
head, D. D., for the purpose of Sc
lecting the best committee obtain
able in the diocese to undertake the.
campaign. That has been the char
acteristic attitude of all subsequent
conventions and the leaders are GER
tain of the solid backing of the
clergy and the laity.
Broadly speaking, the program or
the campaign falls into four distinct
purposes, which are: To bring the
spiritual power fthe church to
bear upon the church's whole task;to
obtain and train an adequate num-
Der of recruits for Christian leader
ship, both clerical and lay; to care,
on a yearly basis, for three years, for
the financial needs of all the general
agencies of the church, and in con-
nection with tht: proper authorities
to care for the financial needs of
all the Provinces, Dioceses and Mis-
sionary Districts of missionary, re-
ligious education or social service.
That the needs of the church may
be brought out in clear, definite
and accurate way, diocese by diocese.
a national survey is being made. To
of the campaign. Central Campaign
office has been organized with the
Rev. R. Bland Mitchell as its mama
ger, and with it's head offices at 124
East 2Sth street. New York city. The
office already has been organized and
much of the preliminary clerical
work has been done.
To a great extent the campaign
Office will deal directly with the cam
paign committee of each diocese, but
where Province is organized sufti-
ciently for the needs of this cam
paign, the campaign committee may
work through the Province. In this
way the whole needs of the whole
church, at home and abroad, will be
known to the central campaign Of
fee and the campaign can be conduc-
ted so that these needs may best be
met.
One of the most striking features
of the campaign thus far is the re-
sponse everywhere which it has
aroused. Laity no less than clergy
find in it an inspiration and a hope
and are deeply impressed with its
vital need at this critical time of the
country's spiritua, development. Now
more than ever is the time to act,
they say, in letters to the campaign
office, for were the church to fall In
her mission today she will have lost
the oDportunity for morrow,