The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Women's Auxiliary of the Ecumenical Council
Starts Nationwide Movement to Raise
Moral Standards---Appeals Made to
Parents and to Girls to Eliminate
Indecent Dress, Painting of
Faces" &c.

kind of enjoyment than is furnished by
the semi-public affairs.
Are you acquainted with book by Will
lam Law, profound religious teacher the
noblest perhaps that our English tongue
has produced"
The answer to this question was shame
faced one that the person addressed had
never even heard the name of William Law.
The Bishop shook his head sadly over
this admission of ignorance but he bright
ened at the thought that by little further
elucidation of the author and comment
on his book his hearer might be inspired
to seek 1t out and read it. Said he:
Laws book: "A Genuine Call to a De-
votional Life is, think, the greatest con-
tribution to religious literature we have
in our language. He says In effect that
the world will never be drawn to accept
ing Christianity by fancying that all the
world has become Christian, but the world
will become so by means of all the perse-
cutons Of Christians.
''In other words, assuming that we are
living in Christian country, where all
men have accepted the Ideals of Christ is
like judging our religion by its popularity.
That's the way too many people judge
Christianity; II it is successful in filling
the churches, then it's working religion
If 1t fails, then it isn't. Such persons think
that's the whole duty of clergyman--to
keep the church full, and they don't care
how he does IL, whether by sensational SER
mons, photo-plays or any other catchpenny
device.
"As If big attendance was the chief, il
not the sole, aim of church won't go
so far as to say what think of that kind
OF snap judgment. My opinion of how Il
clergyman should do his duty has to do
with the fight he puts up against evil. AS
long as he's doing his duty he's going to be
In a fight. When the time comes when
all men speak well Of him and of the church
where he officiates, then there's something
the matter with both.
'In the Christian Church, in all denom-
nations of IL, there is whole lot Of dead
wood. 1t has to be cut out. There never
was a time and 1t isn't here now when
work of this sort hadn't to be done, for
despite our heavenly ideals we must re-
member that our organizations are of the
earth. We must keep forward the ideals
Of the religion Of Jesus Christ, and when
we deal with earthly things, big things
or little things, like the way our people
dance or dress, we must remember that we
are not truly doing this when we dilute that
religion to suit the public taste
Enthusiasm Easily Reused,
But Really Means Little
$50 when / hear a man say that while
people still 20 to church they have less
enthusiasm about their religion, / do not
feel that he is putting his hand on the
sore place. Enthusiasm is a feeling that
can be easily reused and as easily by in
correct methods as by deeper and rruer
ones. 1t Is passing, not to say ephemeral
We need the things that stay by us to the
end and we get that by fighting for our
religion.
ALSO when read that the churches not
being so handsomely adorned as formerly
reveal the poverty Of spirit Of the worship
pers I develop a pugnacious mood. The
church does not need setting OF rich gold
and jewels TO do Its work. II can do it
under such luxury but II can do II without
any luxury. A costly and beautiful taber
nace and a modest country church are
alike the approach to divinity. But neither
leads straight there That s by way of
the heart.
Finally TO revert TO the charges made
against the young man OF to-day. Frankly
/ don't believe that he has thus derogated
from his fathers habits and principles
base my Judgment Of him on what know
in my own experience. This causes me TO
think that he is a fine specimen. He has
become so chiefly through the influence of
the excellent schools that have been estab-
lished and are fIourishIng in this country
There are many OF them and all doing fine
work In educating our boys.
1T is beneficial to every boy that at the
age of ID or 80 be should be sent away
from home to good school 1t ia an Eng
lish system that has always worked well
there and is prospering here. I am thor
oughly convinced of the great value OF these
secondary schools and we OF the Episco-
pallan Church are lending our Influence
10 develop and increase such schools. They
will be sure 10 counteract any tendencies
toward dependence on others such as you
describe
And now am even more certain than
! was q half hour ago that I have said
n great deal more than I intended to say.
But Il should do no harm. Good day"