The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-19
PASSING CULTS
DANGEROUS TO
TRUE RELIGION
Rev. w. L. Essex Delivers Address
at Diocesan Meet; Endowment
Receives $1,000.
fSpecial 10 The Argus.l


GaIesburg: Ill, Jan. 19.-Rev. w.
L. Essex, rector OF Trinity church.
Rock Island. preached the sermon
at the opening service of the 45th
annual synod of the diocese Of
Quincy which convened here yes
terday.
Sessions will continue today and
will be marked by the election of
clerical and lay delegates to the
triennial convention OF the Episco-
pal church in the United States to
be held at Portland, Ore, next Sep
tember.
Rev. Essex took as his theme,
'1The Message of the Church for
Men of Today"
1--WE cannot close our eyes to the
needs of humanity nor allow the
cults OF the passing moment to FUR
nish dominant ideas of God and re-
ligion to the people" Father Essex
declared. There is great deal
of unconscious religion but the
question arises as to whether there
is permanent source and how
long it can last"
Deploring the chaos in the world
today with regard to religious
beliefs, Father Essex quoted Bishop
Gore of oxford, who mentions these
characteristics of the present day:
Producing Mental Chaos.
''The great scientific move with
Darwin as it's central figure, the
criticism of the Bible, comparative
religion, revolt against teachings
which represent God as tyrannical
and arbitrary, have all played their
part; the atmosphere of democracy,
the spirit of rebellion against the
moral sanction of Christianity, the
specifically of popular education,
emergence of new religions such as
Christian Science, theosophy and
spiritism-aIl these causes rein
forced by the shocks and disap-
pointment of the great war, have
combined to produce state OF
mental chaos. We need to construct
a rational fabric of belief from the
foundation and this foundation is
true belief in God as revealed
through the prophets and Jesus
Christ living and personal"
J How each shall fill his place in
life was taken up by Father Essex.
I'VE must be very sure of God our
selves he said. I'VE must not be
individualistic in our Christianity,
but pray, worship and serve togeth-
err We must know the Scriptures,
for in them God has spoken. All
these are matters of the human
will
n I'VE must not despair of the age
Vim which we live 1t is the one God
fhas given us and He has many
ways of approach to the souls of
men"
Following the sermon the synod
perfected an organization by elect
ing Rev. j. II. Head, rector of st.
Johns church, Presumption, secre-
tary in place of Rev. J. H. Dew-But-
tain. who has removed from the
diocese.
Summary of Fund.
John w. Potter of Rock Island
was reelected diocesan treasurer.
Summarizing the endowment fund
of the diocese, the treasurer report
ed total receipts for the period
ending Dec. 81, 1921. $9,54456,
these figures being inclusive of a
tbalance of $7,369.62. at the time OF
the last report. The sum of $4,000
had been transferred to the trustees
of funds and properties, leaving
balance on hand of $1,544.56.
The afternoon session which
opened at 2 o'clock, following
luncheon served in the parish house
of Grace church was largely taker
up by the annual address of Bishop
Fawcett, and reports of standing
committees and officers of the
synod.
Every parish in the diocese is
at the sessions Dele
gates in attendance from Trinity
Rock Island, are E. A. 2
j. F. Syrett, Lester
Turner and j. w. Potter.
The delegates were entertained at
dinner last evening in the Gales
burg club by Dean F. l.. Darlington
OF st. Mary's school, Knoxville
You can still ioin one or moro q.