The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-03-02
BISHOP MURRAY'S ADDRESS
TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY
Suggestions Concerning the Keeping
of The Lenten Season.

-
of The Lenten Season.
Bishop John Gardner Murray of the
Protestant Episcopal church of Mary
land, has caused to be issued the fol-
lowing address to the clergy and laity
of his church, which is published in
these columns by special request:
My dear Brethren of the Clergy and
Laity:-
am planning and praying for
deeper spiritualsm in our diocesan
life during this Lent. My purpose
can be realized only by a growth
among US of personal religion. We
must increase our consciousness of
relationship with God and make man
fest this increase in more conscien-
tious discharge of the obligations of
that relationship We must love our
Master with desire, serve Him with
delight and sacrifice for Him with
devotion. To this end l summon you
all to a Lenten season of individual
and universal penitence and pious OBJ
servance.
Eschew the frivolous things of the
world, especially all caricatures of the
season in the guise of "Lenten
bridge" "Lenten Dances" "Lenten
dinners" "Lenten theatre parties"
and all such ilk. They are masquer-
aders under pretence in vain endeavor
to clothe the things of the life mater
ial with the garments of the life spir-
itual Fear to mock God by substi-
tuting trifles for His eternal verities
in any such manner.
We are Christians. Let US pro-
claim and hold fast the pure princi-
pies Of our religion. Let US practice
the holy virtues of our vocation.
Search and study the Scriptures daily.
regularly, carefully and prayerfully.
They are a lamp to our feet and a
light to our path. To us they testify
of the Master, and in them He tells US
we have eternal life.
Be insistent in prayer-in the closet
and at the hearthstone. Be everyone
a priest of yourself and Of your
household. Be constant in your at
tendance upon daily worship in your
own congregation, and if possible oc-
cupy the same seat at every service.
To the extent you can, without neg
lect Of your parochial obligations,
frequent the general Midday Service,
but resist the temptation born of de-
sire for an alluring diet of religious
dissipation. Such diet will result in
devotional indigestion. 1t will invalid
you for the remainder of the church
year, and the greatest nuisance in
the world is pious dyspeptic. Seek
SO to hear, learn and inwardly digest
the Word Of God that by patience and
comfort Of it you will be able to en-
brace and hold fast the hope of
healthy absorption of the truth and
show it forth accordingly and con-
tinuOusly.
Minister to all in need, and thus
persuade the world that through you
Christ has come, because "the blind
receive their sight and the lame walk.
the lepers are cleansed and the deaf
hear, the dead are raised up, and the
poor have the Gospel preached to
them"
Consequent upon loving obedience
and faithful performance in all this,
not only we ourselves but all mankind
will be blessed, because the glory and
worth of our Master shall be so mani
fest in and by US that none shall be
offended in Him.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God and the fellow
ship of the Holy Ghost be with US all
evermore. Amen.
THE BISHOP OF MARYLAND.