Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-15
''Tventieth Century Church,
Desire Of Epiphany Rector
DR.. Freeman BeIieues That Modern
Church Scope Should Include All
Spiritual Uplift Agencies.

That the. EpiphaES Protestant
! Episcopal Church be known as "A
Twentieth Century Church" in the
truest sense Of the term, is the wish
and desire of its rector. Rev. DR.
James Edward Freeman, as expressed
in an interview yesterday.
I DR.. Freeman, who was called to the
! pulpit here last year from Mime
apolis to fill the vacancy caused by
| the death of Rev. DR.. Randolph H
| Mckin. believes that the church OF
today should be modernized to such
! all extent that its scope includes all
! the agencies that tend to spiritual
uplift, whether it be In the manner
it gets in close touch with the human
element Of life.
! Must BE True to Ideals.
; The ministry Of the church today
| must be co-extensive with human
needs. If it is true to the ideals OF its
! Master" Dr.. Freeman declared. THE
week. with a limited and circum-
scribed ministry, is gone forever.
! The modern minister must touch life
at many points. His power as q
I preacher VIII De ldESety determined
by the extent and variety Of his serv-
| ice to men. He must be a student in
the large world of action as we'll as
F.. in the secluson of his study; in fine.
| he must know men, be diagnostician
| Of life, and the world is his labora-
| in Washington, the downtown church
holds the strategic position. This
, used to be regarded as distinct dis
advantage. not so today. Probably
mr. no ho1 g.
us by car lines or automobiles. Our
weekday congregations in Lent and
at other special seasons are very
| large. This largely because we are
! John spargo said sometime ago
! that the pulpit had ceased to be
J power. that it was an anachrononism,
this Is demonstrably untrue. AS a
Ing men in public life who command
! the largest hearing today are es-
senttally preachers.
Looks Only for Bad Spots.
THE so..ealled secular press, along
! ligious tone. The pessimist who sees
| only that which witnesses to moral
atrophy and decay, is seeing life in
| a partial way: he looks only for the
scopically.
The ministry today is far more
colorful and fascinating than it ever
was, and 1t appeals to and calls forth
| every fine gift a man has. Once the
clergyman occupied a circumscribed
sphere of influence, today all doors
are open to him If he is broad and
sympathetic enough to see the possf-
bilities of comprehensive service"
History Covers Sixty Years.
Epiphany Church in G street has
a history covering over eighty years.
It Is one OF the largest churches in
its seating capacity and extent Of
property in the country. 1t seats
1850. It's parish house Is the center
of activity every day in the week,
the list of agencies diocesan, civic,
social and religious. using 1t, repre-
sent thousands of people. BY day and
later on into the evening, it's many
rooms, gymnasium, fine auditorium,
ETC.. are in service.
bodies was expressed the other night
when he said: We stand for clean
recreation; we think that our mem
bers. the pillars of the Epiphany Of
tomorrow. are carrying on a great
work This athletic association has
the distinction Of having the cham
pfon Junior basket ball team of The
district, and also holds the premier
position in the South Atlantic d.
vision.
"They. also won the championship
In the swimming contest at the basin
last summer, and came cat second
In the junior base ball contest In
the city. But these hoys and young