Evening star., 1928-05-23
BISHOP OUTLINES PROGRESS
IN EPISCOPAL CHURCH WORK
DR.. Freeman, In Annual Address to Dio-
cesan Convention, Notes General Advance
In the Denominational Activities

Deploring the announcement of social
entertainments at church services, re-
cording the progress made in the past
twelvemonth and calling attention to
the general convention which will meet
here in October. Rt. Rev. James E.
Freeman. Bishop of Washington. de-
livered his annual address to the diocese
last night in Epiphany Church, rs part
of the thirty-third annual diocesan
convention, being held at Laurel. Md.
Among his recommendations. Bishop
Freeman urged that consideration be
given to centralized treasury. and a
single depository for trust and other
designated funds. He charged rectors
and vestries with carefully maintaining
and preserving church records, many of
them of great historical value. Proper
preparation of candidates for confirma-
tion was counseled by the bishop
Bishop Freeman reminded his hearers
that death had taken from the diocese
in the past year Rev. James Henry
Watkins Blake. Rev. George Charles
Shears and Rev William A. Masker. In
KEEPING with custom, his audience arose
While the bishop recalled their services.
Advance in Building Operations.
The past year. the bishop asserted,
registers distinct advance over the
years that have gone before" He re-
called progress in this wise: Building
operations in new churches projected
several parish houses built, the Cathe-
dral and its College of Preachers given
freshened impulse and making an ad-
vance not hitherto registered, the gem
eral and diocesan missionary apportion-
ment met. and an aggregate fund raised
in excess of anything previously known,
all this Is in demonstration of a gen.
erosity and devotion on the part of
clergy and people that must give us
deep Satifaction. The later report of
the committee on the state of the
Church will submit more conclusive
evidence as to the progress We have
made"
Cites Objectionable Custom.
Turning to a discussion of secular
announcements in church, the bishop
said:
IF social and secular entertainments
must have their place in parish houses,
then surely they should not, by an
nouncement from chancel or pulpit on
Sunday. be permitted to intrude them
selves upon the brief hour of devotion.
To announce the order of sacred serv-
ices, as we'll as the time when the sac
rament Is to be administered, and to
couple with such announcements the
social entertainments of the week, is,
to say the least, anomalous and highly
inconsistent. II dramatics, dances and
card parties have to be given their place
In our modern parochial life, let them
not invade the sanctuary. when the
people are met for praise and worship.
Glaring instances of what / have in
mind repeat themselves with alarming
frequency. If parish organizations de-
mand that the clergy shall include, in
their chancel announcements, these
things. then counsel them TO definitely
refuse to do so.
Would Bar Posters From Churches.
Posters and signs contiguous to or
placed In the churches themselves bear
ing upon secular entertainments should
not be permitted This Is not to dis
courage or ban consistent and properly
supervise secular entertainments. but
rather to keep them In their proper place
As for some OF these entertainments, far
more supervision should be given them
than obtains at present Cases that
are most distressing and reprehensible
have been repeatedly brought TO my at
tention by parents. that disclose the
urgent need for more care and better
direction. cannot believe that we are