The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-11-28
BISHOPS VIEW
DAY ASONEO
OPPORTUNITY
Pastoral Letter to Episcop-
al Church Puts Duty to
God Above Country

A pastoral letter. which wa
adopted by the House of Bishops
of the Episcopal church, in SEES
sion at Davenport. Iowa. earlier
this month, was read to the mem,
bers of St. James Episcopal
church as a part of the Sunday
morning service. by the rector
the Rev. James P. Burke.
The letter treats with the OPP
portunity that exists for the
church and for Christianity at
this time in aiding TO recovery,
calls attention to the greater need
of temperance in the face of the
approaching repeal of the Eight
eenth amendment, urges efforts
for world peace and that duty to
God may be put above patriotism
in any conflict of motives that
may arise in avoiding a future
world chaos. The letter says in
part:
I'm this momentouS period in
the life Of the church and state,
your bishops, with a solemn sense
of their responsibility lay before
you certain matters that they be-
heve deserve your serious consid-
Grafton. They do this in the hope
that at this time of stress the
church may contribute its full
share to the Stabilization of those
things that are indispensable to
the happiness, peace and security
of the nation.
"A finer type of Christian faith
and courage calls for service and
sacrifice to meet the modern
world chaos.
1.-THE rehabilitation of agricul-
ture and of industry we recog-
nize as urgently important, but
causes deeper than those that
have to do with economic disloca-
ton, with its attendant privationS,
lie at the root of the worlds ills.
Spiritual recovery must be made
coincident with economic recov-
cry. Apostasy, the neglect of fun
damental Christian principles as
related to domestic, social and in
dustrial conditions have contrib
uted to the catastrophe of recent
times. The reactions from the Sc
we're strain of the great war re-
suited in the lowering of moral
standards that had been the Sc
eurity of our people. standards
that had given them place OF
commanding power at home and
abroad. The consuming passion
for gain, disclosed in an era of
wild speculation with its accom-
panying excuses and indulgences
that brooked no restraint; the
untempered lust for varied and
unwholesome forms Of pleasure;
the recent disclosures Of incompe-
tenee and mal-administration; the
loosenesS Of marital ties leading
20 the GisinteEration Of the home;
these and other moral lapseS con-
tributed 20 the breakup Of our
social and economic institutions,
and made easy the way for our
common disasters and misfor-
tunes. Widespread suffering, hum
ger and distress in the face of
unparalleled power, mechanical
ingenuity and prodlSal abundance
present an appalling paradox,
such as our nation has never be-
fore witnessed. A selfish and
soulless individualism that was in
sular and arrogant impaired our
security ard wrought havoc in our
social and economic life.
Involved in an economic sit
uation which has left millions con-
fronted by the horrors of unem-
ployment and dire want in the
midst of plenty. the world
sbounds in many and at times con-
flicting experiments which seek to
meet the needs of suffering hu-
mainly. No experiment which
seeks to bring recovery for any
one group, industrial. agricultural
or any other. without considering
the needs and welfare of all men
is in accord with the mind of
Christ. The members of the
church must make it clear that as
followers of the Master, they can
not give their support TO any pro-
gram of reconstruction. which
does not recognize the fact that
national recovery depends upon
world recovery.
''No reestabliShment of an old
economic order will suffice.
Christ demands a new order in
which there shall bo a mora aou;t