Evening star., 1939-05-10
Diocesan Convention
Told Moral Standards
Gauge Governments
Bishop Freemon
Says Age Coils
For Heroism

standards, the Right Rev. James E.
Freeman, Bishop of Washington, told
a congregation which crowded the
Church of the Epiphany last night
for the first service Of the annual
diocesan convention.
"Our quest for pleasure, our un-
satisfied passion for increasing ease,
our excessive indulgence in Injuries
that enervate, our abandonment of
discipline and a life regulated by
Christian ideals" the bishop said,
"have made us susceptible to the ills
that have weakened and destroyed
other powerful nations. It is be-
cause we deeply feel this that we
turn again to gospel that is vital
with truth, the truth of Him who
boldly faced a cross that He might
inspire men with courage to meet
every issue and to rise victorious
above every imperiling concition."
Pays Tribute to Deceased.
Bishop Freeman began his sermon
with tribute to the late Very Rev. G.
C. F. Bratenahl, for many years
dean of Washington; DR.. William C.
Rives, physician and philanthropist;
Harry L. Rust, ST., diocesan treas
urer, and Arthur S. Brown, do
cesar chancellor. all of whom have
died since the 1888 convention.
Il would speak to you,' he de-
clared, "a strong word of assurance
nd hnSNn
tired world must have, to ease its
apprehensions and save it from ul-
innate disaster. -" We are here to-
night as constituted unit of a great
church, to claim again the imperish-
able riches of our inheritance and to
find our security in a gospel that will
not yield its place to the capricious
wills Of an apostate age. -. 1t is an
age that calls for the type of heroism
that once characterized the defend
ers of the faith. What I am
pleading for is a revival Of apostolic
power in an age which has forgotten
God"
The bishop explained that he
Identifies the gospel with what we
hold of freedom as the proud citi-
zenS Of great Republic. - The
democracies of the world, notably
those of America and Great Britain,
are being put to new tests and their
systems of government threatened.
Their ideals are being challenged
and their inconsistencies exposed.
While their security may not suffer
impairment, their institutions, under
new methods of appraisal. must be
carefully examined, their virtues
maintained, their vices extirpated.
If our fundamental principles are
| Christian, then We must measure
and test every system and practice
by this standard. If the gospel,
which contains the plan of life given
to mankind by Jesus Christ. is to
be held as the basis of our existing
social, economic and political sys-
tens, then its affirmations must be
stressed with all insistence. 1t is
here that our responsibility as
Christian disciples must have its
largest, fullest and most uncompro-
| AAAoAiS ShPA PACocA0i.
Religion a Life Tonic.
Religion is not an opiate to dull
mans sensibilities or to dwarf his
ambitions" the bishop continued.
1T is strong, life-giving tonic to
make him fit to combat and over
come the forces that threaten to
defeat him. As I scan horizons near
and far, as I contemplate a world
torn by conflicting judgments and
threatened by bloody strife, I turn
with renewed confidence and sense
of serenity of mind to the mighty
evangel. the one gospel of hope. and
in its divine Lord I find the inde-
structible power that must ulti-
mately triumph over all the forces
of evil. 80
Far removed as America is from
the old world, it cannot hold itself
immune from the tragic ills of its
neighbors overseas. Our dream of
freedom and our proud isolation
have suffered a rude and devastating
shock. We have scrupulously tried
to obey the dictum of no entan-
Cling alliances but new and un-
heralded conditions have made us
conscious of the ties that today bind
diverse peoples together in a close
and intimate unity. 1t is a self
evident fact that racial antagonisms
and hatreds have grown apace and
even here in free America they dis
close the signs of growing in
tensity. Divisive forces are threat
ening the spirit of tolerance and may
create cleavages so deep as to result
in violent hostilities. What in the
face of these conditions is the con-
sistent course of Christian bodies
who hold to the eternal gospel with
its living Lord?
1--WE envision a church in which
He sits supreme, where before Him
every knee is bowed. We envision a
church whose unbroken unity en-
compasses the world, moving like an
army with banners to make the
kingdoms of this world the kingdom
of Christ"
The service was conducted by the
Rev. DR.. ze Barney T. Phillips, rec
tor of Epiphany Parish and chaplain
Of the Senate, assisted by the Rev
DR.. F. j. Bohanan, rector of Rock
Greek Parish and president of the
Standing Committee of the diocese
Marching in the procession were
the Very Rev. Noble c. Powell, dean
of Washington; Canon Anson Phelps
Stokes, Canon william M. Bradner,
Canon Raymond L. Wolven, Rev. Dr.
Oliver J. Hart, Rev. DR.. Charles T.
Warner, Rev. DR.. Herbert Scott
Smith, Rev. DR.. H. S. Wilkinson, Rev
w. Curtis Draper, Rev. M. F. New
man, Rev. A. A. Birch, Rev. Thomas
F. Opie, Rev. r. E. Warren, Rev. E.
M. Thompson, Rev. w. L. Mayo, Rev.
Francis Yarnall, Rev. Duncan Fras-
er, Rev. j. E. Elliott, Rev. ]. M. B.
Woodrow, Rev. E. A. Christian, Rev.
Clyde Brown, Rev. H. A. Grifhth,
Rev. E. A.. lie Moine and other dio-
cesan clergy; also the lay oficials