Evening star., 1944-04-19

FOLLOWING is the tert OF the
sermon deliuered By the Right
Rep., Henry K. Sheriff., D. D.,
!. Bishop, OF Massachusetts, and
addressed to- the ReU. Angus. "a.
Dun, D. D., during ceremonies
c0nsecTGtings Dr., DUN Gs3ssfl1e
Fourth Bishop OF Washington at
the Washington Cathedral today S
We are met to share in the service
OF the conservation of a bishop. As
we proceed there will be heard words
proclaiming the great truths of the
gospel. There will come before us
constant reminders of the long life
Of the Christian Church and the
story of successive generationsa of
saints; eyangelists and heroes. s5
I In this Cathedral, on this deeply
significant occasion, we feel the
reality Of the presence of the Living
God. It would be easy to think and
to speak solely of the glory of God,
of His goodness and mercy, of the
comfort and peace which come from
fellowship in the blessed company
of faithful people.
1t is temptation to shut the
doors as of an upper room and so
to forget for the moment the stern
and tragic realities of the world in
which we live. There are times
when such relief and release are
essential. But here we are conse-
Grating leader in the Christian
Church. A leader must be prepared
to face the facts, the discourage
ments as well as the opportunities
of his times.
Church Is Body of Christ.
The church, st. Paul declared, is
the body of Christ. 1t is not my
intention to elaborate this familiar
statement. I only wish to empha-
size what the physical body of
Christ faced in obedience to the
will Of God That body had nowhere
to lay It's head. That body was set
steadfastly to go to Jerusalem to
face danger and arrest That body
was crucified on the cross.
The church, we say, is the body
OF Christ. Is the servant above His
Master or the disciple above His
Lord? To be truly the body of
Christ, the church of Christ can
expect no sheltered or favored posi-
ton. The church must live so
dangerously, so sacrificially that the
Master can once again say, This is
My body which is given for you"
1t is essential that we understand
that fact today There are epochs
in history which seem to be turn
ing points, when decisions are made
and roads chosen which determine
the course OF human events for
generations. 1t is admittedly diff
cult to view dispassionately and to
evaluate ones own time, but every
thing points to the stern fact that
we are in such an era.
l am not thinking alone of the
winning or losing of the war. I am
thinking even more of the character
of the world which is to be. Our
situation is too we'll known to need
detailed description. There is no
east and west in one sense, for
modern invention has made the
twain meet. Everything. from phys
ical boundaries to mems hopes and
fears, is in a state of f1uX. With
clashes of nations, colors and races
there are cruelties and hatreds.
Longing of Untold Millions.
Also we may be thankful there
are noble deeds of high sacrifice
Above all, there is an unutterable
longing on the part of untold mil
lions for the new and finer day
which, please God, some day will
dawn. 1t is not a comfortable, but
a dangerous world. The church
cannot escape the common trial by
fire Too often Christian people
are inclined to live in a paradise of
wishful thinking which overesti-
mates the influence of the church
and minimiZes the difficulties we
confront. We are prone to lack dis
cipline and determination because
when we are with church people
and groups we become complacent
Surely now any sane view both
of the church and the world should
stir Us to the realization of the
ma agnitude of the task before us. Is
the church merely an agreeable as
sociation witho1 vital impress or