Evening star., 1944-04-19

the tensions and difficulties, but this
cause cannot be ignored, on the
lower ground because of plain COM
mon sense, on the higher because
who can doubt what is the will of
Christ?
I am not suggesting a colorless,
regimented uniformity, or a mere
theoretically conceived union, but
deep and oyerpowering unity of the
Spirit. Again it is not matter of
words, but of the character of the
Christian fellowship and of the
vision we have of the glory of God
Let the church be the body of
Christ.
1t may seem strange to some that
I have not touched upon the special
responsibilities and opportunities of
the episcopate. I assure you that
I have not forgotten them. They
are implicit in all I have said. A
bishop has the privilege of being a
pastor to clergy and people. He
has upon his mind and heart the
spiritual care of all the churches.
He has important administrative
duties, but they are insignificant
compared to the quality of his spir-
itual vision and leadership. This is
involved in every act, whether it
be the direction Of candidates for
the ministry, conferences with
clergy, wardens and vestrymen, vis-
itations for confirmation or contacts
with the community. With humid
ity and yet with persistent courage
he must strive to keep the church
true to the Master, or else the salt
will have lost its SAVIOR.
Bishop Is Missionary.
The bishop is also a missionary
If one may reverse the figures, he
cannot be content to minister alone
tc the one within the fold, he must
reach out to the ninety and nine
who in our world have not realized
the implications of Christian dis
cipleship. The bishop must not be
insistent upon his authority and
position and rights, as such. The
church is not a club with certain
officers and with the purpose of
mutual help and comfort. The
church is a living, militant mis-
sionary force, glad to spend and be
spent. not careful of her own pre-
rogatives, even her own life. Moth
ing which is human can be alien to
her purpose. The bishop should be
the exemplar of this truth.
Perhaps the noblest fact in our
day is that millions of men and
women everywhere are giving them
selves without counting the cost
to a cause which they conceive to
be greater than they. Whatever
their limitations, and they are
many, they have learned the mean
ing of sacrifice. They put to shame
many of our complacent self-cen-
tered conceptions of the Christian
life. They will spurn any institu-
ton, no matter how venerable or
sacred. which is interested merely
in self-service or self preservation
The church is the body of
Christ. A body is to be used, as was
Christs body-used to heal the
breakenhearted to free captives, to
preach the acceptable year of the
Lord, not for the sake of social re-
form alone but that men might be
made into the glorious body of their
Risen and Victorious Lord. That is
what it means to be a bishop or a
priest or a deacon or a layman, in
the church. We must never forget
these uplifting yet exacting words:
"Ye are the body of Christ"
Prayer for New Bishop.
My Brother:
Those Of us who know you will
realize with what deep regret you
leave the special work of training
men for the ministry of the church
Because this is so vital in your
eyes, l feel certain that in this new
office you will find many opportuni-
ties to further this same cause. Out
of years of study and of teaching,
fundamental truths of the word of
God have laid hold upon you and
you care deeply that these truths
be applied to the church and to the
world. With simplicity, steadfast-
ness and sympa thetic understanding
you will labor to this end.
Again, those of us who know you
appreciate your genuine pastoral in
sight and care. Clergy of many
points of view, parishes and mis-
sions will find in you wise coun-
Selor and friend. You will strive
to make the church in this diocese
a fellowship, which is the body of
Christ. Perhaps 1 can best express
our prayer for you in the familiar
words of the prayer for the alumni
of the school you have served so
Well-that God will grant unto you
the spirit of wisdom that you may
teach His people His eternal truth
and the spirit of holiness that you
may go before them and lead them
into His everlasting kingdom.
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