Evening star., 1951-01-11
Episcopal Bishops
Are Urged 10 Appeal
To Poorer People
Speeiol Dispoteh 10 The Siar

Speeiol Dispoteh 10 The Sfar
Ell PASO, Tex, Jan. l1.-The
House of Bishops of the Episcopal
Church today was urged to act
quickly to reach people of the
lowest economic means in indus-
trial cities.
Two bishops warned yesterday
of failure in large cities unless
the Episcopal Church served all
peoples in the community.
The Right Rev. Norman B.
Nash. Bishop of Massachusetts,,
warned that the church must
realize the meaning of the in
dustrial revolution and its eff
feet on society. He said that in
Massachusetts the church, which
is traditionally urban, is losing
out as parochial church based
on stable population.
Population Shifts.
population has shifted, leaving
a city wilderness that grows with
each year." he said. In this
wilderness are the most dis
couraged and defeated groups,
some of whom are pathetically
glad to find church that under
stands them and gives them the
SanSa of halopoino
Talk has increased among
trade union groups and unskilled
workers that the church is above
them and is controlled by people
of means Some already feel that
trade unioniSm will accomplish
what the church cannot"
An Illustration of what can be
done by the church in slum areas
was provided by the Rev. Kilmer
Myers, rector of Grace Episcopal
Church in Jersey City. Mr.. Myers
parish once was strong and rich
but now is located in a poor aec-
tion of the city.
Outlines Principles.
He outlined the basic principles
OF his success with poor and op-
pressed minorities: The church
must be willing to give the best
men to the task and lots of
money; use teams of priests; keep
the rectory open all the time;
arrange for the minister to live
with the poor before taking social
action; depart from traditional
paths and maintain neighborhood
parishes.
The Right Rev. Wallace E.
conkling. Bishop of Chicago,
emphasized the need of preserv-
ing downtown parishes.
"I don't think you should sell a
downtown parish because think
you are going to need it," he de-
clared. IF we have to start all
over again it will be at needless
great expense"
The bishop thought it was in
evitable large cities would have to
be rebuilt in Is years. The trend
Of the last decade is need of
reclamation and rehabilitation, he
said.
The bishop also spoke of how
churches must serve the commu-
mites they represent.
Class Idea Opposition
Churches should not encour-
age constituents living at dis
tance," he said. This type OF
support handicaps the missionary
development.
Further. we must overcome the
idea of class. It should not be a
church for nice people. In Chi
cago we will not have a single
parish in 25 years in the metro
politan area unless the churches
are turned over to neighborhood
work.
"Also, there must be more con-
gregational work. More must be
spent for staff and less for high
paid rectors. Ministers should use
a block pattern of visiting people
and should keep their churches
open all the time. Finally, special
allowances must be made in the
way of money for those working
In slum areas"
Vote on Draft Policy.
The bishops yesterday voted to
concur with four rules in regard
10 draft deferments of seminary
students. The rules. passed by
the church's deans. leave the mat
ter of recommending deferments
up to the individual bishops.
{ The Right Rev. Henry w. Hob
son, Bishop of Southern Ohio,
urged bishops not to yield "to the
easier way in asking for defer
l1ent of seminary students.
He pointed to the high caliber
Iof seminary students following
world War II. He said wartime
experiences had increased leader
ship qualities that more than
compensated for the resulting
tenonnrarv Shnrtaoe af clergy