USA > Massachusetts > Massachusetts Episcopalians 1607-1957 > Part 12
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APPENDIX I.
Statistical Tables with
Brief Comments
Such statistics as have appeared in the foregoing text make clear that Episcopal growth in America has been four times as fast as burgeoning population increase. In 1830, only one person in 430 was a communicant of the Episcopal Church; in 1950, the ratio was one in 92. What the ratio will be in the country as a whole, in 1960 depends on church statistics not yet available. The Episcopal Church Annual will not have the totals until about January, 1962. The Census totals, on the country, are now reasonably complete, however, the following table, giving Massachusetts statistics through 1958, shows the drift of the population tide. Massachusetts' population in the 1950-60 decade increased by a good 30% from something over 3,000,000 to something less than 4,000,000. No such advance is visible in the number of communicants or of baptized persons in either of the Massachusetts dioceses. The number of Sunday School youngsters has increased about 30% in both dioceses. In the Massachusetts Diocese, total financial receipts have gone up about 60%, and in the western diocese about 80%. The statistics of 1960, when available, are not likely radically to alter these proportions.
In Connecticut, where population increase has been about 25%, money receipts have nearly doubled, Church Schools have gone up by over 50%, baptisized persons about 14%, and communicants by about 10%. (See Episcopal Church Annuals for 1952 and 1960.)
In Rhode Island, where population growth has been small and where claimed Roman Catholic membership has gone up from 55% to 61%, in ten years, the Episcopal Church has been virtually stationary. An increase of 5% in baptized persons, a slight recession in communicants and a 30% increase in Church Schools and in financial receipts is all. Even there Rhode Island Churchmen number in all categories, almost as many, and give almost as much as the Churchmen of the three northern dioceses of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont put together. Nevertheless, statistics would indicate that the Episcopalians of sparsely populated Northern New England do, proportianately, slightly better than those of the populous South, where Rome makes its largest gains.
STATISTICS 1950 - 1958 DIOCESE OF MASSACHUSETTS
1950
1954
1956
1958
Baptized
123,545
128,379|
135,317|
142,817
Communicants
80,257
78,028|
80,745
80,876
Church School
23,381
27,869|
31,339
34,316
Receipts
$3,475,183|
$4,760,910|
$4,977,178|
$5.600,504
-116
DIOCESE OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
1950
1954
1
1956
1958
Baptized
32,500
34,538
35,942|
36,955
Communicants
18,542|
19,543
20,544
21,212
Church School
5,979
6,681
8,792
8,374
Receipts
$ 922,068|
$1,411,568|
$1,790,912| $1,743,139
More detailed statistics, covering the parishes of the Diocese, now follow. Since they name only communicant totals, over the century of 1857 to 1957, they present individually a little less bright picture than those dealing with Church School enrollment and financial increase.
I.
The statistical story of the Episcopal churches in the city of Boston is soon told. In 1857, their total communicants, in fifteen parishes, numbered 2610, or 1 in 50 of the population. In 1957, thirty-one churches reported a total of 10,371, or 1 person in 70. In 1927, Episcopalians reached their peak of 16,436 communicants in 34 parishes. As the ensuing table will show, there was a slow decline from 1927 to 1942, and a 33 percent drop from 1942 to 1957.
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BOSTON PARISHES - 1857 - 1957
1857
1882 |1897
1912 | 1927
1942 |
1957
1. St. Paul's Cathedral
310
299
450
542|
1022
488
430
2. Advent
414
--
533
1246
850|
780
1113
3. All Saints, Dorchester
137
513
795|
1162
1096
737
4. Christ, Hyde Park
110
450|
388|
468.
556
5. Christ, North End
97
19
150
60
86
45
6
6. Emmanuel
328
650
950
1048|
1261|
257
7. Emmanuel, Roxbury
74
254
451
645|
522
8. Epiphany, Dorchester
273
402
22
205
9. Good Shepherd
280
297
225
74
83]
90
11. Grace, S. Boston
200
125
140
332|
185|
180|
125
12. Holy Spirit, Mattapan
55
330
634|
719|
562
13. Our Saviour, Roslindale
120
278
625
854
822
14. St. Andrews (Deaf)
25
31
132
67
15. St. Ann's, Dorchester
150
169
200
156
121
17. St. James, Roxbury
130
275
320
375
313
353
182
18. St. John the Evangelist
80
400
578|
1000
885
660
19. St. John's, Charlestown
167
325
350
350|
265
209
82
20. St. John's, E. Boston
75
250
550
435|
225
174
21. St. John's, Tremont St.
44|
300
300
543
354
273
214
22. St. John's, Jamaica Plain.
90
264
442
480|
527
531
352
23. St. Luke's, Allston
118
129
360|
450
402
24. St. Cyprian's
727|
1144|
862
25. St. Margaret's, Brighton
95
199
80
182
192
86
26. St. Mark's, Dorchester
40
225
255
344
307
136
27. St. Mary's, Dorchester
24
150
276
400
498
407
224
28. St. Matthew's and
* the Redeemer, S. Boston
77
450
643
1052
51
470
216
29. St. Peter's
30. St. Stephen's
175
8
477
635
302
200
52
31. Trinity
360
1000|
1350|
1810
1531|
1898|
1472
32. +Messiah
261
350
210
330
33. +Grace, Boston
200
125
259
584
479
386
35. +St. Francis of Assissi
81|
74
36. +St. Andrew's, E. Boston
167
37. +St. Ansgarius
306|
466
483
386
38. +St. Mary's for Sailors, E. Boston
21
68|
47
325
129
Total for all Parishes
2610| 5088| 9595|14379|16436|15073|10371
-
16. St. Augustine and * St. Martin
110
302
462
472
461
10. Grace, E. Boston
-
-
-
* Once separate parishes.
+ Parishes now extinct.
-118-
200
200
324
208
149
34. +Ascension
-
104
II.
The Boston suburbs, here defined as the twenty cities and towns immediately surrounding the city, in 1857 had 724 communicants in ten parishes, located in seven of these twenty communities. Newton had three little churches, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Dedham, Medford, Melrose and Waltham one each. It is hardly an accident that Newton has now the densest concentration of Epis- copalians in the State, its eight parishes gaining nearly 600 com- municants from 1942 to 1957, despite the fact that Grace, St. Paul's and Trinity had considerable numerical recessions.
As the ensuing table will show, this area grew enormously in population and Episcopal membership in a century, from 724 com- municants to 21,347. Yet this last figure is a decline of 441 from the 21,788 of 1942. This fact once more illustrates the strength of the population tide against which the Episcopal Church now has to row.
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PARISHES OF THE BOSTON SUBURBS
1857 |1882 |1897 |1912 |1927 |1942
1957
1. Arlington, Our Saviour
186|
290
218
2. Arlington, St. John's
53
51
225
293
601|
947
3. Belmont, All Saints
36
239
510
492
954
4. Belmont, St. Andrews
116
20
161
5. Brookline, All Saints
200
435
496
649.
411
6. Brookline, Our Saviour
156
345
398
460|
938
306
7. Brookline, St. Paul's
80
289
350
375
6681
677
534
9. Cambridge, Christ
141
220
460
425
52
1247|
1176
10. Cambridge, St. Bartholomew's
20
457
490
610
605
11. Cambridge, St. James
140
320
600
522
525
538
12. Cambridge, St. John's*
190
250
275
25
13. Cambridge, St. Peter's
314
450
742
45
816
600
14. Cambridge, St. Philip's*
85
81
-
15. Chelsea, St. Luke's
62|
194
309
300
373.
386
310
16. Dedham, Good Shepherd
74
108
142
272
351
350
17. Dedham, St. Paul's
118
165
112
248
388
434.
590
18. Everett
182
375
618
1130
733
19. Lexington, Our Redeemer
65
99|
302|
373|
933
20. Malden, St. Luke's
89
80|
180
208
258
146
21. Malden, St. Paul's
193
306
653
561
847
932
22. Medford, Grace
44
125
200
289
403|
776
767
23. Melrose, Trinity
26
101
325
404
614,
901
865
24. Milton, Our Saviour
116
214|
362
158
25. Milton, St. Michael's
26
190
320|
368|
472
26. Needham, Christ
69|
209
300
717
1073
27. Newton, Good Shepherd
127
225
414
417
28. Newton, Grace
50
225
290
403
478
625
478
29. Newton, Messiah
105
142
138
318
344
512
30. Newton, Redeemer
48
210
311
375
779
31. Newton, St. John's
305
451|
566|
586
32. Newton, St. Mary's
114
115
150
156
331|
194|
415
33. Newton, St. Paul's
19
150
260
338|
508|
290
34. Newton, Trinity
150
315
866
1372
910
35. Somerville, Christ
342|
352|
262
36. Somerville, Emmanuel
90
244
409
309
224|
59
37. Somerville, St. James
50|
216
494|
269
213
38. Somerville, St. Thomas
190
130|
389|
476|
390|
208
39. Waltham, Ascension*
50
122
127
152
40. Waltham, Christ
68
167
262|
380
509|
742
743
41. Watertown, Good Shepherd
127
170
438
685
658
42. Winchester, Epiphany
225
400|
562
417
1059
43. Winthrop, St. John's
95
396
453|
482|
484
44. Woburn, Trinity
84
90
183
314|
418
329
Totals for all Parishes
724| 3461| 6761|12367|17200 21788|21347
-
- I
-
* Parishes now extinct.
-- 120-
-
8. Cambridge, Ascension*
104
137
326
289
III
In 1857, the five colonial parishes of the North Shore, plus little St. Stephen's, Lynn, now the largest parish of the Diocese, had but 581 communicants between them. The 29 parishes and missions of the area, a century later, reported 11,863, more there than the num- ber now listed in the parishes of Boston. Of these 581, St. Peter's, Salem, had nearly one-half in 1857 (240). In 1957, its numbers were only a bit larger (271), St. Peter's now being outnumbered by newer Grace Church. While the Episcopal communicants of this area increased only 961 from 1942 to 1957, these two parishes suffered a loss of 522 in the same period (1056-534). In these same years, losses more or less heavy, occurred in Amesbury, and Newburyport, the three parishes in Lynn, St. Paul's, Revere, and in Swampscott. St. Ann's, Revere, was numerically static (284-286), as was Emmanuel, Wakefield. In these years a small new mission, Topsfield, Bonfield arose while the other sixteen adjacent did little to raise the total by less than 10%, 10,901 o 11,863, for a total gain of 961. Industrial change and population removal seems to have followed a crazy-quilt pattern.
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PARISHES OF THE NORTH SHORE
1857 | 1882 | 1897 | 1912
| 1927 |
1942
1957
1. Amesbury, St. James
40
111
110
143
156
320|
201
2. Beverly, St. Peter's
63
152
239
366
400|
615
3. Beverly, St. John's
53
154
275
408
5. Danvers, Calvary
92|
90
176
101
323
482
6. Georgetown, All Saints
43
46
101
7. Gloucester, St. John's
60|
150
250
261
340
578
8. Hamilton & Wendham, Christ ....
134
86
484
9. Ipswich, Ascension
72
175
203
300
400
664
10. Lynn, All Saints
313
163
11. Lynn, Incarnation
20
290|
310
423
300
12. Lynn, St. Stephen's
58|
400
480
950
2293
2339
2125
13. Lynnfield, St. Paul's
40
49
302
14. Marblehead, St. Andrew's
202
361
15. Marblehead, St. Michael's
53
102
160
125
389
504
597
16. Newburyport, St. Paul's
120
275
494
374
334
415
278
17. Peabody, St. Paul's
15
69
306
160|
348
501
18. Reading, Good Shepherd
269|
416
586
19. Revere, St. Ann's
386
342
284
286
20. Revere, St. Paul's
94
130
163
177
123
21. Rockport, St. Mary's
18
28
62|
87
172
22. Salem, Grace
140
167
219
426
556|
463
23. Salem, St. Peter's
240
290
419
378|
440
500
271
24. Saugus, St. John's
34
70|
205
436
619
25. S. Groveland, St. James
44
68|
60|
119
26. Stoneham, All Saints
69|
59
81|
143
27. Swampscott, Holy Name
70!
---
-
-
51
29. Wakefield, Emmanuel
71
60|
96
174
352|
351
30. W. Newbury, All Saints
202|
128|
92
110
Totals
581| 1580| 2968| 4480/ 7697|10901|11863
-
-
219
271|
865
409
28. Topsfield, Trinity
49
*4. Cliftondale
-
-122 --
IV.
The South Shore parishes represent the bright spot in this recent statistical picture of the Diocese. The net communicant gains of the area, from 1942 to 1957, were 3,872 (from 9,447 to 13,319), more than that of the whole Diocese in the same period. The heavy losses in the city of Boston were not quite made up by the small total increases in the four other regions- North Shore, Boston Suburbs, Southern Parishes, Western Parishes.
All this in a large territory which in 1897, sixty years before, had only 1,871 communicants in 23 parishes and missions, as against the 13,319 in 40 places of the present. There was a seven-fold gain in the six decades.
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PARISHES OF THE SOUTH SHORE
-
1857 | 1882 | 1897
| 1927 |
1942 | 1957
1. Branstable, St. Mary's
-
25
2
221
233
2. Braintree, Emmanuel
274
338
469
3. Bridgewater, Trinity
20
50
225
226
237|
270
4 .* Brockton, St. Andrew's
25|
56
5. Brockton, St. Paul's
32
201
851
1038|
1128
6. Buzzards Bay, St. Peter's
64
166
7. Canton, Trinity
94
161
75
311
8. Cohasset, St. Stephen's
14
240|
343
451
9. Duxbury, St. John Evang.
75
36|
97|
227
10. Falmouth, St. Barnabas
13
35
40
165
197|
426
11. Foxborough, St. Mark's
34|
16
131
342
12. Hanover, St. Andrew's
102
67
89
204
478|
324
13.+Hyannisport, St. Andrew's
50
75
14. Harwichport, Christ
107
15. Hingham, St. John Evang.
39
63
232
393
570
16. Holbrook, St. John's
58|
130
243
17. Marion, St. Gabrielle's
23
59
52|
266
18. Marshfield, Trinity
38|
233
19. Martha's Vineyard Parish
36
114
265
321
20. Middleton, Our Saviour
140
121
134
271
22. Nantucket, St. Paul's
30|
30
90|
250
268
399
23. Norwood, Grace
173
206|
420
24. Orleans, Holy Spirit
63|
209
25. Plymouth, Christ
27
45
100
296
422
454
26. Provincetown, St. Mary's
71|
146|
160
27. Quincy, Christ
56
200
250
722
1051|
1291
28. Randolph, Trinity
81
266
360
29. Rockland, Trinity
71
98|
164
30. Sandwich, St. John's
23
83
86
103
31. Scituate, St. Luke's
-
-
127
32. Sharon, St. John's
78
130
218
33. Stoughton, Trinity
50
110
167
242
34. Walpole, Epiphany
31
50|
138
384
35. Wareham, Good Shepherd
45
155
246
278
36. Wellfleet, St. James
50
37. Westwood, St. John's
90
189
490
39. Welmouth, Trinity
53|
84|
113
320|
235
40. Whitman, All Saints
95
179
174
41. Woods Hole, Messiah
13
40
55
101
87
165
42. Wollaston, St. Chrysoston's
-
-
104
536
570|
729
277
411
742
5952|
9447|13319
-
-
* Extinct
{ Summer Chapel now.
-124-
-
38
53|
153
21. North Easton, St. Mark's
-
-
306
38. Weymouth, Holy Nativity
16
V.
The southern tier of parishes, from Franklin no the West to Fairhaven on the East, show large growth between the first five periods, 1857 to 1927, with little increase between 1927 and 1942, and a silght recession between 1942 and 1957.
In 1857, colonial St. John's, Taunton, had 150 communicants, while the Church of the Ascension in rapidly growing Fall River had 295, and Grace Church in New Bedford 150. These, with 30 more in Swansea by the Shore, made up a total of 625. The 1957 total was 10,036, 98 down from the 10,134 of 1942.
The big increases have been until lately, in the individual cities of Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford. The Attleboros, close to Rhode Island, have continued their steady incrases over the years.
THE SOUTHERN TIER OF PARISHES
| 1857 |1882 |1897 |1912
1927
1942
1957
1. Attleboro, All Saints
47
351
420
492|
602
2. Franklin, St. John's
129
244
139
205
3. Mansfield, St. John the Evangelist|
125
163
314
177
4. Fall River, Ascension
295|
227
598
635
745
810|
743
5. Fall River, St. James
397
535
417
382|
268
6. Fall River, St. John's
125
250
357|
611
512|
361
7. Fall River, St. Luke's
300
368
365
365
8. Fall River, St. Mark's
279
377
702|
659
619
9. Fall River, St. Stephen's
110
269
343
350|
282
10. Fairhaven, Good Shepherd
225
246
194
279
11. Medfield, Advent
57
78
90
192
12. Medway, Christ
14
33
75
95|
88|
153
13. Millis, St. Paul's
23
41
35
105
14. New Bedfrd, Grace
150
180
483
787|
1041
1243|
1536
15. New Bedford, St. Andrews
-
175
458
621
412
16. New Bedford, St. James
125
325
695
493
444
545
17. New Bedford, St. Martin's
183
837|
1184
1271
999
18. N. Attleboro, Grace
171
240
29
487
672
19. N. Dighton, St. Paul's
90
83
32
20. Seekonk, Holy Nativity
71
112
78
21. Somerset, Our Saviour
19
70
123
22. S. Dartmouth, St. Aidans
73
23. Swansea, Christ
30|
14
42
132
136
281
407
24. Taunton, St. John's
121
164
307
361|
258
185
25. Taunton, St. Thomas
150|
315
363|
501|
638
702
483
26. Wrentham, Trinity
35|
30|
56
110|
132
170
Totals
625|
1156| 3441|
7207|
9345|10134|10036
-
-
-
125-
VI.
The twenty-five parishes and missions in the western section of the Diocese, including now therein the new mission of Burlington, had, in 1957, 11,744 communicants. As in all sections of the Diocese, this number was a tremendous increase from the figures of 1857, but only a moderate one from those of 1942. Even in this relatively favored area, the Episcopal Church growth is not one-half of the population growth of the State, 30% from 1950 to 1960. The com- mittee communities of this region all show good Episcopal gains, as do the smaller industrial cities and towns. Considerable recent losses appear in the larger cities, such as Haverhill, Lawrence and Lowell.
THE WESTERN PARISHES
| 1857 | 1882|
1897 | 1912 |1927 |1942
1957
1. Andover, Christ
100
106|
240|
360|
407|
582
595
2. Ayer, Groton
-
107
196
362
359
537
3. Chelmsford, All Saints
40
56
57
83
135
196
4. Concord, Trinity
30
82|
162|
277
402
640
5. Franmingham, St. Andrew's & St. John's
73
102
173
287
360
558
6. Haverhill, Trinity & St. John's ....
38
283
419|
695
662
475
386
7. Hopkinton, St. Paul's
25
30
32|
58|
64
73
132
9. Lawrence, Grace
118
390
510|
1134
1409
1424
1231
10. Lawrence, St. Augustine's & St. John's
406
569
1068
980
1112|
1062
947
12. Lowell, St. John's
281
335
425
405
525
456
13. Marlborough, Holy Trinity
157
200
255
300
362
14. Maynard, St. George's
39
19'
204
183
301
15. Methuen, All Saints &
St. Andrew's
205
83
212
204
287
341
16. Natick, St. Paul's
60
71|
180
228
392
607
17. N. Andover, St. Paul's
47
97
311
371|
392|
314
18. N. Billerica, St. Anne's
79|
140|
171|
183
19. Shirley, Trinity
37
58|
57
20. Southborough, St. Mark's
43|
198
185
400|
246|
174
21. Sudbury, St. Elizabeth's
--
-
-1
162
22. Wellesley, St. Andrew's
100|
166
471|
903| 1260
23. Weston, St. Peter's
96!
180|
598
24. Lincoln, St. Anne's
33
48|
44
105|
129|
389
Totals
777| 2230| 3974| 6576| 8541| 9766|11744
-
19
383
386
8. Hudson, St. Luke's
200
250
760
772
747
242
11. Lowell, St. Anne's
I
-
-
- 1
-126
BOOK TWO CHAPTER XI.
The Diocese of Western Massachusetts 1902 - 1937
The Episcopates of Alexander Hamilton Vinton 1902 - 1911 of Thomas Frederick Davies 1911 - 1936 of William Appleton Lawrence 1937 - 1957
I.
In 1901, as we have seen, the western part of the Massachusetts Diocese, some 4500 square miles, was separated from the Eastern section containing some 3600 square miles. The new Diocese, named Western Massachusetts, was a collection of 48 parishes and missions with no common tie except the one that united them with Boston. There were 54 clergymen, active and inactive, in the area, with 8258 listed communicants. Its population, according to the census figures of 1950, was about a quarter of that of the whole State. In 1902, the proportion was a little less than a quarter.
Late in 1901, the campaign to raise $100,000 for the Episcopal Fund of the new Diocese was successfully ended. This sum was to be a unique parting gift from the mother diocese to the daughter. So, promptly on November 19, 1901, to organize the Diocese, a special Convention was held at Christ Church, Springfield. Bishop William Lawrence presided, delivering a farewell message of moving eloquence to the new diocese, and steering the Convention smoothly through the complex details of diocesan organization. This com- pleted, the Convention unanimously chose Dr. David H. Greer of St. Bartholomew's, New York City, as Bishop. Dr. Greer felt obliged to decline, for the same reason he had refused the coadjutor- ship of Rhode Island three years earlier - he had not yet finished his work at St. Bartholomew's. Some years later, he became Bishop of New York, wearing a non-sacredotal collar to the end of his days.
Bishop Lawrence's address on that occasion we may now quote in part: "We take part today in the organization of a Body whose life is to be measured not by years and generations, but by centuries and milleniums. As we recall the titles of ancient Sees - Canter- bury, Winchester, Durham - which are today in greater spiritual vigor than they were centuries ago, we catch a prophetic glimpse of this Diocese. Its title may never become so renowned as these, nor its history so picturesque, but its term of life may be as long and its temper as fine in God's sight.
"The hills of Worcester still echo with the hymns of the Puritans and early settlers who braved starvation that they might find homes for their children; and the voice of John Eliot, the Apostle to the Indians, still seems to linger in the woods. From the upper valley of the Connecticut comes the cry of the people whose homes have been destroyed by the Indians, and whose children have been carried away captive. The voice of Jonathan Edwards is heard, calling the people of Northampton to repentance. Here in Springfield the Puritan Chapin led the people; and the Churchman Pynchon, whose books were publicly burned in Boston, did his work.
"And of Berkshire, glorious in mountain and vale, who can recount the story? The birthplace at Williamstown of the great missionary movement; home of poets, scholars and divines; the 'Lake District' of New England. ...
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"The future work of this Diocese may seem to be local, limited to the bounds of the Housatonic and the Blackstone. Massachusetts, however, has become a colonizing State. Her children pass out through the middle West and into all parts of the world. Back to her colleges come the youth for their education and for a breath of her spiritual and intellectual atmosphere. Thus the work of the diocese will be far more than local. Its influence will be felt in every part of this nation; and on the banks of the Yangtse River, and on the shores of the Philippines the visions caught here will be realized. . . .
"The purpose of this Diocese is to preach the Gospel as this Church hath received the same, to bring souls to the Saviour and to build men up into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. No desire to upbuild the Church, no spirit of ecclesiasticism, no sectarian loyalty is to overshadow the simple, single mission of preaching the free and simple Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"The principles of the Diocese are the principles of the Protes- tant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. In full sympathy with the essential principles of Protestantism, she up- holds the Bible as the revealed Word of God; in every service of the Church the Holy Scriptures are read, and she allows her ministers to teach nothing as necessary to eternal salvation but that which each one shall be persuaded may be concluded and proved by the Scriptures; and while she esteems as of high authority the ex- perience of history and the precedents of the Church, she insists in the last resort upon the right of private judgement and the liberty, aye the duty, of every man to think and act for himself.
"In the simplicity of her Catholic creeds, which are her tests of faith, she protests with all the power of Protestantism against any other tests of faith or loyalty to the Catholic Church than those contained in the Catholic creeds. She holds as a part of her very life the two Sacraments ordained by Christ Himself - Baptism and the Supper of the Lord - and she places them above every ordinance of Church or man. . .
"Her attitude to other Christian bodies is therefore this :- While she holds to her ministry, as of ancient and apostolic order, as well as her Sacraments, Creeds, and Bible, she recognizes with all glad- ness the wonderful spiritual work that has been done and is still being done by churches which by their preaching, sacraments, faith and works are evidently the churches of God and of their common Master Christ. ... On the other side, our Church gladly recognizes the ancient order, the spiritual fervour and the noble works for which the Roman Catholic Church in this country is becoming illustrious. We rejoice in the spiritualizing and purifying power which that church in this country is sending back to Rome. But being an American church, we refuse to recognize as our ruler any sovereign of Rome, or any other foreign land. Our first, last, and supreme allegiance is through Jesus Christ to the Church in these
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United States and to the spiritual and national liberties for which our fathers fought. ... We believe that we have a unique mission and an appeal for unity to the people of Massachusetts and of this whole land. .. .
"The Diocese is here that it may serve the highest interests of the people in Christ's name. Its spirit will be that of a true mission- ary in city, village and hamlet; up in the hill towns, at the four roads and in the crowded tenement, the Bishop and priests will minister and preach. Through their message in college, school and home the young men and young women will see visions of hope and service. Century will follow century, and still the people of this Diocese will sing; 'How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace'."
With this charter of liberty and vision, Bishop Lawrence bade Godspeed to the western part of his diocese. The spirit of this charter has prevailed in the Diocese to this day. Neither left-wing Liberalism nor right-wing Catholicism has had much influence in it, less certainly than in the Diocese centering around Boston.
On January 22, 1902, a second special Convention met at Christ Church, Springfield, with 38 out of 54 diocesan clergy present. Only two of the thirty-five parishes were not represented. When balloting for Bishop began, there were presented the names of the Rev. Alexander H. Vinton, D.D. of Worcester, the Rev. Edwin S. Lines, D.D. of New Haven, and the Rev. William S. Rainsford, D.D. of New York. In just one ballot, Dr. Vinton was elected, receiving 19 clerical and 18 lay votes, parishes then voting as a unit.
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