USA > New York > Our diocese : a study of the history and work of the Church in the Diocese of Central New York > Part 8
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positive teaching of the Church is not known. It follows, then, as has already been pointed out, that any social ser- vice effort must start in individuals filled with the true spirit and taught of God. It follows that the first need is for a teaching clergy who will stir up the wills of faithful people to a great desire for the coming of the kingdom and to a personal consecration in that service. Then individ- ually and collectively, Christian Social Service will certainly follow.
CHAPTER XI
DIOCESAN ORGANIZATION
TT would have been more logical perhaps to have placed this chapter earlier in the book ; but it has to do with machinery rather than with men, and after all the story of men's doings is more vital than the record of methods by which their work is done.
No Churchman, however, should be without a clear and definite knowledge of the Church's organization and gen- eral system of work, and it will not be amiss to briefly recite here the principal facts to be known.
The Church in the United States-After the Revolution- ary War the parishes or the Churches, which before had been colonial churches under the government of the Church of England and, directly, under the Bishop of London, united to effect an independent national organization. It was expressly declared that they purposed no essential de- parture from the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Church of England. Political independence involved national organization, but was not to be allowed to introduce ecclesiastical schism. So when the first bishops were chosen, they were sent to obtain their commission and the apostolic succession from the Church of England. But at that time English civil law required from bishops a pledge of alle- giance to the British crown, which of course it was impos- sible for Americans to give, so that since Parliament moved slowly in making changes, we were long without Bishops and the prospects were poor of our ever having any. After many disappointments, Dr. Seabury, a presbyter of Connecticut, was advised to obtain consecration from the Church of Scotland, which he did, returning to Connecticut as the first American Bishop. Eventually the law was changed and the next applicants, White from Pennsylvania and
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Provoost from New York, were readily consecrated in Lambeth Palace as the second and third bishops of the American Church .* James Madison was also consecrated in England. These four bishops became the fountain head of Apostolic orders in the American Church. Bishop Claggett of Maryland was the first Bishop consecrated in America. His mitre, a modest affair, is still preserved in the archives of the Maryland Diocesan house.
The Inherited Law. The Church of England, in her reformation, expressly acknowledged herself, with all other parts of the Holy Catholic Church, bound by the laws which had been enacted in Ecumenical Councils of the first ages by the undivided Church of Christ.
We have as our fundamental law, therefore (1) the laws of the undivided Church-examples of conformity to which are found in the requirement that three bishops should par- ticipate in every consecration ; in the practice as to rebap- tism, etc., and (2) the underlying principles of doctrine, dis- cipline and worship maintained by the Church of England at the time of our independent organization.
This Church of ours is governed in matters affecting our life and practice within our own borders by the General Convention which meets once in three years, the forty- seventh session coming in 1922 at Portland, Oregon. The Convention is made up of all the Bishops, about one hun- dred and twenty-five in number, sitting as a House of Bishops, and four clerical and four lay deputies elected from each of the seventy-one dioceses, and one clerical and one lay deputy from each of the thirty-three missionary districts, sitting as a House of Deputies. No legislation can become effective unless both houses concur in its adoption. Matters that come properly before the General Convention are those dealing with the Liturgy of the Church, with its general missionary work both at home and
*See list of American Bishops in Church Almanac.
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abroad, with its relations to other religious bodies, and with such national problems as may seem to call for attention from the organized Church. In Portland, the question of the revision of the Prayer Book, which has already occupied a large part of the previous convention, required careful attention and a large amount of time.
Our National System. The extent of territory from which delegates must come, the growing unwieldiness of such a huge body of legislators, and the three-year interval between sessions of the general Convention, has led to the division of the country into eight Provinces, with Provincial Synods in which the bishops and delegates chosen by the several dioceses meet annually for consultation.
Our diocese is in the second province comprising the dioceses of New York, Long Island, Albany, Central New York, Western New York, Newark, and New Jersey, and the missionary district of Porto Rico. The Synod meets annually in various cities. the session of 1922 being in Albany, N. Y.
Matters discussed have generally to do with specific ad- vances in the localized work of the Church, with stimulating the deputies to a greater zeal and interest and with co- ordinating the efforts of the parishes particularly in religious education and in social service. Unfortunately there is as yet no well-defined plan of securing financial support for the provincial enterprises so that they are necessarily presented as desirable and authorized rather than made obligatory.
There is also a National Council (once called by the rather cumberson title of "The Presiding Bishop and Council) which carries on the business of the Church, in its mission- ary work, social service and religious education. This body, organized by the Convention of 1919, demonstrated its value to the Church largely through the prophetic in- sight and the splendid leadership of the Bishop of Tennesee,
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Bishop Gailor, who is just entering on his second term of office as President.
By the direction of the Council the work of the various departments and commissions has been correlated and the intimate details of the business of the Church has been sub- jected to careful supervision. The possibilities of the nation-wide campaign, which has so wonderfully animated the Church and stirred it to a sense of its power have been developed by this same Council.
The Diocese. The Diocese is governed as to its internal affairs by an annual Convention of the bishops, clergy and elected delegates from organized parishes. In most matters the convention votes as a single body, but on more import- ant matters, such as the election of a bishop, of deputies to the General Convention, and of the Standing Committee, the clergy and laity vote separately and must reach agree- ment. This form of vote, by orders, may be required on any question, at the will of the delegates. The Convention has power to elect a bishop, and to enact laws governing clergy and parishes, and chooses its own officers for diocean business. It also has charge and custody of all diocesan funds and has power of assessment upon the parishes.
Although each diocesan convention has power to elect a bishop, the person so chosen can not be consecrated unless a majority of the bishops consent to his elevation to a share in the Episcopate, and unless a majority of the Standing Committees of other dioceses express their approval. Since a bishop, by virtue of his office, has a constant part in the government of the whole Church, his selection is not allowed to rest with the Convention of a single diocese.
In order to have the business meetings of the Church in the diocese properly conducted, the diocese has adopted a Constitution and By-Laws, or Canons, as they are called in ecclesiastical language. These Canons are printed in the annual Diocesan Journal and should be studied by every
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churchman who wishes to be informed about the Church of which he is a member. They have to do with such subjects as organization and financial obligations of parishes or missions, the Church Pension Fund, the Diocesan Council, the relation of a clergyman to his parish and the missions of the diocese and their care. There is also provided in this same Journal full reports of every parish, so that a student of such matters can readily determine the relative strength of every parish, the distribution of diocesan funds as well as the sources of income and the proper points for intensive forward work.
Consultative Bodies. To advise the Bishop in important matters, when he so requests, to pass upon the qualifica- tions of candidates for Holy Orders, to act in legal pro- ceedings at such time as there may be no bishop, a " Standing Committee " of four clergymen and four laymen is chosen.
The men selected for this important committee are usually those who have been long resident in the Diocese and famil- iar with its affairs, and who have been well tested as to judgment and character, and therefore who will deliberate intelligently and carefully on the important matters coming before them. It is not uncommon for men to serve many years on this committee. Standing committees as a rule are, quite properly, dignified bodies, free from impulsiveness and hastiness in reaching decisions. They are not empowered to initiate action.
It is, however. often desirable to initiate action between Conventions, and accordingly a Diocesan Council has been chosen to co-ordinate and prosecute, under the direction of the Bishop as chairman, the manifold activities of the Dio- cese between Conventions. This Council is intended to be an aggressive, venturesome, precedent-making body, and therefore its members are properly chosen for their enter- prise in thought and action. This Council, authorized in
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1920, is a new bit of Diocesan machinery, which has yet to demonstrate its efficiency. It is divided into Departments and Committees, and the Departments are in turn sub- divided into Commissions. The following is the present organization of the Council : Department of Religious Edu- cation ; Department of Social Service; Department of Diocesan Missions ; Department of Nation-Wide Campaign ; Department of Church Extension and Intensive Work ; Department of Publicity ; Priority Committee, and Finance Committee. The Council appropriates Diocesan funds ad interim, and chooses an Executive Secretary and a special Treasurer to whom all Nation-wide Campaign funds are paid, and by whom these are turned over to the Treasurer, of the National Council, in the proper proportion.
Diocesan Missionary. In the missionary work of the Diocese the Bishop is assisted by an Archdeacon, who has general supervisory powers. For convenience of adminis- tration, to promote missionary spirit, and to afford oppor- tunity for consideration of local problems, the Diocese is divided into five Missionary Districts, each with a Dean and a Secretary to supervise and report the missionary work, with its problems, needs and activities.
These districts are as follows :
I. Jefferson and Lewis Counties.
II. Oneida and Madison.
III. Broome, Tioga, Chenango and Chemung Counties.
IV. Onondaga and Cortland Counties.
V. Seneca, Tompkins and Cayuga Counties.
The clergy of these districts hold meetings, called Con- vocations, several times a year, and endeavor by reports and discussions to gain a knowledge of, and to create interest in, the particular work of the district.
CHAPTER XII DIOCESAN ORGANIZATIONS
Woman's Auxiliary. There are in the diocese a num- ber of organizations, each doing its part in its own way to promote the work of the Church. Of these the oldest and most important is that group of women for so long known as the " Woman's Auxiliary " and now officially called " The Woman's Branch of the Church Service League."
The Auxiliary was organized in 1876 to further the cause of missions, and broad foundations were laid by Mrs. Emma L. Knickerbocker, who was for fourteen years its most able and devoted president. Branches were established in every diocese and parish branches generally were found in every parish and mission. For many years, a stream of auxiliary boxes went from civilization to frontier, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from this country to foreign lands. Each box was packed with everything that loving thought- fulness could suggest and that might be needed by pioneers on the Church's firing line. Of course, at first, the work was done without much system and it is said that fur coats found their way to the tropics and thin muslin dresses to Alaska-and that even such things as crutches and billiard balls were sometimes sent to unexpectant missionaries. But after a time the central office in New York was able to tabulate the needs and to distribute lists among the dioceses and parishes so that of late years each parish branch has been able to know to whom its box was to go, the person- nel, ages of the missionary's family and exactly what that family needed in the way of extra supplies and personal comforts. Perhaps the most valuable results of these boxes were the personal interests that were aroused and the stead- fast devotion to the missionary work of the Church that always accompanies service. No woman who had put
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innumerable stitches in a baby's outfit and who had read the letter of thanks from the grateful mother, living on the outskirts of civilization beyond the reach of such dainty garments as the box brought, could thereafter be indifferent to the success of the Church or the welfare of her people even though in far-off lands.
Now that the Board of Missions of the Church is a part of the National Council, the Woman's Auxiliary not only has changed its name but has widened its scope to include the five-fold field of service which that body has assumed, viz., the parish, the community, the diocese, the nation, and the world. It is also extending and developing its system after the fashion of the Red Cross-collecting and tabulating all the needs of its missionaries at its Central Station in New York and then assigning quotas, ten dozen sheets, two clerical suits, three warm coats, etc., to all the branches. Doubtless the efficiency of the work is thereby increased but it may be at the cost of a waning interest.
A second role of the Auxiliary has been for the past twenty years the collection and presentation to the Church for woman's missionary work, a certain sum of money. This offering is known as the United Thank Offering, or the U. T. O., and is made once in three years at the time and place of meeting of the General Convention. It is not an offering of branches but of individuals, and it expresses the united thankfulness and love of these women for God's mercies and blessings extended to them individually. It brings together the women of the entire Church, from more than a hundred dioceses, from the borders of the Yellow Sea to the banks of the mighty Yukon. It binds together as sisters the fashionable church goer of Fifth Avenue, the woman on the farm in Maine, the Indian squaw, and the Brazillian senorita, all joining in their tributes to their common Head. The little blue boxes are distributed by thousands and serve as a continual remem-
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DIOCESAN ORGANIZATIONS
brance of the joint service they imply. This offering has grown from $2,000 in 1889 to $200,000 in 1907, to $500,000 in 1918, of which $13,303 came from this diocese. It is used solely for the work of women workers and has done much for the Church.
Theoretically every baptized woman is a member of the Woman's Auxiliary but in practice a woman is expected to give a certain amount each year, it may be only five cents a month, or to do some work, thereby showing her interest. During the year, 1921, in money and boxes the gifts of the women of the church in this diocese amounted to $28, 129. No exact record is kept of the number of active members in this diocese but the estimate of the diocesan president is that the number of parish branches in the diocese is one hundred and ten and that there are 2,844 active members.
The mission study classes are receiving more and more stress though there are yet many branches where sewing seems to be their only reason for existence. But it is quite evident that a knowledge of the missionary conditions in the Philippines, for example, would foster a greater desire to help the work there and letters from the missionaries read aloud might profitably replace local gosip at meetings.
In this diocese there are five distinct branches, with District officers, corresponding to the convocation districts. There is also the diocesan organization for advice and consultation.
Junior Auxiliary. For the younger women and for girls there has long existed the Junior Auxiliary with its separ- ate organization, or officially the Junior Department. It seems plain that, since according to its foundation princi- ple, baptism is the sole requisite for the missionary mem- bership, every baptized girl or woman therefore ought to be a force in the Woman's Auxiliary ; there must be a place for everybody no matter what her age. The church there-
The amount of the offering in 1922 in Portland, Oregon was $669, 100.
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fore in her wisdom has developed not only a nation-wide organization of girls and young women, but also of the children in the Little Helpers-the babies in the Font Roll. Naturally the amount of work accomplished and of money contributed is small. But the principle that baptism automatically makes a child a supporter of the missionary work of the church is sound and the success of all these auxiliaries has been demonstrated with value.
With the broader conception of the same principle, the General Convention of 1919 authorized the organization of Church Service Leagues-to express practically that idea of service which must follow and exemplify any religious teaching or experience. Nationally and temporarily this League stands for and includes all church organizations, and representatives of all these make up the National Com- mittee. Ultimately, every parish will have branches to care for all kinds of service, these branches being made up of various people associated by any kind of principle. There may be a Woman's Branch (the former Woman's Auxiliary ) or the girl's branch (the Junior Dept. ) or the church school branch, or the babies' branch, or the boys' branch or the men's branch, or the college students' branch, or any other of a dozen possibilities as the vision of each rector may suggest.
In this diocese, the Church School Service League has been formally started with branches in about half of the parishes and missions. It is not too much to expect, that as the spirit of service grows in the church, taking the place of the individual and selfish concern for personal sal- vation, that Church Service Leagues will develop until in some branch every member of the church will be included. Then indeed will Christians exemplify the saying of their Master, "Faith without works is dead," and "By their works shall I know them."
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The Brotherhood of St. Andrew. History. The Brother- hood of St. Andrew is an organization of laymen in the Anglican Communion ; that is, of the Churches known as Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America ; The Church of England, in England, Canada, the West Indies and New Zealand ; the Episcopal Church of Scotland ; the Church in Japan, Church in China, and their branches wherever found. Its sole object is the spread of Christ's Kingdom among men, especially young men.
It is composed of men and boys of all ages and conditions, who recognize that as baptized Churchmen they are pledged to do the will of God, in trying to help other men and boys to know our Lord through His Church.
The Brotherhood began as a parochial guild in St. James' Church, Chicago. On St. Andrew's Day, 1883, twelve young men, with the approval of their Rector, the Rev. W. H. Vibbert, D.D., and under the leadership of James L. Houghteling, the teacher of the Bible Class, agreed to follow the example set by St. Andrew in bringing St. Peter into a personal acquaintance with the Messiah, as recorded in St. John 1:40-42. They adopted two rules : (1) That of prayer : "To pray daily for the spread of Christ's King- dom among men." (2) That of service: "To make at least one earnest effort each week to lead some men nearer to Christ, through His Church."
The Junior Department of the Brotherhood organization among boys of from twelve to eighteen years of age was formed in Christ Church, Watertown, Conn., 1893 ; and its rules adopted at that time have been maintained ever since, the rule of prayer being that a boy becoming a member should pray daily for the spread of Christ's Kingdom among boys, and the rule of service that a member should take some part in the work, worship or study of the
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Church, and try continually to lead other boys to do the same.
The National Headquarters of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew in the United States are located in Philadelphia, Pa. The President is Mr. Edward H. Bonsall, the General Secretary, Mr. G. Frank Shelby. The Official Magazine is "St. Andrew's Cross", Mr. George H. Randall, Editor.
National Conventions are held annually. At the first National Convention, there were 85 delegates and at the last sixteen Conventions there has been an average regis- tration of over 1,000 each.
The Brotherhood is organized in this Diocese with chap- ters both Senior and Junior in most of the larger parishes, comprising the Central New York Diocesan Assembly, sub- divided into districts as follows :
The Mohawk Valley District Assembly including Utica, Rome, New Hartford ; the Oswego-Onondaga-Cortland Dis- trict Assembly including, Syracuse, Oswego, Cortland ; the Southern Tier District Assembly including Elmira, Bing- hamton, Norwich ; the Finger Lakes District Assembly includes Auburn, Ithaca, Waterloo; the Syracuse Local Assembly.
The Diocesan Assembly meets annually and the District Assemblies hold semi-annual meetings.
An ideal Senior Chapter will have among its members representatives of the Vestry, the Sunday School, the Choir, the Bible Class, the Men's Club and other parochial organi- zations.
The Rector of the Parish must give his consent before a Chapter may be established, but the Chapter's affairs are generally conducted by laymen, the usual board of officers being a Director, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Chap- ter may be composed of two or more men or boys, the average Chapter having from ten to twenty members.
The work of the Brotherhood includes the organization
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DIOCESAN ORGANIZATIONS
of Men's Communions, Church Attendance Campaigns, Bible Classes, Lay-reading, Sunday School Work, Hospi- tality Work, Parish Visiting, Mission Work, Prayer Book Distribution, Increase of Confirmation Classes, Hospital Visiting, Hotel Visiting, Special Men's and Boys' Services, Lenton Noon-day Services, Car-Barn and Shop Services, Work among Sailors, Prison Work, Big Brother Work, and the like.
A Minimum Chapter Program. Every live Chapter should include in its program : Chapter Corporate Com- munion at least once a month : Ushering and Hospitality at Church Door. One Church Attendance Campaign dur- ing the year. House to House Canvass to uncover addi- tional opportunities for personal work. Hotel-Boarding House work.
Mission Study Class during Lent or during some other period of same length. (The course of study entitled "Neighbors," set forth by the Board of Missions, is recommended. )
The organization of a Junior Chapter if there be none in the parish.
The planning of two visits to other Chapters or Churches to increase interest in the Brotherhood.
Also each live member as his personal duty should plan : Twelve home visits to increase interest. One person for baptism. One person for confirmation. Fifteen to thirty minutes daily in Bible reading and prayer. Twelve per- sonal talks in addition to the home visits.
Each Chapter should have a Bulletin Board in the Chap- ter meeting room. When the year's program has been de- cided upon, it should be neatly printed or typewritten and posted on the Bulletin Board. It is highly desirable also that each member of the Chapter be furnished with a pocket copy. This is good psychology and good business.
An ideal Junior Chapter will have enrolled members of
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the Sunday School, the Choir, the Boy's Club and the like.
The boy is kept in the Church through the years when so many boys drift away ; not by being amused, (which does not keep him), but through work for other boys. The great ideal of Christian Manhood, Service, is given its proper place in the boy's idea of life.
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