The gospel messenger, Diocese of Central New York, Part 49

Author:
Publication date: 1905-1908
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : Diocese of Central New York
Number of Pages: 708

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The Confession, Absolution, etc., were placed before instead of after the Conse- cration prayer, thus confusing somewhat the two aspects of the Offering and the Communion which had previously been distinct; a change evidently intended for the purpose of emphasizing the commun- ion idea. And not the least important and significant change was the rubric added to the Communion of the Sick, requiring the presence of at least two persons to receive with the sick person.

Now it is hardly necessary to comment on these facts, nor to go into the theo- logical argument to justify the Church of

England in her attempt to restore what was believed to be the true nature and pur- pose of the Holy Sacrament. The words of our Lord Himself in the Institution: "Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of Me," and of St. Paul, "As often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do show the Lord's death till He come," seem to give sufficient justifica- tion, without referring to any later history. The fact which ought to be sufficient to regulate our custom is plain enough, that the Church to which we have given in our allegiance intends that her highest act of worship in the congregation shall be a complete act, complete, that is, on the part of the congregation as well as of the priest, and, as every theologian knows, the Eu- charist is not complete without communion. Unfortunately it was the work of the medi- aeval Church in the west to mutilate the Sacrament, first by refusing the Cup to the laity, and then by giving the people to understand that "assisting at Mass," as it was called, that is, being present without receiving, was all that was necessary in the way of worship on fifty Sundays out of fifty-two each year. Both of these things it was the intention of the English Church to correct, if possible; and there is no question that the service of both the English and American Prayer Books is entirely unfitted to the perpetuation of either of these customs. In our next article we shall speak of the other extreme into which we have fallen in our effort to restore the primitive usage.

MARRIAGE LICENSES.

We are glad to know that the Legisla- ture of this State has passed and the Gov- ernor has signed a law requiring a license for every marriage from this time forth. It is a step in the right direction, tending to re-establish the sanctity of the marriage relation and to stop the run-aways who flock over our borders from other States. The law is in part as follows :

"It shall be necessary for all persons intending to be married to obtain a mar- riage license from the town or city clerk

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of the town or city in which the woman to be married resides and to deliver such icense to the clergyman or magistrate who s to officiate before the marriage can be performed. If the woman or both parties o be married are non-residents of the State, such license shall be obtained from he clerk of the town or city in which the marriage is to be performed. The town or ity clerk of each and every town or city in his State is empowered to issue marriage icenses to any parties applying for the ame who may be entitled under the laws f this State to contract matrimony, authorizing the marriage of such parties.

The license issued and the certificate, luly signed by the person who shall have olemnized the marriage, shall be returned by him to the office of the town or city lerk who issued the same on or before the 0th day of the month next succeeding the late of the solemnizing of the marriage, nd any person or persons who shall will- ully neglect to make such return within he time above required shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon con- iction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than $25 or more than $50 for ach and every offense."

X-

THE GENERAL CONVENTION.

Our readers generally are aware, no doubt, that the General Convention of the Church in the United States is to be held his year in October in Richmond, Va. The last Convention before the Civil War was held in that city in 1859, and the same lace was chosen for the approaching ession because of the historical associa- ions with the State of Virginia in this 00th anniversary of the settlement at amestown. It was with that first coming f English people to live permanently in America that the Prayer Book began to e used on this continent; and the off- hoot of the Church of England which was hen planted on American soil came under he supervision of the Bishop of London, ntil our independence was secured by the Revolutionary War. During the 18th entury, moreover, the Colonial Church in

America was greatly aided in its difficult task by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, founded in the beginning of that century. It is with great pleasure, therefore, that we are enabled to announce that the present Bishop of London, and also Bishop Mont- gomery, the Secretary of the S. P. G., are both expecting to be present at the Con- vention in Richmond. America had never seen an Archbishop of Canterbury until the Rt. Rev. Dr. Davidson came to the Boston Convention in 1904; and Dr. Winnington-Ingram, the popular prelate who now presides over the Church in Lon- don, will be the first Bishop of that See who ever set foot on our shores. The Bishop of St. Albans, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Jacob, is also expected as a guest in Rich- mond.

It is difficult to say beforehand exactly what will be the most prominent subject of interest and discussion before the Conven- tion. The establishment of a Court of final appeal will doubtless come up as a matter of unfinished business from the last session ; and the question of a more efficient administration of the work of the Church among the colored people of the south, in- cluding the proposal to provide negro Bishops, either as suffragans or as Mis- sionary Bishops, will certainly be broached. But while it is very important that something should be done in that matter, we trust that it will be only a part of a larger whole, in which the whole sub- ject of missions throughout the world will be made prominent. We know that the chief function of the General Convention is to legislate ; but it seems hardly worth while that all the time should be given to the enacting of laws to take shape in Con- stitutions and Canons; and we could wish, especially at this time, when these English Bishops are here who are so much interested in city and foreign missionary work, that more time might be seenpied in studying the missionary situation and arousing interest in it. We trust that con- stant prayers for the Convention will be offered by the Clergy and people during

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the session, which will probably last three weeks.

In connection with the above reference to the Jamestown anniversary, the follow- ing facts published by The. Southern Churchman of August 3rd, and taken from an address by the Rev. Dr. R. H. McKim, of Epiphany Church, Washing- ton, D. C., will be found interesting- indeed ,we commend the whole address to those who care to be further informed on the subject :

"Remember that the greatest thinkers, orators and organizers, as well as the one supreme soldier of the Rvolutionary epoch were the sons of the Episcopal Church. Is it necessary to confirm this strong asser- tion ? Then listen to the proof, and say if it is not overwhelming !

It was a son of the Episcopal Church, that same George Mason, the friend and mentor of Washington, who, June, 1776, drafted that profound and wonderful doc- ument, the Virginia Bill of Rights, the first written Constitution of a free State, upon which the Massachusetts Bill of Rights was modeled, and all succeeding instruments of the kind adopted by the different Colonies.

It was a son of the Episcopal Church, Thomas Jefferson, who wrote that world- famous document, the Declaration of In- dependence. It was a son of the Epis- copal Church, Richard Henry Lee, who proposed in Congress, and eloquently ad- vocated that audacious resolution, "That these Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States."

It was also a son of the Episcopal Church, Peyton Randolph, who presided over the first Congress of Patriots which organized the Revolution.

It was a son of the Episcopal Church, Patrick Henry, whose matchless eloquence fired the hearts of Americans, not only in Virginia, but all over the land, to take up arms against the king.

It was a son of the Episcopal Church, Benjamin Franklin, who was confessed the sage and philosopher of the Revo-

lution, who rendered at the Court of France such inestimable service to the struggling Colonies.

It was a son of the Episcopal Church, James Madison, who earned the title of Father of the Constitution.

It was another son of the Episcopal Church, Chief Justice John Marshall, who became the most illustrious interpreter of the Constitution.

It was the Episcopal Church which furnished thirty-six out of fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence, that is to say, nearly two-thirds of the whole number.

It was again the Episcopal Church which furnished twenty-seven out of thirty-seven signers of the Constitution of the United States, more than two-thirds of the whole number, not counting ten or twelve Episcopalians who were necessarily absent at the time of signature.

It was the Episcopal Church that gave to the Revolution and to the young Re- public that brilliant financier and illus- trious statesman, Alexander Hamilton.

And finally, it was a son of the Epis- copal Church, George Washington, the Father of his Country, who first won our independence by his sword, and then, by his patient and far-secing statesmanship, consolidated the Republic under the aegis of the Constitution.

Time would fail me to speak of the illustrious service rendered by other Epis- copalians such as Robert Morris, of Penn- sylvania, and John Jay, of New York, our first Chief Justice, and Rufus King and Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, William S. Johnson, of Connecticut, Cae- sar Rodney, of Delaware, and John Rut- ledge and Charles C. Pinckney, of South Carolina, and George Wyth, Benjamin Harrison, General Wood, and General Thomas Nelson, of Virginia. But I will sum up the case for the Anglo-Saxon Church, in one word; to wit: John Fiske, the Massachusetts historian, has told the world that there were five great men of that epoch who may be said to have made

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the nation : Washington, Jefferson, Hamil- ton. Madison and Marshall.

Now all five of these makers of the Republic were sons of the Episcopal Church.

It is not too much then to say, that this Church led the way in the making of the Republic ! It was her voice, through these her sons, that taught the people the first rudiments of liberty ! It was her influence that was most puissant, through those great men, in establishing our free institutions !

Let the historian who would estimate the place which the Anglo-Saxon Church ought to occupy in the annals of the Republic-let him, I say, look at the stature of the patriots whom the Episcopal Church gave to the Revolution. Let him observe that they are not only among the giants of that remarkable epoch-they are the greatest of the giants! And then let him ask himself how the story of the Republic would read if the names of Peyton Randolph, Richard Henry Lee, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, John Jay, James Madison, Alex- ander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, John Marshall and George Washington were blotted from our annals ?

The answer to that question will gauge the debt of America to the Anglo-Saxon Church."

CONGREGATIONAL SINGING.

There has been much talk in recent years about attractive services in the Church, and great efforts have been made to render them so, not without success in many particulars. But the thing that we still need to cultivate more than anyhing else in most of our parishes, is the part which the people themselves bear in the worship. The vested choirs which have been so exten- sively introduced, have done much to brighten up the service and make it more life-like; but the people in the pews have not been sufficiently encouraged to join in the music, and it is felt in some places that they have been distinctly discouraged in doing so; while there are congregations in

which even the spoken responses are uttered in so low and lifeless a tone, that the impression of coldness and indiffer- ence is produced upon the stranger who happens to be present. This is particularly the case with the responses that are said on the knees in prayer. The Psalter and other parts that are said standing may be read in a fairly audible voice, but as soon as the kneeling attitude is assumed it drops to a whisper and gives the impression that the people have quietly dropped asleep. Of course all this is exceedingly unfortunate, and shows a thoughtless for- getfulness of the exceeding beauty of the liturgical service and of the impression which it is capable of producing upon the worshippers themselves, and upon others who come in merely to hear and to see. It is the fault that opponents of the liturgy find with it that it becomes a mere formal, perfunctory process ; but we know that the formalism is in the worshipper and not in the liturgy, and it should be our earnest and constant endeavor to arouse the worshippers, ourselves included, to a sense of what we are losing by our negligence.

It is with the purpose to help on the accomplishment of this result that the book has been prepared and published, of which notice will be found below; and we take great pleasure in commending it to all of our Clergy, choir masters, organists and people, in the hope that they will consider it, and make some definite effort to put its principle into practice in the worship of the Church.

"THE CHURCH SERVICE BOOK."

Edited by G. Edward Stubbs, Mus. Doc.

Introduction by the Rev. William T. Manning, S. T. D., Assistant Rector of Trinity Church, New York. Pub- lished by II. W. Gray Co. Price, $1.25. Dr. Manning says in his Introduction : "The Church Service Book is issned with the hope that it may promote the cause of congregational singing. In very many of our congregations to-day there is a con- spienous and painful absence of that hearty participation in the service by the people which should be the glory of the Church's worship. There can be no question as to

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the grievous spiritual loss resulting from this silence in the pews, nor as to the need of a revival among us of congregational singing in its true and highest meaning," and this "cannot be left to hap-hazard or secured without work." And Dr. Stubbs says in his Preface:

"There are two conflicting theories re- lating to public worship. One calls for artistic singing by a highly-trained choir. Carried too far, this results in what has very aptly been termed "the supremacy of the choir." The other calls for the undue suppression of choirs and musical aestheticism, and results in the 'supremacy of the congregation.' Both are wrong, because both aim at extremes. There is plenty of room for hearty congregational singing, and artistic choir singing. With- out the former the Church service becomes cold and lifeless; without the latter there can be no progress in the higher forms of ecclesiastical music.

If the singing of the people is a matter of such importance, evidently some pains should be taken to improve it. A congre- gation is in a distinct sense a choir. Its members should make due provision for their musical efforts, as the results must necessarily be in direct proportion to such preparation. Hence the advisability of congregational rehearsals."

The Church Service Book is intended to make it easier to carry out these sug- gestions. It contains chants and hymn tunes, with the whole text of the Prayer Book in Morning and Evening Prayer and Holy Communion, the Canticles and Psalms pointed, and the notes for render- ing all of these services chorally. Direc- tions are also given for the benefit of those who are not highly educated in music, making it easy to conduct rehearsals in small parishes, where there is not a great array of musical talent. It is to be hoped that this book will have the effect of call- ing the attention of our Church people to the pressing need in this matter, and of instigating them to undertake an improve- ment in the heartiness with which the service of the Church is rendered.

PAROCHIAL NOTES.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, WHITESBORO, N. Y .- The Rev. Geo. C. Wadsworth, Missionary. Extensive repairs and im- provments have been made at this point to both the Church and Rectory. One side of the roof of the Church has been shingled and two new porches built on the rectory. The interior of the Church has been made as good as new, all the old and loose plaster having been removed and the walls and ceiling re-plastered. The walls have been painted and decorated in three shades, which harmonises beautifully. The floor has been filled and painted to match the new two-tone red velvet brussels carpet in the aisle, baptistry, choir, chancel and sanctuary. The altar, reredos and cred- ence table have been stained a dark oak to match the rest of the sanctuary furni- ture. The panels in the reredos and cred- ence, which were formerly painted canvas, are now hard wood handsomely carved. The altar cross has been reguilded and the vases lacquered. The pipe organ has been taken completely apart and thoroughly overhauled and tuned by Morey of Utica. The rectory has had several rooms painted. Quite a sum has been expended on these repairs, nearly all of which was in hand before commencing the work. At the first service, which was held August 21, hand- some cut flowers were furnished for the occasion by one of the parishioners, Dr. W. A. Rowlands, a local florist. These were afterwards sent to the inmates of St. Luke's Home in Utica.

A small silver Communion Service has been offered as a memorial gift to a mission Church in the Diocese. If there be any Church not yet provided with such vessels we should be glad to hear of it as soon as posible.

At Grace Church, Elmira, N. Y., another large piece of beautiful carved oak screen work has been placed in position behind the choir stalls, which now com- pletes the screens between the Church

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auditorium and the chapels on each side. The screens are to be stained and finished, ind will then be backed with glass in order hat the small chapels may be heated in he winter without requiring heat for the entire building. New choir seats now being constructed after designs prepared by the Rector will soon be placed in posi- ion. The ends of the seats are carved in neat design and will be very ornamental. Other important improvements are being planned which will make the new Grace Church one of the most beautiful interiors n the State. The parish house adjoining he church is also being improved and furnished, and will be used for many leasant social gatherings during the fall and winter.

DIOCESAN ITEMS.

THE MEN'S MISSIONARY THANK OFFERING.

The following sums have been received or the Men's Missionary Thank Offering, o August 31st :

Onondaga Indian Reservation. . .$ 1.00

St. Paul's Church, Waterloo 11.12

St. Peter's Church, Bainbridge .. 22.05

Holy Cross Church, Utica, . 50.00

St. James' Church, Cleveland. 78.28 St. Peter's Church, Cazenovia . . . . 210.16 St. Paul's Church, Owego 14.15

Calvary Church, Utica 13.50 Christ Church, Oswego 21.25 St. George's Church, Utica 14.00 Trinity Church, Seneca Falls 60.71

St. John's Church, Whitesboro 3.04 rinity Church, Binghamton 71.25 t. Mark's Church, Syracuse 125.00 alvary Church, Syracuse 4.50

St. Paul's Church, Holland Patent, 11.83

t. Peter's Church, Redwood 5.00

't. James' Church, Theresa 5.00

ordan and Memphis 42.25

Collected by Mr. W. G. Harvey . . 135.50 st. James, Skaneateles, 100.00

Total $999.59

All offerings for this object should be ent to Archdeacon Cooke, 42 Miller St., Jtica, N. Y., by September 15th, 1907.

GENERAL NEWS.

July 25, 1907. GOSPEL MESSENGER, Utica, N. Y. :

The College Committee of the Brother- hood of St. Andrew is anxious to get the full name, home address and full College or School address, of every Churchman or boy who intends to enter any college or boarding school next Autumn, and to know as to each whether he is baptized, confirmed .and a communicant. The in- formation is to be given to the College Chapter of the Brotherhood, the College Church Society or the Rector of the nearest parish, so as to diminish as far as possible the number of young men who are annually lost to the Church, and too often to any religious influences, in the transition from home or Church influences to College or boarding school.

Parents and Rectors will confer a great favor on us, and, we hope, be of great service to their sons or parishionrs, if they will give us the fullest and promptest in- formation. We especially desire the exact address of the young man's future room in college, because in the larger colleges it is some weeks after the term begins before a particular man can be found easily unless his room is known. Letters should be addressed Brotherhood of St. Andrew, SS Broad Street, Boston, Mass.

Trusting that you can print this letter in your columns, I remain,

Very respectfully yours, FRANCIS M. ADAMS, Corresponding Secretary.

PERSONALS,

The Bishop and Mrs. Olmsted spent the month of August at Westport, Conn, near Long Island Sound.

The Rev. Edwin B. Mott, of Marcellus. has resigned his parish, to take effect the first of this month. Mr. Mott has had trouble with his throat and finds it neees- sary to rest for a time, and perhaps to seek a change of elimate.

The Rev. G. H. Ottaway having given

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up the work at Canastota and Chittenango, his place has been supplied by the Rev. James C. Munson, who comes to us from the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota.

OBITUARY.

It is with much regret that we record the death, on August 11th, of Mrs. Helen E. Van Brunt, of Watertown. She was stricken with paralysis a day or two before, from which she did not rally. During the later years of her life Mrs. Van Brunt was a zealous member of the Church of the Redeemer, and did much by her generous assistance to render that mission a self- supporting parish. Our sympathy is hereby extended to her afflicted family and to the parish.

There are doubtless many still remain- ing in this Diocese who will remember Miss Hannah E. DeLancey, when she was Matron of St. Luke's Home and Hospital in Utica, and will be interested in reading the following aricle concerning her, taken from a newspaper in Norwich, Conn., where, for many years, she had been in charge of an institution called The Shelter- ing Arms :

"MISS HANNAH E. DELANCEY.

After twenty-seven years of faithful, loving service in the Sheltering Arms, Miss DeLancey was called home August 6th. IIer whole heart was given to the work in which she put the best years of her life with a spirit of self-sacrifice as rare as it was beautiful. She so identified herself with the interests of the institution that her own happiness seemed wholly depend- ent on its prosperity.

Her unfaltering faith, remarkable tact and patience carried her through the many severe trials incident to such a home.

Since her death, the many testimonies of her tender care and unselfish ministra- tions show that of very few can it be said so many shall rise up to call her blessed.

RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT.

The committee of the Sheltering Arms desire to record this expression of their appreciation of the character and work of

Miss Hannah E. DeLancey, whom death has removed from the place at the head of our home which she so long and so worthily filled.

Ever since the early days of the Shelter- ing Arms she has been its beloved matron, always devoted to its interests, always faithful to what she believed to be her duty, conscientious and careful in her planning for her household and untiring in her efforts to give the cheer and comfort of home to the homeless, and relief to the suffering brought under her care.

Her cordial welcome to visitors at the "Home" will long be missed, her gentle presence and ministry in its sick rooms, and her sweet voice, which through these many years has been heard daily in he morning prayer with the assembled house- hold. Her adorning was truly of the "meek and quiet spirit which is of great price," and all along her way, which was not an easy one, she proved the truth and precious- ness of the promise, "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength."

Her unselfishness, her gentleness, her unfailing patience and her faithful and peace-loving spirit endeared her to many to whom she ministered, and will long be held in affectionate remembrance by those who have been associated with her in carrying on the work of the home. X

ONONDAGA NOTES.

[Reprinted from the GOSPEL MESSENGER, April 13, 1865.] THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH-ITS EARLY HISTORY-FATHER NASH AND BISHOP CHASE-DAVENPORT PHELPS - EPIS- COPALIANISM IN SYRACUSE-HOBART.

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The gospel messenger, Diocese of Central New York, Part 49

Author: Publication date: 1905-1908 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : Diocese of Central New York Number of Pages: 708

Author:
Publication date: 1905-1908
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : Diocese of Central New York
Number of Pages: 708