Message of the Presiding Bishop

IT WAS good to be with you one year ago, and I am more than glad to find myself in your goodly company again. Your affectionate greeting on that occasion and your kindly consideration of me gave me a new inspiration and encouragement for my work. Remembrance of you has strengthened and cheered in all my labors since, and I am hoping and praying for a long continuance thereof as one of the results of the second visit to you, and of a faithful waiting for and upon God's wisdom. Very heavy with me, as with you all, have been the labors of the intervening months. A gracious Providence has made it possible for me to visit parishes, dioceses, provinces and other auxiliary gatherings and assemblages throughout the entire body of the Church in the United States, and I am here to say to you today that a universal living interest is manifest in our common work, a desire for a strengthening of our stakes and lengthening of our cords is evident and abundant. God is present with His people and among them His power more and more prevails. What is thus apparent, however, I am sure you will agree with me, is only a suggestion of what may be, if we shall recognize the fact that these expressions of His love are vouchsafed to us in order that we may be an open, orderly and continuing medium for their transmission to the world. The abundant life of Christ is given to us that the world may have it even more abundantly.

For this cause we do bow our knees to the Father of [20/21] our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant us, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith; that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fullness of God. This, my dear brethren, is the solemn purpose for which we are all come here; and I pray for you, that all your other considerations may be made so as to contribute to it that the very God of peace may sanctify you wholly, and your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you and God bless you. Amen!