LAWRENCE TO DISCUSS CLAIMS OF MINISTRY

The fourth of a series of vocational talks arranged by the Committee on the Choice of Vocations will be given by the Right Reverend William Lawrence '71, Bishop of Massachusetts, who will speak on "The Ministry and its Opportunities" tonight at 7.30 o'clock in the Living Room of the Union. The meeting is open to members of the University and their guests.

Bishop Lawrence has had a long and distinguished career. From 1884 to 1893 he was professor of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology at the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, in 1893 he was consecrated bishop of Massachusetts, ever since then, outside of his official duties, he was devoted his time to historical studies and the writing of numerous books. He received his degree of S.T.D. at Hobart College in 1890, and at Harvard in 1893, and was awarded honorary degrees of L.L.B. at Princeton and at Lawrence University, and of D.D. at Durham, Yale, and Columbia. Besides being a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts and a life-member of the New England Historical Genealogical Society, Bishop Lawrence is the chairman of the trustees of St. Mark's and Groton, and since 1913, Fellow of Harvard University.

Leader of Modernists

Lately, although not taking a militant stand on either side, he has been of considerable influence in the controversy between the Modernists and the Fundamentalists. Clearly hinting at Bishop Lawrence, a prominent weekly has asserted "Public opinion is slow to ask the prosecution of heresy of any unimportant Modernist priest, as long as there are bishops of pronounced liberal views in the Episcopal Church." Bishop Lawrence is one of the growing body of men occupying prominent positions in the ecclesiastical ranks who stands out as a champion on theological tolerance.

In "Fifty Years", a book full of thoughts on religion and of good advice to young men, Bishop Lawrence clearly presents this liberal attitude. "In 50 years of priesthood" he says "I have seen most revolutionary changes in the thought of mankind. This has taught me that change is an element of human life. It is not to be feared, it is to be used. No discovery of science has taken from us our faith, but when we realize how our conception of the universe has been enlarged ten thousand times we have a conception of God ten thousand times greater nobler and more spiritual than was that of our fathers."

Hence, although he believes in the usefulness of creeds, Bishop Lawrence refuses to insist on the literal interpretation of any creed or of the Bible. Although he is personally inclined to accept the traditional idea of the Virgin Birth, he says its is not essential to Episcopal faith. Thus, before conservatives in the Episcopal Church can purge it of the so-called wheretics" they must settle with Bishop Lawrence.

Bishop Lawrence's speech, besides being of great interest to students who are considering the ministry as a career, should provide an interesting light on the Modernist Fundamentalist controversy.

Supplementing Bishop Lawrence's lecture, the Committee has secured Dean W. L. Sperry, of the Theological School, and Rev. Palfrey Perkins, of the Weston Unitarian Church to give conferences between 2 and 4 o'clock this afternoon in the Faculty Room of the Union. Blue Books are posted in 3 University Hall for this purpose