Today's match-up features two amazing people with six names between them (insert Trinitarian reference here). Charles Henry Brent, bishop and missionary vs. Julia Chester Emery, lay woman and organizer of what we now know as the ECW (Episcopal Church Women). We hope you enjoy getting to know them and then, well, sending one of them into Lent Madness ignominy.
Yesterday's Lent Madness 2014 kick-off was a historic day in the annals of the Saintly Smackdown. Record turnout saw Basil the Great live up to his name while Christina the Astonishing was sent packing (given her penchant for levitation, we hope she's aware of those steep extra baggage fees). Nearly 7,000 votes were cast as Basil defeated Christina 55% to 45%. He'll now advance to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen to square off against the winner of Antony of Egypt vs. Mary of Egypt.
For those new to Lent Madness, congratulations! You're now a seasoned veteran. If you tracked the nearly 300 comments you also know that Lent Madness isn't just voting and learning about saints -- it's an online community where people share some pretty personal stories and connections as well.
Of course yesterday also saw the emergence of our first controversy. In the opening ceremonies video there was lively debate over whether Dean of the Washington National Cathedral Gary Hall's cassock was purple, as he claimed, or blue. It's a Lent Madness scandal!
Are you curious about when the various first round battles will take place? We thought so. Thus, you are invited to check out our handy Match-Up Calendar. Go ahead and print it out. Have a teenager add all the dates to the calendar on your smart phone. Put it on your refrigerator, your bathroom mirror, or have it tattooed to your spouse's forehead. Once you do, you'll know that tomorrow's battle between Alcuin and Ephrem is the only Saturday pairing in the entirety of Lent.
Charles Henry Brent
In 1901 as the Philippine-American War drew to an end, Charles Henry Brent was elected as the first missionary bishop to the islands, arriving a year later on the same ship as its Governor-General, William Howard Taft.
Bishop Brent brought with him $100,000 that he had raised before his departure in order to build churches, schools, and a hospital. Instead of staying within the American enclave, Brent worked with a wide range of people, including the Chinese community in Manila and the Igorot people. He fought tirelessly against the opium trade, chairing the U.S. delegation to the International Opium Conference.
Twice elected bishop of Washington, D.C. and once of New Jersey, he turned down these appointments to remain in the Philippines. After the first election, he sent a telegram to the head of the standing committee that read, “Must decline. I would have gone, but God bids me stay. John 3:30.”
After serving as the senior chaplain of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, he became bishop of Western New York. Prior to this, he established himself as a leader in the ecumenical movement, having attended the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh in 1910. He continued to work for the cause of Christian unity, presiding at the World Conference of Faith and Order in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1927. He died in 1929.
Bishop Brent may be best remembered for this prayer that summarizes well his life and ministry:
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p.101)
Collect for Charles Henry Brent
Heavenly Father, whose Son prayed that we all might be one: deliver us from arrogance and prejudice, and give us wisdom and forbearance, that, following your servant Charles Henry Brent, we may be united in one family with all who confess the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ: who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Julia Chester Emery
Julia Chester Emery (1852-1922) was an extraordinary woman. At age 24, she took over from her sister Mary the job of national secretary of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Episcopal Church. It was the only ecclesiastical post she ever held, and she held it for forty years (and not the Biblical kind of “forty years,” either). She was a missionary whose calling was to do the often unglamorous work of organizing, administering, educating, and supporting. Her work enabled thousands of women to realize their potential for ministry at a time when women’s roles were severely limited. And she encouraged the church to broaden its own understanding of faithful lay ministry.
The Women’s Auxiliary of the Board of Missions of the Episcopal Church was created by General Convention in 1871 mostly through the work of the four Emery sisters. Mary Abbott Emery was the first national secretary, and Julia stepped into the job in 1876. During her tenure, she visited every diocese in the United States and helped organize branches of the Women’s Auxiliary in more than 5,600 parishes—nearly two-thirds of all the parishes in the U.S. Many of these branches continue today as the Episcopal Church Women, or ECW.
The primary focus of the Women’s Auxiliary was to empower women for mission and address the issue of funding for women who felt called to dedicate themselves to mission work. Chapters raised money and awareness for the support of local, national, and international mission. The Auxiliary sought to connect women one to another, to encourage them to know that they each had something to do for Christ and the coming of the Kingdom of God, in the company of Episcopal women everywhere. “There are hundreds more earnest, faithful, devoted women who would be cheered if only they knew what is being done by their sisters in the church and see their offering, small and insignificant as it seems, increased and multiplied by the union with the gifts of others” (Spirit of Missions, volume XXXVII, 1872).
Emery also created The United Thank Offering, represented today by small blue boxes with slots for coins to encourage daily giving and thanks to God. The UTO is still under the purview of the ECW, having awarded $1,517,280 in grants for mission in 2012. Thanks to Emery’s foresight and diligence, the work continues.
Collect for Julia Chester Emery
God of all creation, you call us in Christ to make disciples of all nations and to proclaim your mercy and love: Grant that we, after the example of your servant Julia Chester Emery, may have vision and courage in proclaiming the Gospel to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our light and our salvation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Vote!
224 comments on “Charles Henry Brent vs. Julia Chester Emery”
A few months ago, I had dinner at a church conference at a table filled with very active Episcopalians in our diocese. One of the diners grew up in the Phillipines. Not only was he the only "cradle" Episcopalian at the table but he was a fourth-generation Episcopalian.
He explained that, when the Episcopal Church began its missionary work in the Phillipines, they did not try to convert the Roman Catholics. Instead, they concentrated on working with the poor, marginalized people in rural villages. Whole villages became Episcopalian as a result of their work. His ancestors lived in one of those villages and have remained active Episcopalians through all these generations.
As a result of this witness (of which I was completely ignorant at the time), my vote has to go for Bishop Brent and the work of the Episcopal Church in the Phillipines.
Not and easy choice! I go for Julia, having been (the Parish Club) ECW for years when I lived on the east coast. God bless Bishop Brent, but cheers to Julia.
My wife & I both have connections with the work of Bp Brent - she through teaching at the Bp Brent School in the Philippines, and me through doing field ed @ the Bp Brent House on the U of Chicago campus. So he got my vote today.
So, as the chaplain of Brent House, named after Bishop Brent, I am, perhaps biased. But I have been struck by some of his writing—apart from the collect that several have mentioned. Here are a couple:
"Pray with your intelligence. Bring things to God that you have thought out and think them out again with Him. That is the secret of good judgment."
and
"It is appalling to think of a power so strong that it can annihilate with the irresistible force of its grinding heel; but it is inspiring to consider an Almightiness that transforms the works of evil into the hand-maidens of righteousness and converts the sinner into the saint. And it is this latter power which eternal Love possesses and exhibits. He persistently dwells in the sinner until the sinner wakes up in His likeness and is satisfied with it."
Beautiful. "Pray with your intelligence": that's what made me an Episcopalian, after so many years of being told I had to check my mind at the church door.
I'm voting for Julia! I was struck by how much work it must have been to travel to all of the diocese in order to connect women for ministry. Amazing.
Either/Or....? Today's picks should be Both/And! I voted for Julia because without her perseverance my Oh-So-Great Aunt Aimee (Drake) would not have been able to be a teacher at St. Hilda's School in China during the early part of the 20th century. And the "mitey" Blue Box would not be what it became and still, I hope, will continue to become. However, Bishop Brent founded the church in the Philippines where many of my extended-family members became Episcopalians and where my dear friend Jim Gill was a missionary. Not to mention that ecumenism is the only way to religious peace. Oh, what a choice...
I vote for Julia. I love the personal stories I am reading in the comments - the connections people have to these saints. Mine is pretty remote but meaningful to me - I was born in Dorchester MA where Julia was born. When she lived there, she was in St Mary's Parish which my church, the Church of Good Shepherd in Acton partners with. I am a madness newbie ... thank you to mad people and saints everywhere.
I'm a Methodist interloper to this party. I'm going with the ecumenist. One vite for Brother Brent. No offense SisterJulia.
Julia it is as we celebrate International Women's Day. And Ellen, two comments before this, interesting that we are both named Ellen and we are both at a Good Shepherd Church.
I placed my daily thank offering into my Blue Box, then cast my vote for Julia.
Oh, Julia, you had me at "unglamorous work of organizing, administering, educating, and supporting."
My vote must go to Mrs. Julia today as I find she is a prime example of how the simple lay person can and does make such a difference in the church. However, after reading all the responses I am now searching for a copy of Bishop Brent's book 'Things That Matter'. I figure a book that has had such a positive influence should be added to my library. This is my first year to join Lent Madness. I ordered my Saintly Scorecard weeks ago and can honestly say I have never looked forward to the start of lent with such anticipation before.
The Bishop is taking a beating!
I agree with some others that on this World Day of Prayer - initiated, organized, and led by lay women, I voted for Julia Chester Emery. However, I am preaching a sermon series on spiritual disciplines during Lent this year, and the Sunday I preach about prayer, I will be using Bishop Brent's prayer during our worship service!
I had to voted for Bishop Brent. As much as I love my ECW group and know how much a part of the Church it is, I am from Western New York. Bishop Brent confirmed my Dad and my grandmother loved his sermons. I remember learning about him in Confirmation Class and learning his prayer in Sunday School class.
As a lay minister with limited opportunities, (I'm Roman Catholic) my vote had to go to Julia--a kindred spirit.
My vote went to Julia for her 40 years as an unsung hero --"Organizer, adminstrator and Educator"
Tough choice! I loved reading all the comments.
I love Charles Brent's prayer, but I love a good Auxiliary more! Do you remember Woody Guthrie's "Ladies' Auxiliary" song?! Julia gets today's vote.
I voted for Charles Brent. My grandfather was named after William Howard Taft...becoming a William Taft Swygert born in 1906. With Lutherans in my heritage, I was being called to vote for him! Good luck, Charles...for staying where you were led.
As a feminist who's chosen to stay close to the Episcopal Church because of its social justice activism, I think it's imperative to vote for the lady saints. I'm saddened, but not surprised that Christina lost--it's arguable that Basil achieved much more for the faith, but who knows what women of the early church could have done if allowed positions of power? I feel like any flesh-and-blood woman before 1800 is set up to fail in LM, since women were not allowed power to achieve more.
There are so many women doing good, steady, quiet work, like Julia, and I'm psyched that she's winning today. Let's give her some credit!
Although I find the accomplishments of Charles Brent to be admirable; I find those of Julia to be astonishing considering the era in which she lived and the conviction and faith with which she accomplished goals that still aare valid today.
Both were inspiring and humbling! Lovin' Lent madness
My vote is for Julia in honor of all the ECW ladies at St. Peter's in RWC, CA.
Today's choices remind me that when my best friend and I were contemplating entering the priesthood , a cousin of his in Theology College then, said to us one night that "when we become priests, remember that there is lots of ministry to do here...you don't really need to go around the world!"
Neither of us became priests, but both of our careers were ministries in their own way (social work and education), at least as we tried to approach them! Both realized here in our home province!
I thought of Julia this morning and how her ministry grew forward ,like a mustard seed blossoms!
I voted for her!
I tough match up again...women going the extra mile and accomplishing great things is admirable and all the Episcopals in the crowd seem to have fond memories of those blue boxes. But in the end I went with Brent for pushing the ecumenical movement. We are stronger as one and STILL need to find was to work as one.
Very tough choice: pioneering ecumenist, or pioneering feminist? But as an aspiring ecumenist who came to adulthood as a Catholic in an interfaith chapel in Western NY, I finally had to go with Bishop Brent. I was impressed by his refusal to be promoted up (something I wish more of our bishops would do!).
And I liked the story shared by the 4th generation Filipino Episcopalian that the missionaries went out to the rural villagers, rather than "sheep stealing" from the Catholics. Not because I'm Catholic, but because a) that also reflects his ecumenism, and b) it seems to me that the mission field is, first, among non-Christians.
Brett,
Brett
Have to go with my ordination saint, Julia!