TEC Liturgical Calendar: “Saint” Vida Dutton Scudder?

According to MCJ she wrote,

“Nor am I unduly troubled by the atheism over there. I suspect the fresh start they have made is a relief to the Living God, for as Milton says, a man can be ‘a heretic in the truth.’ and His Name, instead of being hallowed, is all too easily affixed to a dead idol . . . I am too desirous of seeing our conventional religion at home consumed in fiery judgment to worry over atheist Russia. “

Raise the flag SFers!

You should have heard the list of “saints” I heard invoked at an All Saints Sunday mass once…

It started pretty tame with Biblical, patristic, and medieval saints, but quickly degenerated into folks like the Buddha, Gandhi, Margaret Mead…

Had to wikipedia her.

(Julia) Vida Dutton Scudder (December 15, 1861 - October 9, 1954) was an educator, writer, and welfare activist in the social gospel movement. She was one of the most prominent lesbian authors of her time….Vida Dutton Scudder died at Wellesley, Massachusetts, on October 10, 1954. Her commemoration on the church calendar on October 10 was provisionally approved by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2006.

I didn’t know anything about Ms. Scudder, but quickly found out this evening.
Besides being on the political far left even by today’s standards, you can read lots more interesting details on the Wikipedia <a >entry</a>.

It doesn’t violate the Windsor moratoria to canonize those in same-sex relationships, as long as you don’t ordain them or bless their relationships, right?

You might think that even the monumental ignorance and blinding hubris reflected in this piece would stop at listing Saint Tikhon of Moscow next to a person who wrote what was apparently written about the October Revolution.

Father Dean A. Einerson
Rhinelander, Wisconsin

I can see right now that I won’t be buying TEC’s next version of what is currently called the Book of Common Prayer.

I am too desirous of seeing our conventional religion at home consumed in fiery judgment

Well, this seems to fit a PB we know to a tee.  She is all over the idea of seeing conventional religion consumed in fiery judgment, particularly that of the state supreme court of California.

Ask me if I care what they put in their “Holy Women, Holy Men” book.

Neither the 2006 or 2009 Blue Book contains a biographical sketch on Scudder.  Bp Neil Alexander was the chair of the SCLM in 2006, and musician Julia Huttar Bailey is the current chair.  This commemoration by stealth involves several leaders.
It certainly gives new perspective to the desire for “listening.”
It also give new perspective on the proposed title Holy Women, Holy Men.  The new title coincides with the proposed commemoration of a lesbian.

The scriptures assigned for Scudder include these verses:

Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things. (Isaiah 42:9a)

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  (Romans 12:1)

I don’t know what saddens me more—
The church’s understanding of the Holy Spirit is so impoverished, it mistakes political activism for holiness.
It would even consider someone for the liturgical calendar who supported a political regime that murdered an estimated 60 million people.

Unfortunately, many Episcopalians believe that what qualifies one for sainthood is one’s death.

Remember Pandita Mary Ramabai, who refused to work for the conversion of the Hindus? http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/22006
Well, Harriet Bedell was also authorized for trial use by the 2006 Convention. Again, no biographical sketch in the 2006 or 2009 Blue Book, that I can find.  However, a biographical sketch elsewhere stated:

Bedell emphasized health and education rather than religious conversion in her work with the Seminoles; their spiritual and physical comfort was more important to her than religious conversion, and her work and friendship with the Seminoles of Florida reflected those values.

Reference:  http://satucket.com/lectionary/Bedell.htm

Another name proposed in A095 is James Theodore Holly, the first Afro-American bishop in TEC.

During this time Haiti was split with the Vatican and most men of Haiti supported their religious sentiment through the symbolism and observance of the Masonic Lodge. As an experienced Masonic leader and scholar, Holly visited the Masonic temples and made friends among their exclusive members. He was also willing to perform Masonic burial services.
http://satucket.com/lectionary/James_Holly.htm

Some in modern day Freemasonry, which originated with stonemasons and architects but expanded to other professions, claim links to the Knights Templar.  There is much about the history of these organizations that is murky. The fact that secret oaths are taken has given rise to charges of heresy. The Archbishop of Canterbury, whose father was a Freemason, has expressed misgivings about the compatibility of Masonry and Christian profession. By his admission, as Bishop of Monmouth, he blocked the appointment of Freemasons to senior appointments.

Jill, I have seen and handled archival materials here in the Diocese of Egypt showing that the Bishop of Egypt and the Sudan in the 1920s to 1940s permitted and, I think, but I can check it, officiated at Masonic services in the church.  This was actually fairly common in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.  Probably many American clergymen were also Masons.  Our standards are different now.  It is often unhelpful to read our contemporary standards back into previous decades. Bishop Holly no doubt considered himself, and was, a devoted Christian.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, whose father was a Freemason, has expressed misgivings about the compatibility of Masonry and Christian profession.

One cannot be Catholic and be a Freemason.  The Knights of Columbus were started to give Catholic men an alternative to Freemasonry.

I am not sure about all these ‘saints’ - one of the things done after the reformation was to clear out most of the non-scriptural saints.  No problem with hailing those who set a good example, but I think it is dangerous for the church to take over God’s prerogative.

Freemasonry is just the gnostic heresy underlying a social club so I can see his point.

“One cannot be Catholic and be a Freemason.”

Not because the Masons won’t allow it.  The Catholic Church won’t allow it (although in some areas, nowadays, this has eased up a bit.)  Look, the Masons aren’t a religion they’re a fraternal organization.  Any man that believes in God (one God!) can join.  The Masons encourage their members to become more active in their own religion, whatever it may be.  What’s the problem?

The problem which the Little Myrmidon (18) claims to be unaware of arises from the religious or quasi-religious terminology in Masonic ritual.  It’s well documented, and I’m not going to reinscribe it on this site.  As far as I’m concerned, the learned and orthodox RCs are quite right not to allow it.

Guys, let’s stick on topic. The topic is NOT the Masonic Order

Back on topic. :^)

Vida Dutton Scudder sounds like a completely unsuitable person to be regarded as a “Saint”, IMO. Being a Marxist who adocates violence under some cicumstances in the name of the ultimate Marxist Jesus Christ (!) does not make for good saint material.

Scudder’s Socialism and Bedell’s ministry of works, but not conversion, point to salvation by human effort, rather than the grace of God.  There is no doubt that they both performed many acts of charity in their lives.  However, the underlying assumptions of their worldviews make them unsuitable as liturgical exemplars of Christianity.

Jill (#22),

Sadly, for the leftists, TEC’s only theological base is works righteousness, otherwise these folks hold to cheap grace (if there is grace at all - I don’t see any).

That Scudder and Bedell are being considered exemplars speaks loud volumes as to how far and how quickly TEC is sliding toward leftward oblivion.

Makes the heart sad.

#5 #7 Subscribe   I use the 2000 LFF (except for Sept 4) and do not plan to buy a newer version.  In July I will vote against A095, but it will pass with the typical Rubber Stamp action.

Well, some would argue that the more “saints” like this that get voted into sainthood by GC, helps provide pew potatotes with some clarity.  Clarity is a good thing, and for us to say “Oh, that’s just awful that they are allowing a lesbian socialist as a saint!”, is well, kind of like arguing about how aggravating that horse is for galloping out the barn door that we left open last night.

Now, is the horse an aggaravating, ungrateful thing, or are we to blame for leaving the door open?  We don’t have the ability to shut the barn door at this point.  The door has been welded in an open position.  TEC is what it is now.  We wish it weren’t, but there you have it.

In addition to the lesbian socialist that is the subject of this article, TEC is poised to add the following to the Church calendar:

  -  John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club
  -  Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary of Labor
  -  Jacob Riis, photographer and reporter
  -  Walter Rauschenbuch, co-founder of the Social
    Gospel movement
  -  Albert Lutuli, South African teacher and politician

Others can be found in the report of the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/gc2009_106480_ENG_HTM.htm

It would seem that the Episcopal Church’s criteria on canonization increasingly have less to do with extraordinary service to God and his Church than with progressive social activism. 

It’s an entirely new vision of sainthood.  Take John Muir as an example.  He achieved great success in the field of conservation—that’s good.  But shouldn’t the people we honor in the Church calendar and commemorate at Mass be people whose life was animated by an expressly Christian vision?

Pigeon, you took the words right out of my mouth. I so admire John Muir - but I cannot see including him on a list of saints of the church. This is more than silly. It’s politics. And it has nothing to do with exemplars of the Christian faith.

Folks,

If you checked certain spots in Wikipedia on the right day, you’d read that Jesus himself had all kinds of juicy sexual relationships—but I’m guessing you’d take that as evidence that Wikipedia authors sometimes go beyond what solid historical research would support, not that Jesus was lascivious.

Scudder is an interesting character who in many ways defies easy categorization, and she left behind significant chunks of writing—including memoir—if you’d like to know how she actually lived and thought. Why not go to the source before decrying her or those who support her being recognized in LFF? Her writing on the Franciscans might be particularly illuminating.

It seems to have escaped most peoples’ attention, but it appears that the HoB passed A095 without any dissent according to George Conger.

see here

The Committee on Liturgy presented Resolution A095 updating the Church Calendar to commemorate Harriet Bedell, James Theodore Holly, Oscar Romero and the Martyrs of El Salvador, Tikhon, Vita Dutton Scudder, and Frances Joseph Gaudet. The resolution was passed without debate or dissent.

Jill W. noted this and posted a prayer of grief and repentance at Lent & Beyond, which is where I saw the news
http://anglicanprayer.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/our-hearts-are-parched/

—elfgirl