General Clergy Relief Fund.--This is the abbreviated title of a Society organized by the General Convention under the corporate name, "The Trustees of the Fund for the Relief of the Widows and Orphans {118} of Deceased Clergymen, and of Aged, Infirm and Disabled Clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, a corporation created in the year 1855 by chapter 459 of the laws of the State of New York." This is one of the most important Funds in the Church and commands the generous support of all earnest and devoted Church people. As its name implies, it is a Fund established for the purpose of taking care of Aged and Infirm clergy who through age or sickness have become disabled and can no longer fulfil their ministry. The conscience of the Church makes her feel obligated, like the national government, to take care of her faithful servants in their old age and disability, and also to provide for the care of the widows and orphans of deceased clergymen. The Church, however, cannot do this blessed work of Relief, unless all her people contribute largely to this Fund. General Confession, The.--The form of words used by both Minister and People in humbly acknowledging their sins before God in preparation for the true worship of His Name about to follow. The General Confession was placed in the Morning Prayer in 1552 and in the Evening Prayer in 1661. Such beginning of our Public Worship is in accordance with the practice of the Primitive Christians, who, as St. Basil, writing in the Fourth Century, tells us, "in all churches, immediately upon their entering into the House of Prayer, made confession of their sins unto God, with much sorrow, concern and tears, every man pronouncing his own confession with his own mouth." A similar General Confession, but more heart searching, {119} is also to be found in the Communion Office, to be said in preparation for the due reception of the Sacrament. A third Confession is also set forth in the Penitential Office and commonly called the "Ash Wednesday Confession."