The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-01

The Episcopate OF Virginia.
SKETCH OF BISHOP wHrrTLE.
RAPPAHAFSocK PREsBYTERY APPOINTMENT
OF COMMISSIONERS.
Special telegram to the Dispatch.
ALEXANDRIA, April 3d. st. Paurs
church was thronged to-day with large
and intelligent audience, drawn there to
witness the solemn and impressive cere-
monies connected with the conservation of
Rev. Francis NJ. White as Assistant Bishop
Of the Protestant Episcopal Church of vir-
ginia. There were about eighty clergymen
present from Maryland, District Of Column
bia, and all parts of Virginia; also large
number of theological students. None of
the Richmond clergy attended.
THE EPIsCoPATE OF VIRGINIA.
The first bishop elect of the Diocese of
Virginia was Bishop Griffith, who died be-
fore he could go to England for consecra-
ton. Bishop Madison, brother of the
Father Of the Constitution" was his sue
cessor. He crossed the Atlantic, and was
consecrated by the Archbishop of Canter-
bury. Returning to Virginia, he exercised
the episcopal duties, and was president of
William and Mary College during some of
the best days Of that institution. Bishop
Madison died in 1872, and was succeeded
by Richard Claiming Moore, Of Brooklyn,
who was for many years rector Of the Monu-
mental church in Richmond. In 1881 DR..
William Meade was elected assistant bishop,
and ct Bishop Moore's death, in November,
1s41, succeeded him in the episcopal Office.
At the Convention held in Staunton in 1912,
Bishop Meade's health being very feeble,
the present Bishop Johns was elected as
his assistant. The pious and venerable
Meade died in the spring of 1862, and
Bishop Johns has been ever since discharg
ing the episcopal duties without any as
sistance.
At the Council held in Staunton last May
(1S6T, after considerable discussion as to
whether it would be better to divide the
State into two dioceses or elect an assistant
bishop, the advocates Of the aforementioned
policy carried their point, and the choice Of
the Council for the holy Office was Francis
NJ. White, of Kentucky, who was to-day
consecrated.
BISHOP wHITTLE.
Francis M. Whittle was born in Mecklen-
burg county, Va, in the year 1917, and is
now, therefore, in the fftieth year of his
age. His brothers, Commodore and Con-
way Whittle, were well known to many citi-
zens of Richmond. Francis graduated at
the Protestant Episcopal Theological Semi
nary, near Alexandria, with distinguished
honors, and he has ever been considered
one of the brightest sons Of that venerable
institution. In July 1S47 he was ordained
as deacon. In ls4S he was admitted to
priests orders, and soon after took charge
of church in Kanawha county. Thence
he removed to Goochland, and was for seve-
raj years rector of St. Paul's and Beaver
Dam churches of which Bishops J. P. B..
and Richard Wilmer have also had pastoral
charge.
From Goochland he went to Clarke
county, and was there earnestly laboring
when called to Louisville, KY. His church
st. Paul's-is one of the largest and most
influential in the city. His ministry has
been eminently successful, and it is be-
lieved that he has been instrumental in the
saving Of many souls.
Bishop White is spoken of by his
brethren in the ministry as a man Of fine
intellectual attainments, Of undoubted
piety, and unbending devotion to principle.
These rare qualities combined with his
ardent; southern sympathies make him
peculiarly acceptable to the people of his
diocese.
CEREMONY OF CONSIDERATION.
At IL o'clock Bishops Johns, Bedell, and
Lee, entered the chancel, accompanied by
Rev. Messrs. Kinsolving, of Leesburg, and
Norton, of Alexandria, Rev. FRANCIS NJ.
WH1rTLE, the Bishop elect, being seated
mean while in the body of the church, two
Presbyterian ministers occupying seats on
either side Of him.
The regular morning services Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church were conduct
ed by the three Bishops. Bishop Bedel
then preached the conservation sermon from
First Timothy, third chapter, and twenty
fifth verse. He dwelt on the essentially
of bishoprics to the unity Of the Church. II
was On able discourse well delivered.
After the sermon, Mr.. White was pre-
scented to Bishop Johns by Bishops Lee and
Bedell. His credentials of Office were read
by Rev. Mr.. Norton, and Mr.. Whittle ther
took the oath faithfully to discharge hif
official duties. The usual constitutional
questions were propounded by Bishop
Johns. Bishop White was affected t.
tears when the episcopal robe wasput on him
and the three Bishops, laying on their hands
solemnly and earnestly invoked the Holy
Spirit to descend and rest upon and abide
with the newly-consecratea Bishop. The
Bishops and clergy then united In the holy
sacrament of the Lords supper. The
whole services were deeply interesting.
The Rappahannock Presbytery met here