Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-01-19
bishop EccIesfon Declines.

elected bishop Of the diocese of West
Virginia, by convention of the cler-
gy and laity of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church, at Charleston, December
9TH, last, positively declines to accept
the position. This is the second time
that he has declined the eplscopacy,
having been elected Bishop of the di-
Geese of Iowa, few years ago, and de-
clined. 1t struck US at the time, as
being rather strange procedure, fer
the convention to adjourn without con,
sulting DR.. Eccleston by telegraph, and
ascertaining whether the office rendered
him would be acceptable; knowing, as
they must have known of his Geclina-
ton of the Iowa diocese, which must
be far more desirable field of labor
than our sparsely settled, mountainous
West Virginia, where the church ne
would represent has not yet been fully
placed upon its feet. Had this been
done, and had he declined at that time,
which he most likely would have done,
then the Convention could have chosen
another without unnecessary delay, and
without producing the least confusion
or dissatisfaction. AS it now stands,
the Executive Committee will be re-
quired to shoulder the responsibility of
choosing a bishop, and unless they
should be exceedingly fortunate in their
selection, they will find dissatisfaction,
and discomfort attaching to their action.
This is a Democratic Government, and
our Protestant churches are likewise
Democratic in their workings. 1t is
impossible, therefore, to concentrate
power in few and thus render salts
faction to the masses. We are led to
make these gratuitous observations in
order to obviate the possibility of any
thing like discomfort. We feel COM
mon interest in the matter, and earnest
" disire the new diocese to become a
great power for good in our youthful
State; and we are confident that it will,
if the right kind of man is placed in
the Episcopacy, and proper start Is
made.
Upon whose shoulders the honors
rendered DR.. Eccleston will fall is mat
ter of conjecture only. No one, except
the. Executive Committee, could answer,
and it is not likely that even the mem
| bers of that committee could now divine
the name of the coming man, as they
will no doubt deliberate long and well,
before they fall upon man; and as they
will likely do their work in privacy, it
will perhaps be some time before the
public will know the name Of the lndl-
vidual who will receive the honors. We
venture this assertion: the committee
will be wise enough to ascertain whether
the gentleman they select will accept
the office before the fact is published 10
! the world that selection has been
| made
The work of bishop in West Vir.
| GINA is not desirable position. The
field is missionary one, and the bishop
will be required to spend large por
ton of his time, winter, as well as dur
I ing other seasons of the year, in the
saddle, organizing societies, and visiting
ouartily and ottener those already es,
tablishtd. Considering the lack ofpub-
lie conveyances throughout the State,
the roughncss Of the territory, the mis-
sionary character of the work, and the
small salary tended (about $4,000, a
man we'll suited for the position will
hesitate considerable time before he
accepts. Now is an excellent opportu
nifty for some clergyman to show :he
world that his object in preaching the
Gospel is not worldly wealth, but the
elevation of humanity and the salvation
of the people.-Hhee'ing Standard.