The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-07
IT'S RIsHOP GRAVES NOW.

The ST. Paul and Minneapolis Minn..
Pioneer Press of Oct. Goth, has the fol-
lowing, which will be of interest as well
TO the Eastern friends of the gentleman
named:
The Rev. A. r. Graves DID, of Geth-
semane Episcopal Church, is a bishop.
The honor was conferred on him at the
riennial conclave of Episcopal Churches
held in New York, which he attended as
one of the three delegates from this Dc.
cese. His Jurisdiction is to be Western
Nebraska, better known as the Diocese
of the Platte. The good news Of their
rector's advancement reached the men,
bers of his church Thursday afternoon
and in his enthusiasm the sexton of the
church started the chimes. and in a
short time the news flew all over the
parish. His friends are oveTjoyed at his
good fortune, feeling as they do that it
has come as well merited reward of
many years of faithful service in various
fields of the country, but at the same
time they recognized the fact that his
place here will be hard one to fill. The
honor came direct from the House of
Bishops, and was entirely unsolicited
either by himself or any of his friends
for him. The vacancy was caused by
the division of the Nebraska Diocese
into two sections, the Eastern and the
Western. The whole WAS formerly in
charge of Bishop Worthington, but had
become too extensive field of late for
any one man. Inasmuch as DR.. Graves
was present at the conclave, it is proba-
Bile that he was consulted before his final
appointment, and his friends think it
fair to presume that he has already &C
cepted or will accept the place. His new
field will be largely mission field, and
by reason of his large experience in this
kind of work he is specially adapted for
the position. Gethsemane parish feels
the honor not less probably than he him
self, as this is the second promotion to
Bishops See from that parish within the
last six years. They will be in no hurry
to select a new rector, preterrlng to go
without representation for time than
to use any undue haste in selecting a
successor to DR.. Graves,
DIR. Graves has been the rector Of
Gethsemane for six years past, the
church having only few weeks ago
celebrated the sixth anniversary of his
coming. He has been an indefatigable
laborer in all parish matters since that
date, and at the same time has found
time to do much in a useful way in the
line of jail and hospital work. He prac-
| tically built Gethsemane Church, al
though the edifce was begun under the
rectorship of the venerable Bishop
Knickerbacker. The growth Of the par
ish has been remarkable since his COM
| Il kna iua-
| ly small parish to be the largest in the
State, and doing a remarkable work in
all lines of charitable, educational and
phianthropic labors. Six years ago
there were 800 families in the parish,
now there are 1865, not including the
missions. The communicates at that
time numbered 274, and at present 1855.
There have been 716 actual communi-
cants added since he assumed charge of
the church. He has confirmed 29S peo-
pie, and married 130 couples during this
time, and the total moneys raised for all
church and charitable purposes foots up
the sum of $6l 095.
DR., Graves was born in Norwich coun.
ty, NY, forty-seven years ago. he was
educated at Hobart College, where he
took high honors, and then entered the
general Theological Seminary at New
York city. He went abroad for time
after finishing his course there. and on
his return was made assistant rector at
Grace Church, New York. Thence he
came to Minneapolis and assisted Bishop
Kuickerbacker in the affairs Of Geth-
semane parish, of which he was then
the rector. This was in 1872. He re-
mained in Minneapolis year and was
then given his first charge, a church at
Plaltsmouth, Neb. Later he returned to
Minnesota again, taking charge of the
Episcopal Church at NorLhtield. He re-
mained there two years, and was then
installed as rector Of a church at Little
ton, N. II. His next charge was at Ben
nington. VT, and on Bishop Knicker-
hackers promotion he was called to take
charge of Gethsemane parish. "You
will find no truer man than Mr. Graves, y
said the bishop to the vestry, "and none
will serve your interests better" This
WAS a sufficient recommendation for
his calling and it has been the sentiment
Of the church ever since that it was no
more than literal truth. DIR. Graves has
a wife and four children. He is expect
ed home early next week, and on the
evening Of his arrival will be rendered a
congratulatory reception by the mem-
bers Of his church.