The sun., 1891-05-02
Tho New Bishop Of Massachusetts,.

The election OF the Rev. PHnLrPs Brooks
as Bishop OF Massachusetts, the large ma
jority Of both the clerical and lay vote cast
for him, and the enthusiasm with which the
result is received in tho State. are striking
Indications Of the change in religious senti.
ment and psrtissnship which has taken
place In the homo of the Puritans during
very recent years.
1t is probably safe to cay that he 10 the
most honored and most esteemed OF the
Protestant clergy Of Massachusetts. what.
ever their ecclesiastical af1liations. He ID
strong and influential not only In the
Episcopal Church, but outside Of It also,
and his election to the Blshopric is re-
ceived with great satisfaction even in
communions which themselves reject the
prelatical organization, Of the Church.
They look upon him as man who is con-
cerned most for tho propagation Of the
spiritual truths and principles Of religion,
and whose influence to that end Is powerful.
Yet Bishop BROOKS has done more than
anybody else to set the drift OF Protestant
sentiment, In Boston moro especially. toward
the Episcopal Church and its worship
The great majority Of the attendants on
the Church Of the Holy Trinity. OF which he
is the rector. were originally Of other relig-
ious interests and Affiliations. Many Of them
are Of Unitarian antecedents, and the Episco-
pal Church In Massachusetts, generally seems
to have attracted multltudes Of its following
from the Same source. Uni:srianism is
losing force in tho State where 1t had its
birth in the movement led by CLAIMING;
and Episcopalianism is now apparently
thA ofryA NJ hA llr~i~
systems In the Commonwealth where once
Puritan sentiment opposed the very OK
istence OF tho Episcopal Church. Congre-
gauonalism as handed down by the found
ers Of the State, is undergoing complete
doctrinal transformation, and its vitality
IL decreasing. Tho communicates and
churches Of the Episcopal diocese are
multiplying In both town and country, but
more particularly in tho towns, and 1t is not
improbable that II the life Of Bishop BROOKS
is long, he will eventually preside over the
strongest Protestant communion In the old
Puritan State.
In his religious and ecclesiastical views
Bishop BROOKS represents what is called
tho Broad Church party. but his uberality
extends to every variety Of Episcopal opin-
ion. Tho particular forms in which religious
sentiment finds satisfaction do not engage
his interest 80 much as tho cultivation and
development Of q sense Of religious obliga-
hon. He Is not so much theologian
as an enthusiastic preacher Of the spiritual
essence Of Christianity. Mere ecclesiasti-
cism and even dogma do not provoke his
zeal, and he is without partisanship. What
ever may be his deficiencies as practical
administrator. as compared with some other
Bishops. he will be leader Of thought and
sentiment. Such Bishop will doubtless
have peculiar opportunities for the exercise
of his abilities In Massachusetts, where re-
gard for systems of theology Is passing
away and giving place to q sentiment Of
charity. philanthropy, and desire for the ex.
preston Of religious feeling in worship.
DR.. BROOKS enters the House of Bishops
at time of theological revolution extend-
ing throughout Professionalism. He may
not contribute to the solution OF the particu.
lar questions involved, for he is not theo-
logical leader and can never be- but he may
exercise an important influence on the
future manifestations of the religious spirit
and instinct. which not even tho complete
overthrow Of tho old theology could quench
and destroy