The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-18
aEoRGIA's NEW BISHOP.

Rev. Thomas f. Gailor Urged as
Bishop Beckwith's Successor.
Episcopalians have not long to wait before
the new bishop Of Georgia, to succeed the
late Bishop Beckwith. will be chosen. The
election will take place at the diocesan con-
vention, which will be held in Christ
church, in this city, in May. The names of
several divines have been prominently
spoken of IN connection with the high post.
One of them is Rev. Thomas f. Gailor, the
vice chancellor Of the University Of the
South, at Sewanee, Tenn.
The election of a bishop is the most i'm
portant thing that can happen in the life Of
an Episcopal diocese, for when once elected
the post is held for life. The policy of an
Episcopal diocese is shaped by the princi-
Piles of the bishop, and, as in all dogmatic
churches, the decision Of bishop is su-
preme For this reason the utmost precau-
ton is taken in the selection Of candidates
IN order that there may be no CLASH between
the head and the body of the church.
The election is done very much in the
same way that United States senator is
chosen. There are two houses in the oon-
vention, the House of Ministers, composed
OF the ministers IN each church of the do
cese, andl the House of Representatives,
composed OF three laymen from each par
ish. When it becomes necessary to elect a
bishop the houses vote separately on the
names OF the candidates, and it requires a
three-fourths majority in each house to
elelect any one. 1t often occurs that some
candidate will receive a majority in one
house and be defeated in the other. This
happened in Alabama lately, and a second
man had to be chosen. The voice of
the laymen is allowed in the selection of a
bishop because of the fact that after his
| election he is all powerful. The election is
not complete when the candidate passes
| both houses, for he has to be sanctioned by
every diocese In the country, and the votes
of any two bishops in the United States an
null the whole proceeding. 1t Is this care
| full selection which makes. the House of Bish-
ops such an imposing body. 1t is said that
Bishop Beckwith sat three years in their
| midst without opening his mouth so great
was the awe he felt Of the distinguished as
semblage
Among the ministers whose names have
been mendoned for the bishopric are: Rev.
| Chauncy w. Williams of st. Paul's church,
| Augusta: Rev. Charles II. Strong Of St.
Johns, in this city. who has said, however,
that he L. not candidate and
could not be one. Rev. Mr.. Barrett of
Atlanta, Rev. Allison Capers of South
| Carolina, and Rev. Mr.. Foute of San Fran
cisco. Rev. David Sessums has also been
| spoken of in this connection.
Though only 30 years OF age. Mr.. Gailor
has been the recipient of some of the
most fattering Offers Of any minister
| in the church. He was born of Irish
! parentage in Memphis, and possesses
| that rare magnetic influence pc
culiar to that nationality. Bis father was
hero Of the war, and for this reason his
son has always remained in the south,
refusing a number of fine offers from the
wealthlest parishes IN the states of New
York aud Illinois He is a graduate OF
Racine college. Upon the death of the late
dean of that college he was elected to succeed
him. He refused, however, in order that
he might accept the vice CHARACTERISTIC OF
the University of the South. Two years
ago, when the chair of dogmatic theology
In the General Theological Seminary in New
York city became vacant, he was unani-
mously elected to fill it, but decliCed the
| fiatterIug offer. The chair of dogmatic
theology at. the general seminary is said tc
be the highest position, from an intellectual
standpoint, that is open to the Episcopal
| clergy OF this country. His refusal to &C
cept it was a great surprise. When his
name was presented for the bishopric OF
Michigan, and there seemed no doubt of his
election. he telegraphed his friends to with
draw his name.
The most tempting offer which he has
most probably received, from q worldly
standpoint, was from Trinity church, Chi
cago, while he was occupying the chair Of
English Literature at Sewanee. The call tc
the parish was accompanied by an offer Of
$4,000 a year as salary. This he refused
preferring to remain at the university on 8
salary of 81 800. The Chicago church then
wrote back offering to endow his chair for
100000 if he would leave it. He stead
tasty declined. saying that no amount Of
money could force him to give up place
where he thought it was his duty to remain
FROM doctrinal standpoint, Mr.. Gailol
is what is known as broad churchman
and occupies the same position on church
questions es the late Bishop Beckwith. He
is six feet one inch in hight, and has @
commanding appearance.
Have a bottle Of salvation Oil always on hand