The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-08
CHURCHMEN CAN'TAGREE
THEY FALL OUTOvER THE GEOR-
GIA BIsHOPRIC.

Was Assured Before the Nominations
We're Made-Col Davidson Yet TO be
Heard From.
The declnation Of the Georgia episcopate
by Chancellor Gailor, and the story of his
unexpected nomination in the Savannah
convention by Rev. r. s. Barrett of At
lanta, have caused a sensation among
Episcopalians.
There appears to be a difference Of
opinion as to Mr.. Barrett's position. Some,
If not all of Mr.. Williams supporters, ex.
pected Mr.. Barrett TO support him,
and his nomination of Dr.
Gailor was big surprise to them. Mr..
Barrett's friends, however, say that his
position has been misrepresented, and that
he was not at any time Williams man.
Mr.. Barrett's statement in the MORNING
News of yesterday shows him to have oc-
cupled a rather doubtful position in the
convention. He said that only an
hour before the election did he make
up his mind to nominate DR.. Gailor. having
only then become convinced that the
charges of ritualism against him were un-
true, and that it was his duty to support
him.
THE APRIL CONFERENCE.
Rev. o. z. Fitzsimons, who supported
a close friend of Mr.. Barrett, has thrown
some light upon the subject. Mr.. Fitz-
simons says that when Mr.. Barrett came to
Savannah the latter part of April
to deliver his lecture upon Obsr-Ammergau
he was invited Co a conference with Rev.
Charles H. Strong and the other Episcopal
ministers of the city upon the subject Of
the approaching election Of bishop, at
Mr. Strong's study. Mr.. Barrett attended.
Mr. Fitzsimons said that he arrived after
the conference between Mr.. Strong and
Mr.. Barrett, but Mr.. Barrett gave him to
understand that Mr.. Strong had
insisted that he should place Mr..
Williams name before the convention and
that he had partially agreed to do So Mr..
Barrett was at that time a strong opponent
of DIR. Gailor, whom he believed 10 be an ad-
vocate of ritpalism. Mr.. Fitzsimons and
Mr.. Barrett left the city the next day. Mr..
Fitzsimons said that when he babe Mr..
Barrett good-by Mr.. Barrett said to him
that he had been thinking this matter
over all night and asked him to tell Mr..
Strong that he could not nominate Mr..
Williams, but that he would nominate Mr..
Strong If he desired it. Mr.. Fitzsimons
delivered this message. He said that he
did not know If there was any further con-
ference between Mr., Barrett aud the sup
porters of Mr.. Williams. He knew that
Mr.. Barrett had been strong opponent of
DR.. Gailor, and that he was doubtful as to
whom he should support.
UNABLE TO DECIDE.
Mr.. Fitzsimons said that he addressed
Mr.. Barrett shortly before the election,
the day previous he thought, and asked him
If he had made up his mind as to whom he
would support Mr.. Barrett replied that he
had not yet decided
Mr.. Barrett appears to have been in the
position OF man who could not bring him.
self to support either DR.. Gailor or Mr..
Williams One he believed to be a ritual
list, and the other he did not seem 60 consider
the proper man for bishop. This doubtful
state brought him under the persuasive at
tacks of both sides, and of course placed him
in a position where his conduct was likely to
be misunderstood. His position was all the
more embarrassing because, when his name
was urged for the bishopic of
Alabama, Mr.. Williams, as his friend,
went to Alabama and labored for
several weeks TO clear him of charges made
against him and elect him bishop, in
which, however, he did not succeed. Mr..
Williams friends thought perhaps, Mr..
Barrett owed his support to Mr.. Williams
out of simple gratitude.
The controversy raises an interesting
question with regard to the election. Ii Mr..
Barrett was not expected to nominate DIR.
Gailor. who was! Mr.. Barrett says
himself that he did not make up bis
4 o'clock in the afternoon of the election,
and the election began an hour afterward.
Those who were present at the election
doubtless remember that Mr.. Barrett was
on his feet for some time before nominations
were declared In order, and that he secured
the floor, and when it was disco vered that
1t was necessary to transact g ONE other
business before the nominations began he
yielded the floor with the understanding
that he should be entitled to 1t again as
soon as nominations were in order.
REV. DODGE RISES TO EXPLAIN.
Rev. A. G. P. Dodge Of st. Simon's ha /,
written the MORNING News concerning Tue
reports of Mr.. Barrett's action, in which he
says be had Dir. Barretts authority for
saying that he never went into con-
ference vito the supporters of Mr..
n MlIi.@s' s,t or gave hi, them no4s any
influence; that the idea OF nominating Mr..
Williams never entered his mind, aud that
he had distinctly refused SO to do more than a
month before the election. when solicited to
that action by Rev. Charles II. Strong. Mr..
Dodge says that the election Of DR.. Gailor
was certainty before any nominations were
made, as he had a clear majority of both
orders without Mr. Barrett.
Mr.. Dodge doubtless knows what he is
talking about when ne says DR.. Gailor had
a clear majority of both orders before the
election, as he is admitted to have man
aged DIR. Gailor's campaign with consum-
mate skill MIR. Dodge Is a high church
man, AS are thase who are associated VITA
him in the missionary work IN the state.
MR.. BARRETT EXPLAINS
The Atlanta Constitution OF yesterday
has the following:
DIR. Barrett is charged with acting in bad
faith with DIR. Williams supporters and
thereby securing his defeat.
In an interview DR.. Barrett says he was
the probable cause of the defeat Of Mr..
Williams, but insists positively that he was
open and honest in his opposition.
DIR. Barretts explanation is that the
Williams faction counted on his support
without having ascertained his position, and
that when at the important moment he
took an active part in support of Dr. Gailor,
thus defeating DR.. Williams, the friends of
that gentleman were 30 disappointed as to
lose discretion.
The whole affair is likely TO create such a
breeze in the Episcopal church as has not
been stirred up IN a long time.
DR.. Gailor is also said to have declined
the bishopric because he believes there was
misapprehension in his election.
And, since matters have taken their
present turn, it is rumored among Mr..
Williams friends that DIR. Gailor really