New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-03
BISHOP HAIL..

The election Of Father Hall, now of England
as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese OF YER
mont is striking tribute to personal char
acter. and for this reason has an interest for
Christians of every name. Father Hall, who
is a priest of the Anglican Order of Cowley
Fathers came 70 this country about twenty
yca.S ag, and for seventeen years labored IN
B,slyn. The prospect of his succeeding Ill
such field wa>. to say the least. doubtful.
Not onl, was his Theology Of the ultra Catho-
lie" type. but he was Il member OF monaSlIc
order even the habit OF which must have
seemed medieval aud un-.tmerican to the
metropolis Of Now-England. Nevertheless. IT
was not long before he gained the respect ana
admiration Of the whole community. outside
~ we'll as inside the Church. 1t was not sim
nv thu, the rcoplc discovered him u ne
man of brIIian: intellectual pirts ana states
manlike views. but in doing his work he cN-
hib;tcd Singeness of purpose and devotion
TO dur, that were truly Christlike. The cult
ured Cables of Boston, who were prepared to
make clever cpgams about the utter useless
rpss of "pre.tletS' and monks" especially
in Bot N. were numbered before many years
among his walme,t admirers and Father Hall
the pantheon Of By.ton's living worthless along
with Oliver Wendell Holmes. Edward Everett
Hale. Phillips Brooks and the rest 1t was a
unique iributc to noble and un'eli!sh life. pad
by city that does not lightly he,tow such a
NEED Of its regard.
Then came the exciting election OF Phillips
Brooks between whom and Father Hall warp
friendship had sprung up. r. the un>Ieakable
srrpris, Of the street pat, men on both sides.
rbe latter supported thc candidacy of his
friend. The extreme RitualistS were especial
" indignant with him for so doing. Some OF
them " read him ont of the party and Father
Page his Superior. recalled him to England
This act provoked w.d~sprcad criticism at the
time and drew from the press Of the whole
State the warmeSt expressions OF admiration
for Father Hall, so that inStead of leaving
under an implied stigma. he left in triumph.
At the recent election for Bishop OF NIassachu-
sett. his name was prominently mentioned
and man, think that his connection with the
Cowley Order alone stood in the way OF his
election Now Vermont has chosen him as its
Bishop: and it he shall see his way TO accept
the Episcopal bench will be adorned and Gle
waited by his accession to it. Moreover, he
will be the Bishop. not Of party but OF the
whole diocese
The lowest Churchman in Vermont need
have no fear of being prosecuted by him.
For though he still stands by his theological
,olor> he has nnconscously come to sympa
thize with the larger movements OF religious
thought that are IN dir!ing the character of
all theologio> TO-DAY, 1t would net be sur
prsing indeed if this fact should lead few
advanced High Church doces,s - refuse their
ccns.nt TO his n'eciaii-n. Possibly some of
the diocase> which opposed III. elevation of
Bishop Brooks may take this attitude. which
would prove the old adaga, Politics makes
strange hedfelows." to be true in the Church
- we'll a. the State. But whether the election
j, confirmed or not, the choice by such sta1
New. England diocese as Vermont of an AngIi-
can priest of religious order for its Bishop
i a remarkable outcome OF that greater catho-
Ecii, that is coming 10 include the whole
sphere Of religion.