Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-09-14
Bishop Hall.

THE election Of Father Hail. now of
England, as Bishop Of the Episcopal
Diocese Of Vermont, is striking trib-
ute TO personal character, and for this
reason has an interest for Christians
Of every name. Father Hall, who is a
priest of the Anglican Order of Cow
lev Fathers, came TO this country
about twenty years ago, and for sew
enteen years labored in Boston. The
prospect of his succeeding in such a
field was, to say the least, doubtful.
Not only was his theology of the ul-
ira .Catholic" type, but he was IA
member of the monastic order, even
the habit Of which must have seemed
medieval and n-American 10 the me
ropolis of New England. Neverthe-
less, il was not long befQGe he gained
the respect and admiration of the
whole community, outside as well as
inside the Church. Il was not simply
that the people discovered him to be a
man Of brilliant intellectual parts and
statesmanlike views, but in doing his
work he exhibited singleneS, Of pur-
pose and devotion to duty that were
truly Christlike. The cultured Gallios
of Boston, who were prepared to make
clever epigrams about the utter useless
ness Of ''priestlets" and ''monks," es-
pecially in Boston, We're numbered be-
fore many years among his warmest
admirers; and Father Hall in his long
black cassock was admitted into the
pantheon of Boston's living worthless,
along with Oliver Wendell Holmes,
Edward Everett Hale, Phillips Brooks
and the rest. II was Il unique tribute
to noble and unselfish life, paid by
a city that does not lightly bestow such
a need of its regard.
Then came the exciting election of
Phillips Brooks, between whom and
Father Hall a warm friendship had
sprung up. To the unspeakable sur
prise of the strict party men on both
sides, the latter supported the candi-
dacy of his friend The extreme Rit-
ualists were especially indignant with
him for - doing. Some of them 'read
him out of the party" and Father
Page, his superior, recalled him To
England. This act provoked wide
spread criticism at the time, and drew
from the press of the whole State the
warmest expressions of admiration for
Father Hall, 50 that instead of leaving
under an implied stigma, he left in
At the recent election for
Bishop of Massachusetts,, his name was
mentioned; and many
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 if he
shall see his way to accept. the Episco-
pal bench will be adorned and elevated
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 colors, he has mcon-
y ,'ioAiNis NViiif ~ :. III IAAiiANN WIN tllN
larger movements OF religious thought
that are modifying the character of
all theologics to-day. 1t would not be
indeed, if this fact should
lead a few advanced High Church dio-
,eses TO refuse 10 give their consent
to his conservation. Possibly some of
The dioceses which opposed the eleva-
lion of Phillips Brooks may take this
which would prove the old
ldage, Politics makes strange bed
10 be true in the church as
well as the Stale. But whether the I
election isconfirmed or not, the choice |
BY such staid New England diocese
rs Vermont of an Anglican priest Of
order for lis Bishop is a re-
outcome of that greater cath- |
llicity that is coming to include the
whole sphere of religion.-New York /
Tribune.