Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-12
THE DIOCESE
Report Of the Committee Appointed to
Consider the Matter.
The Proposition II Unanimously APP
Episcopal Bishop mt Washington.

The committee appointed to consider the
division of the Protestant Episcopal diocese
of Maryland is in favor of the proposed
division and will recommend the adoption
of resolutions with this object in view at
the forthcoming diocesan convention.
The report of the, committee reads, In
part, as follows:
Your committee have three distinct
points submitted to them.
II. The ACCESSIBILITY of division.
I'll. The lines Of such division. II thought
advisable.
iii The conditions to be observed.
'In regard to the advisability of division,
your committee are fully persuaded that no
bishop ought to be called upon to endure
and perform the work which Is now laid
upon the head Of this diocese. 1t is already
torily discharge. We ought to exalt his
high office far above that estimate which
views bishop as merely a confirming
agent, and to regard him as a successor
OF those noble apostles, who not only con-
frmed and preached, but also laid wise
plans and devised strong policies for the
church at large and the church at home.
In this opinion as to the ACCESSIBILITY of
division your committee find themselves In
thorough agreement, not only with the
judgment OF our present bishop, but also
with the Judgment OF the church In Mary
land, as expressed in convention twenty
five years ago. and with that of Bishop
Whittingham. There Is little room for
doubt that but for the decline of Bishop
Whittinghams health the diocese would
have been divided twenty-five years ago
In 1865 the diocese had not one-half the
strength of the present diocese, and yet
was prepared to divide into three parts.
The District as "a Diocese.
ITO not few 1t may seem desirable that
the District of Columbia ought to be erect
ed into a diocese because of its peculiar ma
tional Importance But your committee are
of the opinion that 1t is not expedient at
this time.
First. because such action would create
diocese wholly urban. with no missionary
districts whatever.
Secondly, 1t would throw the heavy bur-
den Of a large territorial Jurisdiction, with
double missionary needs, upon the old do
cese.
Thirdly. 1t would imperil a wise subdi-
vision in the future.
Your committee fully agree with our
diocesan that the presence of bishop at
Washington Is already a pressing and vital
need and ought not longer to be denied.
But your committee are not persuaded that
the District of Columbia alone ought to be
erected into a diocese at this time.
las We look at the present diocese of
Maryland there seem to be four natural
subdivisions which might be erected into
dioceses. and, however populous the state
may become. II does not appear that more
than these four would ever be required
These four subdivisions are:
First. Baltimore with the northeastern
counties.
Second. Frederick or Hagerstown, with
the northwestern counties.
Third Washington, with the lower Poto-
mac counties.
Fourth. Annapolis, with the Chesapeake
counties.
Proposed Division.
Keeping these possible subdivisions in
view, any action which may be taken now
ought to conform to these. and there are
two possible lines which will SO do. and at
the same time divide the present diocese
equally, both as to extent of territory and
as to numerical strength.
1.-The east and west line, beginning at the
Patapsco river. runs from the Chesapeake
to the Potomac and follows the southern
boundaries of Baltimore. Carroll and Fred
erick counties.
''The north and south lire begins at the
head waters of the Patuxent river. as II
enters the state Of Maryland. and follows
IL down until II enters the Chesapeake bay.
I'VE are strongly of the opinion that the
east and west line affords the wisest d.
together, both socially and commercially, in
timately allied with Baltimore, while the
southern counties are for the most part.
directly related to Washington
I'VE are of the opinion that steps should
be taken at once to secure the episcopal
support, so that at the convention of 1895
the necessary measures may be adopted to
obtain the consent of the general convention
to the proposed division of the diocese.
Committee Recommendations.
THE committee therefore recommend to
the convention the adoption of the following
resolutions:
THAT 1t Is the sense Of this convention
that it is advisable to divide the diocese Of
Maryland into two dioceses.
THAT the District of Columbia together
with the counties of Prince Georges, ST.
Mary's, Charles. Montgomery, Calvert Anne
Arundel and Howard, constitute the terri
tory OF the new diocese leaving the remain
ing part of the present diocese to constitute
the diocese of Maryland.
That two committees be appointed-each
consisting of three elergymen and four lay
men, selected respectively from the pro-
posed dioceses-who shall take such meas
ures as they may deem best to secure ade-
quate support for the two bishops
That the present episcopal fund.- together
with accommodating episcopal fund, be equal
ly divided between the two dioceses
That the committee be discharged from
the further consideration of the subject"
The report is signed by Rev. Arthur Chill
| ton Powell. Rev. J. s. b. Hodges, Rev. Al
bert r. Stuart. Rev.A. C. Haverstick, Lloyd
Lowndes, Bernard Carter and Henry E.
Pellew.
Mr.. Skipwith Wilmer, a member of the
COMMITTEES. appends to the report the follow
ing: Il concur in SO much of the report as
proposes a division of the diocese on the
| lines therein laid down, but 1 think there
should be no other legislation on the subject
until IL has been ascertained. through com
mltteeS appointed for that purpose whether
an endowment fund for each diocese can he
secured sufficient to render unnecessary any
increase In the present assessment on the
parishes and congregations"