The Washington times., 1895-05-01
EngrOssing Subject for the Next
Diocesan Convention.
CREATION OF A NEW BISHOP
Suggestion That the Head of the
Washington Diocese Be Called Pri-
What Rev. DR.. Mackay Smith
Thinks of Title of Archbishop.

What promises to be the lievliest sessi ionin
Baltimore Will convene on Wednesday,
May 20, at Epiphany Church, III this city.
The American disciples of apostolic
Succession have long been divided on the
question of the advisability of creating
a higher digntary in the Episcopal church.
Many volumes have been written, scores
of bottles of ink and as many reams of paper
have been wasted by the advocates of both
sides of the disputed question in vain at
tempt to convince the other party OF the
error of its ways. The question is today
as far from being decided as when first
debated. The battle viii be fought on the
1ocr of the May convention.
The recent legacies left to the diocese,
II is claimed, are sufficient to defray the
whole expense that would be incurred i'll
making of the Washington churches, which
are now included in the Baltimore do
cese, separate and distinct diocese This
question having been determined by the
convention, the question VIII arise whether
the new bishop shall have equal rank with
the existing bishops or be greater digni-
y
an American archbishop.
BREEZY DEBATE IN PROSPECT.
There are some highc churcn clergymen
who favor the latter plan, and quite q
breezy discussion is expected when the
matter is considered. Whatever steps
may be taken in regard to the proposed
separation and the creation OF II higher
dignitary may be regarded as merely pre-
liminary. The real contest Will be made
in the general convention, which meets
next fall.
In speaking to Times reporter about
the questions which Will be discussed at
the May convention, DR.. Mackay Smith,
rector OF st. Johns Protestant Episcopal
Church of this city, said
1t is felt by the greater number of the
members of the Episcopal Church i'll this
country that that faith Will never succeed
in It's aims unless it goes along lines OF its
individual convictions and principles.
American ideas are diametrically opposed
TO the creation of an archbishop. Amer
lea is a democracy. Therefore IL is strong
ly felt that the future success of the
church lies in adapting itself TO democratic
ideas so far as its canons viii permit.
with this IS its aim it is not probable
that the office of archbishop Will be created
and the very thought or it is very repugDanU
TO American Episcopalians. II is gener
ally believed that an office the holder OF
which might be called Primus, if created,
would lead to good results. This title
would be better than the present cumhrous
one, presiding officer, which belongs to
the bishop who has been longest conse-
Grated
YOUNGER BISHOPS WANTED.
"The present presiding officer is the Rt
Rev. John Williams, bishop of Connecticut,
and much revered for his character and
learning. Yet it is generally realized that
the identification ot the office of presiding
officer with that Of bishop W who has been
longest in the ministry is open to some
objection, because physical feebleness is
liable TO prevent him from assuming the
duties Sevolving upon the incumbent OF
that office.
1T is not improbable that the office Of
Primus VIII be elective and be held by a
younger bishop for stated number of
years. As this bishop would come from a
stronger and more powerful diocese, it
would not be necessary that on his election
as Primus he should remove to Washing
ton, for thus wculd be broken up for the
time being the work in an active and
important diocese. Washington, if made
into a separate diocese, would probably
rank in point of the enumberofcommunica
and of clergy somewhere near the end
of the first quarter in the list of dioceses
Moreover, if the primacy be always
attached To Washington, it might not
necessarily be better for the church, as
there is absolutely nothing in Washington
TO do that may not be done just as wei
elsewhere"
The Rev Dr.. Elliott, rector OF Ascen-
sion Church, when questioned as to the
advisability Of separating the dioceses
replied that the matter was so vast that
he could not possibly deal with it short of
three volumes, and that moreover the
whole affair was premature.