Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-15
THE NEW BISH0PRIC
Gossip About the Coming Episcopal
Convention.
some FULFILLING QUESTIONS ARISING
The Two-Thirds Rule of the Mary
land Diocese.
MEN WHO ARE TALKED OF

With the convention of the new diocese
of Washington less than three weeks Off
now, tlere Is naturally great and rapidly
Increasing interest among Episcopalians
clergy and laity alike, in the matters that
will come up for action before that inn
portant and influential body. The ccnven-
ton, as has heretofore been stated in The
STAR will meet at st. Andrews Church De-
cember 4, at 10 am. Just how long 1t will
last is of course a matter for conjecture
and will depend largely upon the length of
time that may be taken up in an effort to
elect bishop for the new diocese. 1t is
even uncertain whether the effort to choose
a spiritual head for the diocese at this
primary convention will be successful at
all, for the new diocese of Washington will
of course come into being under the con-
stitution of Maryland. and the history Of
the mother diocese has shown by the two
thirds vote called for by that constitution
that long md spirited contest is the rule
rs Their than the exception.
Bishop Paret was chosen only after a
contest that lasted through three diocesan
conventions. At the first, which vas held
IT the month of May, it was impossible to
make choice. and the adjourned meeting
held the following October was also ursuc-
ceSsful, so that 1t was not until the next
diocesan convention held the next May, that
Dr. Paret received two-thirds vote of the
clergy, which was ratified on the first bal
LOT by similar vote of the lay delegates.
Problems to Be Solved.
At the coming convention there are a
number of very important problems which
will have to be solved before the work of
the new diocese can be fairly inaugurated.
Several rather delicate points of church
government and canonical law are certain
to present themselves, and what with these
and the election of standing committee, it
is the general expectation that the election
of n bishop will not be reached at least
until the morning of the second day, es-
Pecially as Wednesday morning will be
taken up with communion service.
The convention will consist of about 1870
delegates divided equally between clerical
and lay members. At a recent meeting of
clergy of the District committee was ap-
pointed to look after the comfort and en-
tertainment of the out-of-town delegates.
At diocesan conventions generally it is the
rule TO entertain only the clergy. but it has
been decided this time to extend the hospi-
tal1tieS to laynen as well. This will not
be serious tax upon so large and wealthy
class of people the Episcopalians, for
probably less than one-half of the men,
bers will be from outside of the District of
Columbia. This plan, it is thought, will
nave a god effect in keeping the lay dele
gates in the city until the very close of the
convention. Frequently at the closing SEES
sions of a convention the visiting MEM
sers, laymen especially, have left for their
homes and this is exactly what it is hoped
to avoid at a time when there will be so
many issues of Importance up for consid-
GRAFTON.
Studying Precedcnts.
1t Is surprising how many men there are
in town. right now, clergy and others, who
are making a thorough study of the mat
tiers which will come before the conven-
ton. They are rubbing up their knowledge
Of the laws and canons of the church, and
the minutes of conventions in other doceses
IN years gone by are greatly in demand
these days, as giving assistance in the way
of precedents. Two questions that are be-
ing discussed at great length among the
churchmen of the city have to deal direct
ly with the course of procedure in the cleo
ton of a bishop. According to the con-
stitution of the diocese of Maryland a two
thirds vote is necessary to choice, and the
laymen do not vote until the clergy by that
vote have selected the name of some can
didate to present to them for their ap-
prevail. The dioceses of Maryland and Deia-
ware are said to be the only ones where
two-thrds vote is required, all the others
being satisfied with a majority. A Star re-
porter has discussed the situation with
number of the delegates to the forthcom-
ing convention. and 1T is evident that there
is a strong sentiment in favor of altering
the constitution in these two respects, that
q
a concurrent vote of the clergy and laity
The constitution, however. can only be
changed according to rules laid down in the
constitution ITSELF and according to one of
its articles, an amendment cannot be adopt
ed at the convention at which it is for the
first time proposed. If either amendment
were offered at the meeting next mon in, 1t
would, of necessity, postpone the election of
a bishop until the next convention there
after, when it could be acted upon. While
there is undoubtedly strong faction IN ia
vor of both these changes in th~ rules gov
ern!ng the diocese, there Is a more general
feeling that the most important thing now
is to elect a bishop, allowing any proposed
amendments to go over into the future.
A Lnyman's View.
A prominent layman, who has recently
been elected to represent his church at the
convention. in discussing the situation with
a Star reporter this morning, said:
There are a good many of US who are In
favor of both these changes. and 1 know
they have both been talked about a good
deal lately. Still, there many who
think, as 1 do, that it would be a grievous
mistake to delay any longer than necessary
the choice of bishop. Another vital OBJ
lection to the proposition is that if
change from the two-thirds vote were made
at this time it would look very much as
though it were done in the interest of soma
one candidate.
d
pretty difficult matter to get such a large
majority for any one of the candidates
whose names have been suggested. There is
one advantage in requiring such majority,
however, and that is that when a man is
elected he goes into office strong in the as
surance that he has the support and backing
Of at least two-thirds Of the parishes in his
charge Furthermore, the rule is pretty
certain to result in the choice of a good man
for the place, even though he may be COM
promise man. 1t is possible to point to other
dicceses where the majority rule works
first rate, but, on the other hand, one can
point to Maryland, where the bishops have
always been men Of the very highest char
acter and eminently fitted for the place.
Either rule does first rate, and it is only
question of delaying the election of a bishop
for our new diocese. My own opinion is that
the matter will be left in allegiance for the
present, although I think that at some
future time the changes will be made
There is some objection to the present
system of voting-the clergy first and the
laity afterward-but it seems to me that on
the whole it works pretty well. The clergy
are naturally more interested personally in
the election of the bishop than are the laity,
and 1 am not sure that they are not in a
better position to know who is the best man
for the post. The laity act as check in the
election, and while they have but little voice
in saying who shall be bishop, they have a
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