The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
WHO WILL Be BISHOP
Now Comes a Question for
EpisCopalians in South
ern California.
Pastorates of the State
May Be Looked To-San Fran
cisco's Chances.

A question that will naturally command
the consideration of the Episcopalians of
California now is, Who will be the Bishop
of the new diocese2
The House of Deputies of the General
Convention, in session in Minneapolis,
unanimously passed a resolution yester-
day dividing the present California do
cese. This action is not, however, conclu-
sive, as the question must pass the House
of Bishops before the division can be
made.
Six years ago the Bishops opposed divi-
sion, although the lower house had favored
it, so there is no certainty that the meas
ure will not be defeated at the triennial
convention There is very general feel
ing, though, that this time new diocese
will be favored, particularly as Bishop
Nichols is at the convention and will him
self speak in support of the division of his
field. Bishop Kip was too infrm to at
tend the convention at New York six
years ago when the Bishops killed the
measure.
Everything having been made subser-
Went to the main issue, that of securing a
separate diocese, the Episcopalians of
Southern California have not entered into
any discussion of the possibilities of man
to fill the bishopric. On the advisabilit
OF division they could all agree, and they
refrained from prematurely raising issues
that would have many sides.
So far there has been no talk of the
possibilities of Bishop for the prospective
diocese. Three representative Episcopa-
ians from different parts of Southern
California IL conversation with clergy
man of this City few days ago said in
reply to his inquiry that they had heard
no mention of the subject in the south.
1t has been the custom to elect a Bispop
from the clergy outside the diocese, the
diocesan clergy and lay Representatives
one from each parish-having the power
TO choose their Bishop. Bishop Nichols
was Philadelphia clergyman when he
was elected assistant Bishop of California
six years ago, and he has already refused
the assistant bishopric of Ohio. He was
nominated by DR.. Foute OF this City, who
had never even seen him.
The average age of the seventy or more
Episcopal Bishops of the United States is
about sixty-five years, and very few men
have ever been elected under the age of
forty, Bishop Nichols having been, at the
time of his election, one of the Youngest
Bishops ever elected. AS the Office is for
life, the probabilities are that no very old
man will be chosen.
In California there are few over a hun
dred Episcopal rectors and missionaries,
thirty-six of them being in the territory
embraced by the proposed new diocese, all
south of San Luis Obispo County. Prob
ably 10 per cent of these men are very evil
IDENTIFY unfit for service because of the in
frmities of age.
Prominent Episcopalians of this CITY.
when approached yesterday for en- express
sion on the possibilities of the identity of
the new Bishop, were uniformly of the
impression that there is not yet any
opinion that has more than its individual
holder.
The most tangible opinions seemed to be
these: If an Eastern man be chosen it
will probably be because the Rev. Or. True
of Los Angeles and the Rev. Mr.. Restarick
OF San Diego, the clerical delegates now in
Minneapolis, will have become impressed
with the ability of some of the ministers
In attendance upon the convention, and it
Will be their business to keep lookout for
likelier man. But if a California clergy
man be chosen the possibilities may prop
erly be narrowed down to the pastors of
the most prominent and important par
lShes. There are several such in San Fran
cisco, where about third of the Episco-
palians of the State are found. There are
few such parishes in Oakland, and San
Jose, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Pas
adena probably exhaust the list
The salary decided upon for the new
Bishop Is $4,000 year, which is the same
as that received by each of the fifteen mis-
sionary jurisdiction Bishops in the United
States. The smallness of the salary would
not, 1t is believed, deter any one from CIV
ing up larger salary as pastor to accept
a bishOpric