Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-06
VOTING FOR BISHOP
No Choice Yesterday at the Episcopal Con.
vention.
How the Vote Was Scattered To
Renew the Battle TOdny-
Amendments Adopted.

Yesterday afternoon, after The Stars re-
port Of the diocesan convention closed, bal
loting for candidates to fill the place of
bishop of the new diocese began. Before
calling fer nominations a brief religious
service was held, conducted by Rev. DIR.
Elliot, in which blessing was asked upon
the work that was about to be accom-
plished. There was some question to
now the balloting should be done. A mo-
ton was made that there should be an in
formal ballot. in which the lay delegates
were to take part, for the sake of finding
out what the general feeling of the con-
vention might be. Those who favored this
plan argued that while the election was
vested in the clergy, 1t would still be a
saving of time in the long run If they could
know the sentiments of the laity. who
must, after a candidate has received the
necessary number of votes from the clergy,
confirm the vote.
With the constitution of Maryland in
force in the new diocese, a two-thirds vote
was necessary to elect AS has heretofore
been pointed out in The Star, the chances
of any candidate receiving such large
vote are very small, and when the conven-
ton adjourned last evening after taking a
number of ballots there was general i'm
preston that the convention would have to
adjourn finally without electing bishop.
In that event the election will go over to
the next convention in May, by which time
the different vestries will have had an OPP
portunity to pass upon the important
amendment favored by the convention
yesterday providing for an election by a
majority vote.
The Nominations.
When DR.. Elliot announced that nominal
lions would be received, the following were
made from the floor without remarks: Rev.
Randolph H. McKim. DID, by Rev. Alex
ander Mackay Smith, D. D.; Rev. John H.
Elliot, DID,. of the Church of the Assem-
sion, by Rev. Charles F. Sontag; Rev. Nor
gan Dix. DID, of Trinity parish, New
York city, by Rev. 1. L. Townsend, DID,;
Rev. John s. Lindsay of st. Paul,s Church,
Boston, by Rev. John London: Rev. Thos.
G. Addison, DID,, of Trinity Church of this
city, by Rev. George H. tombstone, DID,;
Rev. Alexander Mackay-Smith, DID,, by
Rev. James E. Poindexter, and Rev. Rich
ard Lewis Howell, by Rev. James e. Buck,
DID.
The Ballots.
On the first ballot 81 votes were cast,
which made AZ necessary to choice. Rev.
Morgan Dix and Rev. John S. Lindsay,
DID,, had "a votes between them. which
was understood representing the
strength of the high church faction or the
| minority. They divided their votes less
than did the majority. whose votes were
scattering among nearly a dozen candf-
dates. The first vote was as follows: DR..
Mckim, IS; DIR. Elliot, 5: DR.. Dix, Is; DR..
Lindsay, 6; DIR. Addison, 2; DR.. Mackay
Smith. 8; Mr.; Howell. l: DR.; w. r. Hun
tirgton, 1; Rev. G. F. Williams 1: DR..
David Greer. 1, and DR.. w. L. Langford, 1.
letter was then read to the delegates
announcing the desire of DIR. Huntington
that, If his name was presented to the con-
q he until drau ND
ond ballot was ordered.
Seven ballots were held during the after
noon and evening. and while few votes
shifted around, the strength of the two
factions showed little evidence of change.
Apparently the vote Of DR.. Dix was trans
ferred to Rev. DR.. j. H. Eccleston of New
York. The last vote Of the evening was as
follows: DR.. McKim, IS: DR.. Elliot, 3; DR..
Dix, o; DR.. Lindsay. 3: DR.. Addison. 1; DIR.
Mackay Smith, 3; Mr.. Howell, /; DIR. Sat-
terlee, 8, and DR.. Eccleston, Is.
Majority Vote.
1t took some little time to count the votes
| on the different ballots, and while this was
being done the convention took up the con-
| sideration of the proposed amendments to
the constitution. Some of these, notably the
one providing for the election of the bishop
by the majority vote, gave rise to consider
able discussion. 1t was finally adopted, and
Will be sent down to the vestries along with
| the other reco mmended changes. A curious
was the fact that a larger number of lay
delegates than clerical voted against the
amendment, which provides for a concur
rent vote of the laity and clergy and con-
Siderably adds to the importance and dig
rity of the laity in the convention. The
| resolution which gives the bishop the right
to express his sentiments on any subject in
the convention. but not to close the debate,
was also taken up and passed after a lively
discussion.
Further Amendments,
At the evening session the balloting occu-
| pied almost the entire attention of the con-
| vention. although further amendments were
| considered while IL e ballots were being
counted. They were all adopted without
serious opposition.
| Mr.. ]. c. Bancroft Davis introduced a res
| olution that the convention meet on the
| third Wednesday in May to finally consider
| the resolutions which were passed yester-
| day and incorporate the changes involved
| in the constitution of the diocese, If they
| met with the approval of the vestries of the
| several parishes. This resolution is neces-
| sary, because provision that the con-
vention meet on the third Wednesday in
January of each year is not in force until
| approved by the vestries of the several
parishes. 1t was passed practically unani-
| mously.
A resolution introduced by DIR. Addison
| that the division of the diocese into arch
| deaconries be postponed until after the
election of the bishop was passed. The fol-
| Loving committee was announced on the in
| corporation of the diocese: Messrs. Blair
| Lee, william A. Meloy, and A. L. Browne.
| At the suggestion of the president, the
| convention then took up the place for the
next meeting and accepted the invitation Of
DR.. Addison to come to Trinity Church.
At the session yesterday, after number
of ballots, Rev Mackay Smith, DID,, was
| elected as the seventh member of the stand
ing committee.
Why Speaker Reed Smiled.