Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-04
WILLELECT A BISHOP,
COUNCIL TO na HERE JON. =
FOR THIS PURPOSE.
TIE COURSE TO BIZ FOLLOWER,
Name Of the Person Selected lluse
Be Submitted to All the Dfoceseo
of the Country-Those Talked -
for the CoadjutorshIp.

Right Rev. +. NJ. Whittle. EpIscopaI
Bishop OF Virginia. has called council
OF the diocese, to meet IN st. Jamoo
church. Richmond, June goth, for the pur-
pose OF electing successor to the late
coadjutor Bishop Newton. n
The call was issued yesterday evening.
and viii be received by the ministers and
vestries this morning.
The announcement OF this fact viii
cause surprise in Episcopal circles. a.
II was generally believed that no steps
would be taken to elect successor to
THE BISHOPS CALL.
Bishop Whittle sets forth his reasons
for calling the council at such an early
date in the following letter:
Richmond, Va, June .. 1887.
To the Ministers and Vestries OF the Dios
cese of Virginia.:
My Dear Brethren, God. I'm His viso
providence. having removed from us our
beloved Bishop Newton. IL IL Important
tnat a successor TO him be procured ut as
carry day as practicable. my bodily In
firmities rendering me incapable OF per-
forming the duties OF my office. There.
fore by authority of the constitution OF
our Church. | hereby call special coun.
ell 10 meet in st. James church. Kichs
mond. on Wednesday, June 30 fsy7. al 10
O'Clock a. NJ, to consider and act ON tho
question OF electing a bishop coadtutor
Tor the diocese. and to transact any othep
business az the pleasure OF the council.
IL Is hoped that every minister entitled
10 seat VIII be present ard that ali
the vestries will elect lay-deleaates Ia
represent them and their congregations.
-. -.
+. NJ. WHITrLE,
Bishop of the Diocese OF Virginia.
HOW TO BE ELECTED.
According to the canons OF the Church.
this council will be composed OF an
equal number of clergy and laIty. and
Will be presided over by bishop In all
probability. Bishop Whttle.
only the clergy will be allowed TO nomt.
nate candidates for ths holy ONCE, but
a majority of both clergy and lalty Is
necessary to elect.
After the council has reached a deci.
sion. the name OF the chosen one is sent
to the standing committees OF every dio-
cese In the country. and must be ape
proved by a majority of these commits
tees. This course Is taken to ensure tho
full examination into the standing,
character. and ability of tho bishop-elect
1t generally occupies two months, and
sometimes longer, and when an answer
has been received from all the commits
tees. and the matter has been subu1oD
ted to the presiding bishop of the Episco-
pal Church in America--now Bishop VIII
liams, of Connectlcut--he des'gnates
three bishops who shall consecIate the
blshop-elect. and one bishop who shall
preach the conservation sermon.
THOSE BEING TALKED OF.
Much speculation Is rife as to what
names will be submitted to the council.
and who will be Bishop Newtons chosen
successor.
Rev. DR. McKim, Of Washington. and
Rev. DR.. Tucker. OF ST. Paurs. Norfolk,
are most generally mentioned. Rev. Dr.
John X. Mason. of Louisville. KY: Rev.
Landon r. Mason. and Rev. Or. II. Car.
michael, OF Richmond have many sup
porters. as also have Reys. John Lloyd,
of Lynchburg; Arthur Lloyd, OF Norfolk.
and Professor Carl Grammar, OF the
Theological Seminary
There Is a strong feeling. however. that
Virginian should be elected. The dio-
cese is so peculiarly constituted. being
composed for the most part OF rural dis
tricts. and it is believed to be essential
that a man should be elected who Is con.
NefSdnt WIN tne country IRE ana country
people of Virginia. The late Bishop
Newton. who is generally conceded to
have been one OF the most popular bishops
who ever labored In the diocese. used TO
take great pride in the fact that he had
been born In Virginia, because 1t 80 en-
abled him TO get closer TO the hearts and
sympathies of his flock.
IL Is not believed possible that the cos
adjutor's place can be filled before next
September, and possibly October.