Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-07-01
BISHOP NEWTON.

In the Episcopal Council OF the Dlo-
cese of Virginia, held in st. James
Church, Richmond, yesterday, Rev.
DR.. Robert Gibson, of Cincinnati, was
elected coadjutor bishop to succeed
Right Rev. John B. Newton, who died
about one month ago. The feature of
the mornings session was the Discus
sion over the question of allowing DR..
D. F. Sprigg, of Richmond, to take his
seat. That gentleman rose to a ques-
ton of personal privilege and asked
why his name was omitted from the
list of delegates. He was replied to by
Bishop Whittle, who stated that under
the constitution he was not entitled to
seat. This provoked lively discus
sion. DR.. Sprigg: speaking in his own
behalf, stated that he claimed, after
spending ffty-one ears in the service
of the diocese, he was entitled to seat,
and upon a question by the Biahop he
asserted that he claimed seat under
the clause for disabled members, which
provoked some mirth among his asso.
ciates. The Bishop then accorded him
his seat, but in doing so stated some
points of law which he said were apt
to creep into the proceedings OF the
church council. lie was differed with
on his Interpretation of the law on
such points by Rev. Carl Grammer, OF
the Theological Seminary near Alex
andria. Mr.. Joseph Bryan, of Rich
mond, endorsed the position of the
Bishop. The Bishop also spoke, ex-
pressing the greatest pleasure in vel
coming Dr. Sprigg to q seati in the coun-
Gil.
The choice OF coadjutor bishop was
! made on the fifth ballot. On this bal
lot the vote stood: Gibson, IS; Mason,
| of Louisville, 16; McKim, of Washing
ton, 7; Lloyd, of Lynchburg, 2; Dame,
of Baltimore, L. DIR. Gibson led on
each of the five ballots, and it was seen
early in the evening session that he
would be elected. After his election
by the clerical delegates this choice
was practically unanimously confirmed
by the lay delegates. DR.. Gibson was
voted for at the council January 81,
1894, when DR.. Newton was made
bishop. At that time DR.. II. B. Lee, OF
Charlottesville, desired to raise the
point that DR.. Gibson held unorthodox
views. he was, however, not permit
ted to do 80. The matter then at
tracted some attention. Yesterday DR..
Lee. who was delegate, again at
tempted to bring up the subject. He
said that If the council would order an
investigation he was ready to make
charges and sustain them. Judge A..
w. Wallace, of Fredericksburg, ably
championed the cause of DR.. Gibson.
| He said these rumors about Dr.. Gibson
I not being orthodox were old and he
had investigated them and found
there was no foundation for them. BE
had himself seen letter from DR.. Glib
son denying the whole thing. The
council refused to order an investiga-
ton.
The duties of the new bishop will be
to assist Bishop F. M. White, of the
diocese, who is full of years.
Rev. DR.. Robert Gibson is at present
rector of Christ Church, Cincinnati, O..
DIR. Gibson is one OF the ablest Episco-
pal preachers Virginia has sent out in
the past half a century. He is man
of fine physique and bearing, of charm
ing and lovable manners and of broad
intellect and fine reasoning qualities.
He is native of Petersburg, Va, and
son of the late Rev. Churchill ]. Glib
son, of that city. His mother was a
Miss Atkinson, sister of the late
Bishop Atkinson, of North Carolina.
Rev. DR.. Gibson is about forty-seven
years of age, and early in life he mar
led daughter of Hon. A. II. Stuart,
g; Staunton. His wife is sister of
-. Hunter Mcclure, of Richmond,
d he himself has many relatives now
wing in Richmond.
He was educated at Hampden-Sid-
ney and the Episcopal Theological Sem.
nary. He was for long time assistant
to the late Rev. DR.. Peterkin at st.
James Church, Richmond, and went
from that post to the Episcopal Church
at Parkersburg, W. Va. DIR. Gibson
remained at his work in Petersburg
about ten years, when he was called to
his present church in Cincinnati. 1t is
said of him that no minister possesses
more devoted flock, and that be has no
desire whatever to leave his people Of
the Ohio metropolis. He was at one
time rector of Moore Memorial Church,
now the Church of the Holy Trinity, in
Richmond.