The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-05
TO ELECT
A BISHOP
Episcopal Council to Meet in Rich
mond on June 30.
THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN CALLED
IN SPECIAL SESSION TO ELECT
A SUCCESSOR TO THE LATE
BISHOP NEwToN-BIsHoP WHIT
TIES INFIRMITrEs ARE SUCH
THAT HE REQUIRES THE AID OF
AN AssIsTANT-rHosE TALKED
OF FOR THE coAOJUToRBHIp.
OF FOR THE coAOJUToRBHIp.

Richmond, Va, June 4.--Right Rev.
F. NJ. Whittle, Episcopal Bishop OF vir-
GINA, has called council of the diocese.
to meet in st. James Church, Richmond,
June oOth, for the purpose of electing a
successor to the late coadjutor, Bishop
Newton.
The call was issued yesterday evening,
and will be received by the ministers and
vestries this morning.
Jhe announcement of this fact will
cause surprise in Episcopal circles, as It
was generally believed that no steps
would be taken to elect successor to
Bishop Newton until after the summer
Bishop Whittle sets forth his reasons
for calling the council at such an early
date in the following letter:
Richmond, Va, June 3, 1897.
"To the Ministers and Vestries of the
Diocese Of Virginia.:
My Dear Brethren, God, in His wiss
Providence, having removed from us our
beloved Bishop Newton, it lis important
that II successor to him be procured at as
eal ~ day as practicable, my bodily in
firniities 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-
Gil to meet in ST. James Church, Rich
mond, on Wednesday, June 80, 1897, at
III O'Clock a. m, to consider and act on
the question of electing bishop coadju-
tator Tor the diocese, and to transact any
other business at the pleasure of the
council. 1t is hoped that every minister
entitled to seat will be present, and that
all the vestries will elect lay delegates to
represent them and their congregations.
Faithfully and affectonately yours,
"F. NJ. wHITTLE,
"Bishop of the Diocesessof Virginia -
According..to' the canons OF the..church,
this council will be composed of an equal
number of clergy and laity, land will be
presided over by n bishop in all proba.
bi'ity, Bishop Whittle
Only the clergy will be allowed to nom
mate candidates. for the holy office, but a
majority of both clergy and laity is nee.
essary to elect.
After the council has reached decis.
ion, the name OF the chosen one is sent tc
the standing committees of every diocese
in the country, and must be approved by
majority CT these committees This
course is taken TO ensure the full exami.
nation into the standing, character, and
ability of the bishop-e!ect. 1t genera lily
occupies two months, and sometimes
longer, and when IN answer has been re
matter has been submitted to the presid.
ing bishop of the Episcopal Church in
America-now Bishop Williams, of Con.
necticut-he designates three bishops
who shall consecrate the bishop. elect, and
one bishop who shall preach the conse.
Grafton sermon.
Much speculation is rife as to what
names will be submitted to the council
and who will be chosen Bishop Newton
successor.
Rev. DIR. McKim, of Washington, and
Rev. Mr.. Tucker, of st. Paul's Norfolk,
are most generally mentioned. Rev. DIR.
John *. Mason, of Louisville, KY; Rev
LandonsR. Mason, and Rev. DIR. II. Car
michael, OF Richmond. have many sup.
porters, rs also have Reys. John Lloyd
of Lynchburg; Arthur Lloyd, of NorfolI
and Professor Carl Grammar, of the Theo
logical Seminary.
There is a strong feeling. however, that
a Virginian should be elected. The dio
cese is so peculiarly constituted being
composed for the most part of rural dis
rricts, and it is believed to be essential
that man should be elected who is con.
versant with the country life and country
people of Virginia. The late Bishop
Newton, who is generally conceded to
have been one of the most popular bish.
ops who ever labored in the diocese, used
to take great pride in the fact that he
had been born in Virginia, because it so
enabled him to get closer to the hearts
and sympathies of his flock.
1T is not believed ossible that the coad-
iutor's place can be filed before next
September, and possibly October.