Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-04
OUR BISHOP ELECT.
SOMETHING OF rhE WORK arp
CHARACTER OF DIR. GIBSON.
HIS ANCESTORS GREAT CHuRcKHEH.
ME Labors In y7rEinin aSd West
varginia-A weII-Roundea MAN.
Fitted for the High once to which
He Has Been Called.


He Has Been Called.
The called council Of the Episcopal
Church of virginia met last wednesday,
Juno goth, in st. James churcn anu
elected Rev. Robert A. Gibson, ID. D., OF
Cincinnati, O.. to be Bishop CoadJutor
of this diocese. The election was on the
fifth ballot, and on motion 1t was de-
clared unanimous on the part OF the
iaity.
DR.. Gibson was born in Petersburg
va, is the son OF the best-known ana
most beloved clergyman that ever i'eo
in Virginia--that godly man, whose very
presence was a benediction-the Rev. DIR.
Churchill ]. Gibson, Of Grace church,
Petersburg. 1t is worthy OF notice here
that for many years large NUMBER
of the clergy and laymen OF virginia
looked forward to the elevation OF Or.
Churchill ]. Gibson to the office OF
Bishop. but he passed from earth 10
Heaven, and now the honor has been
placed on his worthy son.
FITTED FOR THE PLACE
lit was the general opinion expressed at
the council that DIR. Gibson would I'LL
the vacancy caused by the death OF
Bishop Newton perhaps better than any
other clergyman named, and In
marked way he will be most accepta-
ole to- the country churches; and as Vir-
GINA is now a rural diocese in mea-
sure, the fitness Of bishop for the
country was worthy of consideration.
DR.. Gibson comes IN the full vigor OF
manhood, being As years old. blessed
with good health, and by inheritance,
most charming gentleman in manner,
full of the milk of human Kindness, ana
able to express and show his love for
his fellow man.
DR.. Gibson, in coming back TO Rich
mond, will find many Of his old people,
for ne was assistant rector CT st. James
church under DIR. Joshua Peterkin, ana
had special charge of the chapel, now
Holy Trinity church, and as he travels
over the Diocese OF Virginia he will be
at home, In every parish. for he Is well
known from one end Of 1t to the other
HIS ARMY RECORD.
When a boy he went into the Con-
federate army, served with honor, and
returned to active life to give the balance
of his days in the army of Jesus's
Church. Bishop Peterkin, Of West VIZ
ginia, knowing the true worth ana
ability of DIR. Gibson, invited him to the
Diocese of West Virginia, and he labored
In that hard field for many years, and
afterwards accepted call to his present
church in Cincinnati, o. AS an earnest,
God-fearing man. he has been able TO do
great work, not only In West Virginia,
but in Ohio. and he comes to Virginia
fully equipped for the great labor before
him. DR.. Gibson inherits the ability OF
the Atkinson family, of North Carolina,
his mother being sister of the gifted
Bishop Atkinson, and the right TO the
office comes TO a worthy descendant.
Dr. Gibson married a daughter of the
late Hon. A. II. II. Stuart, of Stanton,
Va. and is brotherin-law of DR..
Hunter Mcclure, of Richmond, who is
known. not only In his native land, but
all over Europe. as one OF the most
skilful of surgeons. and as the "chief
military surgeon" Of the great General
Stonewall Jackson, of the Army OF
Northern Virginia.
DIR. GIBSON'S ELECTION.
The committee appointed to wait on
DIR. Gibson In person, and carry the
official information of his election, con-
sIsts of the clergyman who placed his
name before the council. not only at the
special session, but when DR.. New
ton was elected four years ago, the Rev.
L. r. Mason, rector OF Grace church'
Richmond, and the lay member was MT
p. III. Mayo, of All-Saints church. who IS
a cousin of DR.. Gibson's.
Bishop Peterkin. Of West Virginia, has
written q letter in reference TO the many
sided qualities of DR.. Gibson. a letter
full of wisdom, and coming from sucf
a man. IL carried conviction to many who
were undecided, and it is safe to say ira
the manly, whole-hearted commentator
| of the Bishop Of West Virginia had more
| 10 do with the election of DR.. Gibson thar
all the speeches made at the council.
| was a beautiful mark of esteem ana re
| gard. for. as Bishop Peterkin's letter Il
Rev l.. r. Mason was read. there Were
| oulet expressions of confidence in tn
| Bishops wisdom, and OF the desire Z
vote for one who had won his esteem bl
| many years of faithful labor in Yves
| Virginia.
| Those who were in the council man.
| wears ago will remember the high trlbut
| paid to the Rev. r. A. Gibson by the iat
beloved rector of ST. James church, Ut
| Peterkin when he said he was one
the visest young clergymen he had eve
known. and a compliment from such
man was something to be proud or. i
Is worthy Of special notice that In tn
| same church where he was assistan
rector to DR.. Joshua Peterkin, he wa
| elected Bishop-Coadjutor by the votes
many who had known him from poynoo'
and who had watched his faithful minis
try all along the road, from the loves
office, 20 the highest that mortal man ca
ill.
WAS WITH HIM ABROAD.
1t was only two years ago that ID
Gibson took an extensive trip In Europ
with several of his friends, and the write
had the pleasure OF seeing him In Lohool
and enjoyed the privilege OF looking {
the grand cathedrals in his company.
II will be good news to the diocese whe
the acceptance Of the Office comes. ar
when the standing committees OF mi
iority of the die ,eses give consent to II
conservation of DR.. Gibson. The vene
able and much beloved Bishop Of VI
1tnia. Right Rev F. NJ. Whittle, ID. /
IL. d.. who has given the greater parr
his life to the upbuilding OF the dioces
deserves. at the hand of the Church. eve
comfort and pleasure that he desire
Broken down In health, and unable
travel in comfort, yet he watches q
welfare OF his flock. and at The speci
council manifested to all the ciearne
Of his mind and the vigor with which
directed the labor of the council. New
in the history Of the Virginia Church n
nohler character filled the exalted c
, fee of Bishop-one who labored for wb
! was right and In accordance with Z