The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-07
TO DIVIDE THE DIOCESE
MISSIONARY JURISDICTION FOR
EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN INDIANA.
Step Favored by Bishop White and
CIeFgy-New Bishop Would
Have to he Named.

There seems now to be no doubt that the
setting off of about twenty counties of this
State to form a missionary jurisdiction of
the Protestant Episcopal Church will be ac-
complished. The step is favored by Bishop
White and by the clergy and laity of the
church. and recent inquiries confirm the be-
lief that the church at large will acquiese.
The matter will be decided at the general
convention of the church, which meets in
Washington in October.
The Episcopal Church is weak in Ohio and
weaker still in Indiana The cause or at
least cause, is found in the fact that at
the period when these two commemorative
were laying their foundations with ma
terial from New England, from New York,
from Virginia, the Episcopal Church was
in a transition stage. if indeed, there was
life enough in it to warrant the expression,
for even transition implies some movement
Later on, when commemorative farther
west came to lay their founda tions. the
church had wakened up, in New England
had lived down its English alliance odiurn
and so into the foundations of Illinois or
Iowa, and especially of Minnesota, there
succeeded in getting a good deal of Episco-
palian sentiment and influence
From an Episcopal point of view, Indiana
is one of the largest dioceses in square miles
and one of the smallest in membership and
clergy. A missionary bishop and three do
cesar bishops wore themselves out bearing
the burdens of weak communion scattered
over a large territory, and Bishop White,
the fifth and present bishop, a man who, as
educator and priest of the church held high
rank before coming here, is not without
his discouraging burdens. But these bur-
moi - II
No one is really discouraged, least of all the
bishop, and the present plan of dividing the
State is a sign, not of giving up, but of in
creased effort. 1t is evidence of growth
Furthermore, that those in the church's
counsels outside of the State, but who will
nave by canon law to pass upon the division
Of the State into two jurisdictions, believe
the time ripe for the change, is evidence
that they see these possibilities and this
progress Further yet, their stand in favor
of the division is proof of their faith in the
churchmanship of Indiana's southern coun-
ties.
The proposed jurisdiction will not be an
independent diocese in the sense that In
diana itself is independent Nor will it be
mere division of the present diocese of
Indiana, the burden of which will rest as
now upon the bishop of Indiana. 1t will be
a missionary jurisdiction as it is called and
Indiana diocese will have no more to do
with it in the sense of being responsible for
it than this diocese will have for the
missionary jurisdictions of North Dakota,
of Duluth, or of Oklahoma. The setting of
it off as separate Jurisdiction is the action
of the whole church in the United States in
general convention A bishop will be pro-
Vlded, who will rank in Episcopal functions
with Bishop White and all other members
OF the house of bishops. But he will not
De CHOSEN by diocesan convention, as in
the case of an independent diocese but by
the house of bishops. The gain is in the
fact that the State of Indiana will have
in case the division is made two Episcopal
workers; two spiritual fathers in God who
VIII devote their Tune TO the cause of Christ
and the church. Bishop White will continue
TO reside in indianapolis, of course, but will
have smaller field of labor and more time
to give to it,
The name of the new diocese has not
been chosen, but it may be stated that the
tendency is now TO name dioceses for cities
rather than after sections Of States There
are many dioceSes named after parts of
States, as Western New York Southern
Ohio and West Michigan. But the later
named jurisdictions have been called after
cities as the diocese of Springfield, of Spo-
kane, of Lexington. Hence it may be set
down probable that it will be the diocese
of Evansville, rather than the Diocese of
Southern Indiana. 1t should be added at
once. however, that Evansville has not been
decided upon as the see city, and no one but
the General Convention can name il. but
the church has two strong parishes there
st. Pauls and Holy Innocents. and is said
to be the most probable residence of the flu
ture bishop.
Who this biship may prove to be it is
too early to predict. 1t may be said how
ever that it is likely to be. if precedent
counts for anything, man without the
bounds of the present diocese of Indiana
Not that there are not able men within this
diocese for the place. On the contrary
there are many such. A prominent member
of the communion said that any one of the
three deans of convocation, Rev. DR.. A. w.
Staircase of the Northern. Rev. DR.. E G..
Hunter of the Central, or Rev. DR.. c. Ora
ham Adams of the Southern, or such mem
bers of the standing committee of the do
cese as Rev. DIR. j. H. W. Blake. or Rev.
DR.. A. j. Graham. or the rector of ST.
Paul's. DR.. Christensen. this city. now on
leave of absence for year as chaplain of
the Observation-Disclosures fty-eighth Regiment
any of these would make good bishops
and look we'll in lawn sleeves, but when
the general convention is given the decision
to make it often takes, as national body.
national view and often looks far, rather
than near, for its Episcopal candidate.