Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-25
Local Matters.
THE NEW BISHOP.
Something Of the Life Of Robert Goldman, Jr.
Recently Elected to That Position.

The election of a bishop in the ProteS-
,ant Episcopal church is matter 81
great Importance and is of deep interest
N the members Of that church as well as
IN those who give attention to matters OF
religious progress, The diocese of Maine
&c principally a missionary diocese. While
Tho EpiscopaI church in this State has
grown steadily in the past thirty years,
its gains are almost entirely made b.
missionary work, and even many of the
most settled parishes are still carried on
by missionary work.
There are but very few well established
parishes in Maine, but some OF these are
comparatively wealthy. There are ohiy
about thirty parishes in the whole do
cese and while some of the missionaries
reach far up into the thinly settled por-
tons of the State, in Portland, Augusta
and Bangor are large parishes win
handsome buildings. The parish Of 81.
Marks in Augusta has not only its beau
tiful church building but adornmentS
which far surpass anything else in the
State, and its services are carried on
with greater ceremony than those OF
other churches. Portland is the see city
OF the diocese and contains the parish "f
St. Luke's and the Episcopal palace.
Should Mr.. Goldman accept the election,
he will reside in Portland and his work
will be from that point As was pointed
out a few days ago in the Journal. any
priest becoming a bishop accepts it for
life. He cannot resign, and can only be
removed for gross misbehavior; he is
bishop until death, and cannot look for
ward to retirement from active life at
any time.
II will be interesting to all of our read
ers To know a little about the bishop
elect whose unanimous election was an
entire surprise to him and placed him in
such a state Of indecision that he has not
as yet been able to definitely determine
what he will do. Rev. Mr.. Goldman is 4
Boston man, and belongs to the distln-
guished family of that name. He is 4
graduate Of Harvard College. having at
tainei the degree Of Bachelor of Arts.
He went to the law school of the sam"
university, ana after graduation entrre.!
the office Of his father. Robert Goldman.
Esq. where he for some time practiccd
law During this time he was a regular
attendant of the Church Of the Advent,
of which church his family are still mem
bers
While practcng law, a very dearly he
loved brother died ana caused Mr. cod
man TO think very much upon religious
SUBJECTS and to such an extent that h"
left the law for holy orders. His first
rrctOrship WAS st. Johns. in 1893, and
since then his life has been one steady
grind If labor. The parish is composed
largely Of poor people, ana many Of the
handsome appointments Of the church
have been supplied from the private
funds of the rector himself
In his present parish he has shown
himself high churchman of the pro-
gressive school He has established many
institutions. having a club made UP o:
choir boys and in the school room a fit
ted apparatus for gymnaStic exercises
Guilds and associations We're formed, and
he has one Of the most powerful bodies
of active workers ever connected with
any church society in Boston. His
marked executive success has been suca
as to call attention to him from every
part Of the country.
The habits of Bishop Goldman are de
lightfully simple. Reared in luxury, he
has east his lot with the poor and de
voted his life To the service Of the church.
He is very abstemiuus in all his ways,
and is not large eater. lie never uses
either liquor or tobacco in any form, ana
is earnestly and purely religious.
Personally he is very charming. He Is
rather shorter in stature than the aver
age. he wears a snort beard trimmed q
a point. and his whole appearance de
notes 4 gentleman Of refinement ana
culture. Busy as he is, he is very ac-
MI al "a x,4r
He has been AN extensive traveller.
The sight of suffering is always sure "a
touch Ms purse strings. lie is constantly
giving IN charity but his aims dis
posed If in such an transformations WY
that 4 very few know how much H.
spends in this way. It is fact that t:Ir
larger part Of his present salary goes to
make th,. poor people with whom II"
comes in contact more comfortable ana
happy.
He is very popular with his brother
clergy. Although more than ordinarily
successful in All lines in priests lif',
he never arrugates his superiority. bur
goes quietly on his own way. His means
are ample, and should he accept his cleo
tiun he will be one of the wcalthirtt
prelates in the Episcopatc. This is the
man who has been elected bishop If
Maine He is young ana it !S believed
can do good work as head of the church
in Maine. Being unmarried. he can ~.
vote an undivided mind ana purpose to
the work. and il is believed that his
laburs will be rewarded with much fru-
itiun. Those of our readers who are resi-
dents Of this city will De pleased to know
that the bshop-elcct is 4 cousin of R,N.
George f. Degcn. rector Of st. Mark f
church.