The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-11
M 1 BISHOP. $50
Episcopal Delegates To
Ballot This Week.
Proceedings Which Will Be Watched
With Interest.
The Mode Of Procedure
Which is Probable.
Those Spoken Of as Possible Sue
sessors 10 Bishop Nicely.

On Wednesday Of this week the clergy
and parish delegates of the Episcopal
diocese of Maine win meet in Portland
10 chooss q successor Of the late Bishop
Nicely. The proceeding Of this conven-
ton will be watched with great interest
By m any who have no pers,nal interest
in the diocsss Of Maine % well a. y those
selection of . successor to the lamented
Bishop Nesly is naturally regarded with
especial interest hsrs 10 Portland, where
the bishop will make his home.
Notices have been s,nt to the clergy
In charge Of parishes and mi listers OF the
diocese By the standing com mittee Of the
diocess acting with eccls. In 't.oal authori-
ty owlling Q spsisl convent IN at the Ca
thsdrsi Of st. Luke, Wednesday, Decem-
Der 18th as 9.30 m. There are "a clergy
men In this diocese who are entitled to
vote ct this convention. Fifteen parishes
have each vote and select five delegates
from the laity.
IL Is probable that the greater part OF
the delegates aad clergy viii arrive tp
Portland for the purpose of attending
this convention BY Tue sday evening. On
this evening the board Of missions will
hold q meeting previous to which the
Rev. Charles y. Lee. rector Of Newcastle.
will dsliver q sermon on the missionary
zeal Of the late Bishop Nicely. 1t is highly
probable that during the evening the
clergy and lsity may meet for an inform
al discussion Of the matters which will
come before the convention and the
method Of procedure. There have not
been many conceptions held In Maine
for the purpose for which this ocnvsn-
ton is called, 80 II 10 not known to
certainty just what rules will be adopted
for the conduct OF the convention. These
matters will be Informally discusse1
should . meeting Of this kind be held.
but no definite action will be taken at
that time.
On Wednesday morning holy oommu-
MON viii b celebrated 1t T. 80 O'Clock.
and again ct o'clock. and the conven-
tion will assemble ct $50 O'Clock. The
meeting win probably be held ut the
Parish house. According to . canon Of
the church the CONVENTION, in the asbsnce
Of q bishop, win select its own presidin
and other officers.
In 1896 a few simple rules were adopted
for the governments OF the convention be-
fore any other business was transacted.
These rules provided that In the nomina-
tion Of olsrsymen for the position Of
bishop NO discussion Of character should
be allowed and limit was placed upon
the time allowed for making such nomi-
nation. A clergy man and layJuan were
appointed by the OF air to count the bal
lots cast by the clet gymsn and a clergy
man and lay nan were chosen to count
~ tellers for the laity. The clergy and
the lsity were seated In different parts OF
the room and the name OF each clergyman
and each parish was announced when the
ballot was cast.
In an election Of bishop . majority
Of the votes cast IL required to elect.
The clergy ballot first At other convsn-
lions It has required many ballots for
cboioe.
When tbs clergy have chosen man the
laity ballot By parishes. Though each
has i've delegates each psrish is entitled
to but ons vots. In this case there ace
Is parishes entitled 70 representation and
1t will require votes to elect. II the lAity
do not choose the same man as the clergy
but finally do cast majority Of the votes
for some one. the clergy ballot again. II
they do not elect. either Of the men al
ready ckcssn, but still another one the
laity must ballot again and this process
IL continued until BY concurrent action
the convention has elected bishop.
There are no candidates for this position.
The choosing Of hiahopus regarded rs
a very solemn and serious matter BY the
church. There h no slectionssring car.
risd on. few names or many may be
presented to the convention. There have
been some clergy msn more prominently
mentionsd a. the successor OF Bishop
Nicely than others. These names may
not be presented to the convention at all.
and some which have not been currently
reported may be presented. Among others
mentioned are Arohdeaeon Weber OF
milwaukee,, Rev. G. II. Brant rector OF
st. Stevens. Boston. and Rev. hobart
Goldman Of Roxbury. DR.. Vinton OF
Worcester, Macs, has also been men
toned. There have been no names ssri-
ously considered from the clsrgym men OF
this diocese The custom has been hereto
fore to select some 0ns outside Of the do
cese, the idea being that new broom 10
more apt to sweep clean than an old one.
General Lsonard Wood declares the re-
a. Ca Raattax, n SAINT Ia
go province to be without foundation.
Boston Democrats are claiming that
they will elect Gen. Collins from 5000 10
5000 Notwithstanding disaffection In the
ranka They also claim the board Of a.
dermen. The Republicans express coafi-
dencs that they, will MARE Hart mayor.