The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-24
EpiscopaIians Undecided as to
Their Power to Elect a Bishop
at the Primary Convention to
be Held Next Month
AUTHORITIES DO NOT
AGREE ON THE QUESTION
Bishop Lawrence viii Probably
Consult With Other Bishops to
Decide the ProbIem-Dr. Greer
of New Yark Popular in West
ern Massachusetts

A conundrum that the Episcopalians
their brains to solve is whether or no
the, primary convention of the new
diocese which meets in Springfield,
Tuesday, Nov. 10, has the power to
elect a bishop. AS previously stated in
The Spy, there is an article in the con-
stitution of the Episcopal Church of
Massachusetts, which says that a
bishop can be elected only at the an
nual convention or at a convention
called for that purpose of which go
days notice has been given.
This makes the rule as to the old
diocese very plain And if the laws
of the old diocese apply to the new
Springfield convention
In reply to a letter from Rev. Chas.
l.. Short, assistant rector of All Saints
Church, Rev. L. c. Manchester, of
Lowell, secretary of the Massachusetts
convention, has written his views on
theR )roblem. DR.. Manchester says that
while he has nothing to do with the
matter in his official capacity he has
looked into it to some extent with the
view as assisting Bishop William Law
renee in the organization of the new
NASNNoSs IAG NlAlto that IL ClduSG III
the constitution Of the general conven-
ton relating to the formation of new
dioceses which says they shall be gov
erned by the constitution of the do
cese of which they were a part except
as local circumstances may permit"
may possibly be construed as applying
to the case in hand.
Following is an extract from Dr.
Manchester's letter:
l cannot answer you categorioally
I am not sure but that an election for
bishop may be held Notwithstanding
that constitutional provision. l will tell
you what the constitution and the
canons of the General Convention have
to say. Article of the constitution
says:
Whenever the division of a diocese
| into two or more dioceses shall be rati-
fed by the General Convention, each
of the dioceses shall be subject to the
constitution and canons of the diocese
SO divided, except as local circum-
stances may prevent. asked the
permit your primary convention to
elect bishop, notwithstanding the
constitution of Massachusetts.
THE digest says: The bishop of the
diocese within the limits of which an
other is formed shall thereupon call the
primary convention of the new do
cese for the purpose of enabling it to
organize, etc.And the naming of the
new diocese shall be part of it's or
ganization."
This is all can discern about the
matters in the constitution and canons
of the General Convention. Happily 1
do not have to decide the question, but
either the Bishop of Massachusetts or
1 suppose ultimately the primary
convention itself.
LOS Angeles elected it's bishop at
the primary convention, and no word
about it was in the call. Still do not
know that in the constitution and
canons of the State of California, gov
erning Los Angeles there was any such
provision as in our constitution. I have
not examined the cases of other new
and even if l found they elect
ed their bishop" at primary conven-
lions I should not know whether there
was any such article in the constitu1
lions of the mother diocese as Massa- !
chusetts has.
IT take it that the bishop Of Massa-
chusetts will seek such light as he can !
get from other bishops, and it may be |
that this is a knotty question for the |
canonists. 1t may be that the local !
may determine the nee
essity of an episcopal election as a do |
cese is not complete without a bishop" |
DIR. Manchester has been mentioned |
as a candidate for the new bishopric |
himself, but he writes:
II decline in advance to be bishop of |
the new diocese and shall leave it for |
some younger man. Vote for DR.. Hill |
lard, or Grosvenor, or DR.. Vinton, or |
Arthur Lawrence, or DR.. Greer, or |
Tibbetts, or Roland Cotton Smith, or |
Brent, or Twombly, or any other fell
low you choose"
Rev. DIR. David H. Greer, rector of |
st. Bartholomew Church in New York |
city, continues to be spoken of as the |
choice of the western part of the do
cese which, it is said, will control the !
convention. DR.. Greer is very popular |
in New York, and would doubtless fill |
the episcopal seat excellently.
Worcester County Episcopalians
would like to see DR.. Vinton of All
Saints their bishop, but to accom-
plish that they must enlist support
outside the county.
A meeting of the parish of st. Johns
Church has been called for Tuesday
night to elect three lay delegates to
the Springfield convention.