Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-02-10
WAITING FOR POTTER
DR.. Mackay-Smith Holds An
sWer in Allegiance.
REGARDING COADJUTOR
NEW YORK BISHOP WILL BE
HERE WEDNESDAY.
Standing Committee of the Pennsyl-
vania Diocese Makes a Fur
Their Appeal.
REGARDING COADJUTOR

The Rev. DR. DeWolf Perry, president,
and Mr.. William w. Frazier. secretary of
the standing committee OF the Episcopal
diocese of Pennsylvania, came to Washing
ton from Philadelphia at noon today to
confer with the Rev. Dr.. Alexander
Mackay Smith, and to further impress upon
him the Importance of accepting the office
of coadjutor to Bishop Whitaker, TO which
he elected at the convention held in
the Quaker city last week. The standing
committee is the ecclesiastical authority of
the diocese of Pennsylvania under the
bishop
The president and secretary of the COM
mittee were driven at once to st. Johns
Episcopal Church, where DR.. Mackay-
Smith was In waiting, he having received a
telegram last evening apprising him of
their coming. The conference was a pri-
vate one Both DR.. Perry and Mr.. Frazier
tried to impress upon DIR. Mackay-Smith
that it was his duty to the Episcopal
Church at large to accept the position, and
that it was the unanimous wish of the
diocese that he take upon himself the
broader responsibilities that the office Will
necessitate
Gave No Final Answer.
DR.. Mackay- Smith listened attentively to
what DR.. Perry and Mr.. Frazier had to
conference he gave them practically the
same answer that he gave to the commit
tee that waited upon him Saturday and
officially notified him of his election. There
are a number of things that prevent DIR.
Mackay-Smith from reaching a final con-
cuson without delay. AS one of the prom
inent members of his congregation said this
afternoon, Bishop Satterlee naturally feels
sadly at the possibility of losing from iiis
diocese a man so gifted as DR.. Mackay-
Smith, and who has accomplished SO
much IN perhaps the most important mis-
sion of the diocese. Not only this, Bishop
Satterlee is a dear friend of DR.. 4Iackdy-
Smith, and he is anxious to retain MIN at
St. Johns, which is now in more flourish
ing condition, both spiritually and hnanciaI-
ly, than ever before.
Another thing that DR.. Mackay-Smfth
must take into consideration in accepting
the new position is the fact that Bishop
Whitaker, who is nearly eighty years old,
is at a period in life when he can no longer
take an active part in the duties that be-
long to bishop. He has been in ill-health
for a number of years. Only today he de-
parted from Philadelphia for southern Cali
fornia on the advice of his physician. 1t is
hardly likely that he will ever be able again
to take upon himself the responsibilities of
his position. He has had congestion of the
brain and is in very feeble condition.
Second Largest Diocese.
The Pennsylvania diocese is the second
largest in the United States, and the work
that would naturally fall to the coadjutor
would be more than arduous. The diocese
has had for bishops some of the best
known ecclesasts in the country. The Rev
DR.. William White, who was the first chap
lain of Congress, was bishop for many
years. 1t was he who offered the first
prayer in Congress. This was during the
trying times of the latter part of the revo-
l,Itin -hnr, PAM E'tapl I'll nd
said: We are in the midst of great per-
pleXities. We have been looking in every
direction for light. 1t seems right for me
to suggest that there is one source to which
We have never made plea during this war;
and | move that we pray The Rev. Dr.
White led the body in prayer.
1t Is a great problem for DR.. Mackay-
Smith to decide and he will likely take
plenty of time that he may make no mis-
take. Some of his congregation have ex-
pressed the thought that he would be bury
ing himself were he to accept the coadjutor-
ship. Many of his friends throughout the
country take just the opposite view for
they foresee that he would succeed Bishop
Whitaker in the event of the latter's death
The right of succession from coadjutor to
bishop Is part of the church law
Bishop Potter Coming.
Bishop Whitaker has been in his present
position sixteen years. He is a man of
earning personality and is noted through
out the Episcopal Church of the United
States for his meekness and loneliness of
temper Pennsylvania has always held so
commanding position in church and edu-
cdtlonal affairs that any man might hest
tate at accepting call to such an office
Bishop Potter Of New York Is expected to
arrive in Washington Wednesday morning
to confer with Dr. Mackay-Smith on the
subject. Unless he should be delayed he
VIII preach the Ash Wednesday sermon at
st. Johns Episcopal Church.