The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-01
Diocese of Mississippi Calls
Gifted CarClinian.
HAS NOT YET ACCEPTED
Is Rector Ct 81. Mary's School IN Raleigh and
viii Consider the Matter kfier Con-
feTing With The Committee
Sent.
(By the Associated Press

JACKSON, MISS, Apr1l 3O-The Dioce-
san Council of the Protestant Episcopal
church of Mississippi today elected Theo-
dore d. Bratton. d. D., of Raleigh, N.
c., bishop of Mississippi, Rev. John G.
Murray, d. d., of Baltimore, who was
elected bishop last night, having de-
clined the honor.
1t was after dark last evening when
DIR. Bratton, rector of st. Marys School,
Of Raleigh, was informed by wire of his
unanimous selection as the bishop of
Mississippi.
DR.. Bratton was interviewed by a
News and Observer reporter last night
concerning the matter of his accept
ance of the position.
Are you going to accept the position
was asked him.
81 do not know he replied. q will
consider he matter carefully and will be
guided in my decision by that which will
be for the best interests of the church,
and for the performance of those obli-
cations that rest upon me-"
DR.. Bratton feels that a great honor
has been done him, and appreciates it,
He would give no indication of his pur-
peso last night, and would only say
That he was considering the matter. but
had not yet reached a conclusion.
The Diocesan ouncil will send com
mittee 10 Raleigh to confer with Dr.
Bratton and to urge upon him the ac-
ccptance of the position. This commit
tee consists Of Rev. Or. Bermer NVad-
dell a native OF North Carolina, Rev
Robert W narnwell and M A. Ct
Leigh. 1t is not yet known how soon
this committee viii reach Raleigh, but
the members are expected here at an
early date.
All who heard the news of Dr. Brat
TONS election last night were a unit
in expressing grief at the possibility of
losing him as the head of st. Marys
School and as a citizen OF Raleigh. In
the four years that he has lived here
he has grown into the hearts of the
people and is esteemed not only for his
rare ability and learning, but for all
those qualities which go to make up
the noble man and the beloved COUNSEL
Tor and friend.
DIR. Bratton is an educator of I'M
common force and energy. He was
Known as SucE IN oOUl0 NaTOllud Delofc
he came to Raleigh and he has added
to his reputation here. Whether in the
pulpit or on the platform his utterances
in sermons and addresses have been of
high character marked with force and
originality ard at all times have been
such as to tend to the betterment of hu
manity.
Theodore D. Bratton is a native of
South Carolina and is about forty-one
years of age. He Is son of the late
Cen John Bratton, of South Carolina, a
noted officer and gallant soldier Of the
Confederacy. His mother was Miss Du
Pose a sister of the eminent theologian
the dean of the theological seminary
of the University OF the South, at Suwa-
ness. Tenn. His wife, formerly Miss
Lucy d. Randolph, is a daughter of DR..
Randolph. Of Florida. Her mother was
Miss Baird. o: Salisbury, one Of the well
known families of that name. DR.. and
Mrs Bratton have six children, three
girls and three boys, the Oldest, John,
about fourteen years of age.
Or. Bratton was educated at the
University of the South. first in the
academic and then in the theological de-
partment He was later Proctor of the
University and taught there. He began
his pastoral work at Yorksville, S. c..
and before he came to Raleigh had been
for a considerable time rector of the
Church of the Advent at Snartanburg, S.
C. While at that place he was also Ill
charge of the chair of History in Cos
verse college
He occupied a high position in the
FlJscopal Diocese in South Carolina. be-
ing sent by it as a Deputy to the
General Convention. When Bishop
Capers was elected to the Bishpric in
South Carolina DR.. Bratton was favor
cd by many for that position.
In 1890 he was called to the position
of Rector of St. Mary's School and I'M
der his able direction and splendid man
agement il has wonderfully developed
and taken on new life When he took
charge. succeeding the late DR.. Smedes,
there were about eighty boarders. Now
there are one hundred and thirty board
crs, with over one hundred day pupils,
the school having at time as many as
go pupils Last year over forty appli-
oants as boarding pupils had to be re-
fused because of lack OF room. The
school is run TO its fun capacity and
try in its curriculum and management
Dr. Bratton is regarded as rife
scholar and an able theologian by his
church. In 1901 the University of the
South. his alma mater, conferred the
degree of d. ID upon him His whole
life work has shown that it was an
honor most worthilv bestowed and most
worthily lived up TO-
Or. Bratton has been force for cdu-
cational good in North Carolina. Al
meetings of teachers he has been heard
with interest and his force has always
been for the best advancement in eGu-
cational as in church work. Should he
accept the high position to which he ha.
been elected he viii be relinquished witt
regret by the people of Raleigh and by
the Dioceses Of North and South Caro-.
lima under whose control St Marys i.
conducted
Magistrate Hollin yesterday appointo,