The Washington times., 1903-01-25
BY OSCAR FAY ADAMS.

the haven OF the episCopate. is surely
to have been favored Of fortune above
the majority of ones fellows, But
thus favored. indeed. was the Bishop
Of Oklaho. who was only thirty-e!ght,
and had been known for three years
as the handsomest member Of the
American House Of Bishops
And as rule bishops are comedy to
look upon. How much of this comel-
ness is inherent in their Office, it
might be hard to determine Some
very plain featured rectors have be
come. If not precisely beautiful, at
least wonderfully imposing in aspect
after their enrolment among the
bishops. The diocesan Of Oklaho,
however, had been noted as a hand
some man while he was yet the
spiritual ruler Of small country
parish only. Elderly. and cynical
members Of the general convention
Cof the lower house, of course) mad
been heard to assert that the Bishop
Of Oklaho's elevation 20 the episco-
pate was due solely TO the fact of his
handsome features. but this assertion
must have been coIored by personal
bitterness. For It IS quite certain
that until standing committees admit
women delegates to- their sdeIbeFa-
tons we need not expect that the
beauty of d candidate will have con
trolling weight in the nomination of
a bishop
But TO whatever circumstance the
Bishop Of Oklaho owed his election,
that he was well fitted for his office
no one attempted to deny. He was
an untiring worker, a preacher Of IN
usual eloquence, and, what was of
prime Importance, the possessor Of a
charm of manner which never failed
of disarming opposition to his faith
in localities where the Episcopal
church was known only by unfriendly
and vague report.
In the third year after his consecra-
ton as bishop he was called upon to
perform other duties than those re-
Iating to the administration OF affairs
IN his own diocese. The Bishop Of
Saginaw had just died and the Bishop
Of Oklaho was asked to undertake a
confirmation tour planned by the late
bishop shortly before his death! It
was while engaged in this work that
he visited Port Huron TO hold a con-
HrnatIon.
Much had been heard IN the little
city concerning the handsome bishop
and his eloquent sermons. On the
Sunday morning Of his visitation
Christ Church was filed by a congre-
CATION made up not only Of its own
members, but Of strangers from other
places of worship. There were pres
ent even some Of Her Majesty's loyal
subjects from Sarnia and Fort Ed
ward across the river.
; AS the bishop entered the chaIcel.
following the choristers and the rec
tor. there was q rustic among TIL
pews which expressed admiration just
as Enthusiastically as If 1t had been put
into words and displayed before each
seat in letters foot high. The bishop
detected the rustic as he passed on to
his chair within the sanctuary, and
knew exactly how to interpret it. And
being human, it did not displease him
that such q ripple OF sound should
spread itself over q congregation upor
his appearance. -.. .sas -.-..H..
The rector interpreted the rustic
correctly. likewise. and being. quite as
human as the bishop, and far less
amiable, it was not pleasant for him
TO remember that no such gratifying
nurTnur had ever attended his own
entrance into the chanceI. Rectors
who look upon themselves as bishops
in embryo are sometimes forgetful Of
the very wide distance between bish-
ops in posse and bishops de facto.
When morning prayer was over, and
the choristers, a little futtered from
unusual exertions (for they had lifted
up their voices as the storm wind for
intensity were recovering from their
flight into the empyrean, the con
fir1nation followed in due form. Then
the bishop. after a few words Of ad-
vice 10 the candidates before him,
entered the pulpit. and the congre-
CATION settled itself comfortably back
among the pew cushions, prepared TO
be moved howsoever the reverend
preacher should ordain.
The Canadian contingent present
were pleased TO note that the bishop
followed the Anglican custom Of pre-
facing the sermon by q short prayer
in the pulpit, but the rest were a little
disturbed at the tridIng departure
from what they were used to.