The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-29
A Pivotal Episcopal Election.


which now obtains.
A Pivotal Episcopal Election.
The trustees Of the Episcopal General
Theological Seminary in Chelsea Square
are to meet in Easter week, or the week
beginning with April IL, to elect a sue
cessor to the late Dean HOFFMAN, and
very rarely in the history Of that Church
in America has a forthcoming event
been awaited with more interest, even
anxiety. No question now before the
Episcopal Church, said the Chxrchmdn
few weeks ago, Is Of greater importance.
and in the columns of that paper have
been published many letters from both
clergymen and laymen Of distinction.
in which the selection Of dean Is treated
in the same spirit.
The General Theological Seminary Is
the one national school Of divinity in the
Episcopal Church. II was established
in 1917 by the General Convention. and 1t
is still under the control Of the whole
Church. Every Bishop is entitled by
his ofice to be ono of It's trustees, and
one-half Of the remaining fifty trustees
are elected by the House OF Deputies
Of the General Convention and the other
half by dioceses. The institution Is
therefore peculiarly representative, and
it's tone. its ecclesiastical politics, IL Of
profound concern to the whole Church
and to every school Of thought and
theology and Guardianship included
in it.
The seminary has had only three deans
distinctively since its foundation, all Of
them classifiable as High Church The
first was JOHN MURRAY FORBES, d. d.
He had passed over, in is49. from the
Episcopal to the Roman Catholic Church.
and there had won speedy theological
distinction and received the degree OF
s. T. d. by decree Of Pope PIUs TX; but
having returned to the Episcopal Church.
and been restored to the exercise Of its
ministry in 1852, he was elected to the
deanship in 1850, and held the office
until 1872. The second dean was the
present Bishop SEYMOUR of the Illinois
diocese OF Springfield, whose term was
from 1875 to 1878. When he was first
elected Bishop OF Illinois, in succession
to Bishop WHITEHoUsR, the General
Convention OF 1874, in session at New
York, refused to confirm the election
on the ground Of his extreme High
Church tendencies. but when he had
been chosen again, four years later, he
was oonsecrated in Trinity Church in
New York, June. 1873. The third dean,
the late DR.. HOFFMAN, who died last
June, was also OF the High Church
type, but a discreet and moderate man.
All Of the three deans were graduates
from the semin airy, and under their in
fuence and the influence OF the faculty
generally its tone has been High"
though Of the clergy graduated from it
there have been Representatives Of other
schools Of Guardianship, but, probably.
a minority only.
II is noteworthy that now some Of the
students of the seminary are expressing
very decided opposition to the election
Of q distinctively High Churchman to
the ofioe, and arc ready to make an
appeal TO the trustees for the selection
of man who IN conservative and Of
practical ability a. an educator and an
administrator. This h In substantial
accordance with q view which has been
expressed by Bishop sArTKBLEE OF
Washington. . graduate Of the seminary.
and by the Rev. DR.. BArTEH. the rector
Of 81. Marks Church. Not . particular
typs Of Churchmsnship Ia essential.
argued DR.. BArrEk. but . dean who u
above all things else an educator
not Of the. knowledge which II anti
quated, but ths knowledge which u
abreast OF this wonderful age not Of
the modern theology. though the con-
tributions Of recent years are not TO be
disregardsd;' = man Who 10 qualified
20 serve ~ . Isadsr In theological sdu-
cation DR.. WILLIAM n. Bishop. .
graduate Of 1871. who u nov . professor
In tbs University Of the south. would
insist on ths requirement Of soholsr-
ship on man sho 70 az eovrsm With
thu, which 10 ~ ths ssms tins frnshsst
and most reliable In the work sud the
results of the contemporary Theological
moysmsn,;' who In his Own iifs has
NOT held sioof from the currents VI pro-
gre-siye thought and from the questions.
ethical, soclai and religious. which
pr~ss upon No for solution
Those ~. ssprssslons Which have
,hs tinss of Broad churchmAnship.
hi,hsrto pretty tkoroashiy ssdudsd
from the seminary. On tbs other sads.
the High Church party and tks Va.
IRENE Ritusiist parry srs'sotivs IN thsiS
! causes. though vfhaS - fro. 'Asa.