The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-05-05
7, D. BRATTON, D, D.
ELECTED AS BISHOP
Diocese of Mississippi Calls
Gifted Car.linian.
HAS NOT YET ACCEPTED

CBy the Associated Prcss.)

L. -
jackson, Miss. April 30,-The Dioce-
san Council OF the Protestant Episcopal
church Of Mississippi today elected Theo-
dore l.. Bratton. u. d., CT 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
DR.. Bratton, rector of ST. Mary's 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 election.
Are you going to accept the position?"
was asked him.
Il do not know" he replied. Il will
consider the 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-
pose last night, and would only say
that he was considering the matter, but
had not yet reached a conclusion.
The Diocesan Council will send a com
mittee 20 Raleigh to confer with DR..
Bratton and to urge upon him the ac-
ceptance of the position. This commit
tee consists Of Rev. De Bernier Wad-
dell, a native OF North Carolina. Rev.
Robert w. Rarnwell and M. A. G.
Leigh. 1t is not yet known how soon
this committee Will reach Raleigh. but
the MEMBERS are expected here at al
early date.
All who heard the news of DR.. Brat
tons election last night We're a unit
in expressing grief at the possibility OF
losing him as the head OF st. Mary's
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
lor and friend.
DR.. BrattOn is an educator Of I'M
common force and energy. He was
known as such in South Carolina before
he came to Raleigh and he has added
to his reputation here. Whether in the
pulpit or on the platform his utterances
n sermons and addresses nave been Of
high character. marked with force and
originality and at all times have been
such as to tend to the be~tterment Of hui
mainly.
DR.. BRATTON'S LIFE.
Theodore D. Bratton is a native of
South Carolina and is about forty-one
years of age. He is a son Of the late
Gen. John B~ratton, of South Carolina, q
noted officer and gallant soldier of the
CCnfederacy. His mother was Miss Du
Bose, 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, OF 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.
DR.. 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 Srartanburg. s.
&c. While at that place he was also il.
charge of the Chair Of History in Con-
verse college.
He occupied a high position in the
Episcopal Diocese in South Carolina, be-
ing sent by it as a Deputy to thc
General Convention. When Bishop
Capers was elected to the Bishopric in
South Carolina DR., Bratton was favor
| ed UV manV for that n%nSitiOn
In 1899 he was called to the position
OF Rector Of ST. Mary's School and un-
der mis- able direction and splendid man
agcment 1T has wonderfully developed
and taken on new life. When he took
charge, succeeding the late DR.. Smeles.
there were about eighty boarders. Now
there are one hundred and thirty board-
ers, with over one hundred day pupils.
the school having at time as many as
200 pupils. Last year over forty appli-
cants as boarding pupils had to be re-
fused because of lack of room. The
school is run to it's full capacity and
stands with the best SCHOOLS of the coun-
try in its curriculum and management.
DR.. Bratton is regarded as a ripe
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 worthiIy bestowed and most
w%ortEily lived up to.
DR.. Bratton has been a force for edu-
cational good in North Carolina. At
meetings of teachers he has been heard
with interest and his voice has ALWAYS
been for the best advancement in edu-
c%ational as in church work. Should he
accept the high position to which he has
been elected he will be relinquished wifi,
regret BY the people of Raleigh and bv
the DiOceses of North and South Caro-
lima under whose control st. Mary's is
conducted.
Notes Fl ON Truck District.