Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-08
Rev. DR.. McKim Chairman
of House Of Deputies
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
POPULAR CLERGYMAN OF THE
WASHINGTON DIOCESE.
The Successor Of Prominent Divines In
a Position Of Importance
to the Church. -.


Of deputies Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church of America. in Boston, last Thurs
day, is most gratifying to the friends OF
the eminent divine For almost forty years
Dr. McKim has been one of the prominent
clergymen in the Episcopal Church in this
country He has distinction through his
attitude toward several questions OF ma
tional moment, and his election Is claimed
TO be a great victory for the adherents OF
the low church idea in America. For many;
years past he has been looked upon as one
of the best authorities on all matters reiat-
ing to the church and church history he
has published several volumes and pamph-
let's of sermons and essays setting forth MS
beliefs and deductions.
Dr. McKim is not low churchman In the
strict meaning Of the term. 1t IS declared,
but is rath.r broad" churchman. VINO
Believes there should be no discussion. or
difference as to the form and manner OF
worship, and who would meet Doth .tle
high church and the low church. on conf
mon ground and endeavor to eliminate all
differences. :
Locally DIR. McKim Is one of the most
popular and best beloved of clergyman. He
was born in Baltimore April TO- 1872 and
was graduated from the University of Viz
ginia in 1851 He entered the confederate
military service Immediately after his grad
uaton and attained some distinction. as q
member Of the staff Of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart,
the famous cavalry leader of the confed-
eracy- "a ''e-';
Ordained in 1865; =; ~. e..
At the close of the war DIR. .McKim took
a course IN the Virginia Theological Semi
nary, near Alexandria, and was ordained
priest in the Episcopal Church in 1865 He
was rector of ST. Johns Church in Ports
mouth, Va, a short time after his ordinat
ton. but soon came to Christ Church, Alex
andria, where he served as rector several
years: From Alexandria he was called to
New York. where for period he had
charge of Holy Trinity parish in Harlem.
From there he went to Trinity Church in
New Orleans, where he was serving as rec
tor when he was selected for Epiphany par
ish. this city. in 1888. In 1871 he received
the degree of doctor of divinity from the
Washington, and Lee University of Vir-
ginia.
The work of Dr. McKim in this city has
been most successful. The parish of Epiph-
any is the largest in the diocese Of Wash
ington, and is, the third fourth largest
in the United States, having more than two
thousand communicates. Toward holding
together this large organization and keep
ing it growing the rector has bent his
greatest efforts.
An Old Parish.
Epiphany is one of the oldest parishes
in the city. Bishop Paret of Maryland
was formerly its rector. DR.. McKim, who
is the seventh rector, succeeded Rev.
Samuel M. Giesys. DID. At the time pEfbe
6rganiza ton of the diocese of wasAtas>
ton in 1895 the rector and members: of
Epiphany Church. were northumberland
in finally deciding the question as to
whether or not the diocese should be or
ganized, and when the matter of securing
the endowment therefor was brought I'D
DIR. Mckim and his congregation worked
hard toward raising the fund and made
the largest contribution thereto of any
parish in the city. - &
When the time came for thetselection of
a bishop for this diocese DR.. McKIIl whs
prominently named for the hon6k.s He;
was chairman of the standing committee
of the diocese and chairman of the COM
mittee on foreign and domestic missions.
AS rector of the Epiphany he has acted
gatherings. the most notable of which
was the triennial convention of the epis-
copate of America six years ago. i.- g.
DIR. Mckim is a close student of history
and has been called upon to give adj
dresses of an historical character before
patriotic and other societies. He is a
prominent member of the Sons of the
American Revolution and for several wears
was chaplain of the local chapter: Student
though he is,~Dr. McKim finds time for
pleasure. and is one of the most enthusi-
astic opponents of the great game of golf
in the District, spending as much time as
possible on the links. He is a member of
the Cosmos Club and of several literary
and historical societies.
Highest Gift Clergy Can Bestow.
The position to which DR.. McKim has
been elected is the highest within the
gift Of the clergy in the Episcopal Church
outside Of the house of bishops. The gov
erning body of the church meets every
three years. as is well known, for the
purpose of legislating for the church,
This legislation is carried through by
means of two bodies. One of these. the
house of bishops. is made up of the bish-
ops of the church. and the other is called
the house of deputies and includes in its
membership four clergymen and four
laymen from each diocese and one clergy
man and one layman from each mission
airy Jurisdiction.
The house of deputies elects its chair
man at every meeting. For many years
prior to the last convention in San Fran
cisco Rev. DIR. Dix of Trinity Church, N
Y, was chairman of the house of depu-
ties At the San Francisco convention DR..
Dix declined Reelection. and Rev Dr.
Charles Lindsay of st. Paurs Church.
Boston, was elected. DIR. Lindsay died
during the past year, however and at the
meeting of the convention Thursday DR..
McKim was chosen. He will probably re-
main chairman of the house Of deputies
as long as he desires to occupy the POSI-
ton.