Evening journal., 1908-01-25
Saturday, January rs, 1908.
UNION OF DIoCEsES.

q IJCCESTIONS that the Diocese OF Delaware
~ and the Diocese of Easton, Md, be united
in one diocese of the Episcopal Church are being
seriously considered by the Church, and much
may be said for and against this proposition
Should the combination be effected, BISHOP
Adams. of the Easton Diocese a prelate, beloved
in Delaware as well as Maryland naturally would
become the head of the new diocese.
Ii would also be expected that Bishop
Adams would remove from Easton to Bishop
stead. in this city, and his departure would cause
the keenest regret among his Maryland friends,
particularly those of Easton where he is highly
esteemed.
1t has been urged as a valid reason for the
combination that both dioceses are small. This
is true, but neither the Diocese of Delaware nor
the Diocese of Easton is the smallest diocese Of
the Episcopal communion
According to an Episcopal year book, in 1900
the Diocese of Delaware had 35 priests, as church
edihces, 3,774 communicates and its contribu-
tons for all church purposes were $75,362. The
population Of the entire diocese was given as
IS473s.
The Diocese Of Easton includes the eastern
shore counties Of Maryland with total popula-
tion of 10000. There are 40 clergy in the do
cese, 81 church edihces, 1885 communicates, and
the contributions for 1000 were $6I65o
The Diocese of Easton is, therefore, the larger
in important respects, Delaware leading it only n
the amount of contributions, and this is probably
owing to the fact that the Diocese of Delaware
includes one large ty-Wilmington-whil no
cities Of consequence are in the Easton Diocese
United the two doceses would make one do
cese which, in every respect, would be one of the
most important of the Episcopal Church. For
instance, the new diocese would be almost as
large in the number of communicates as the re-
cently-formed diocese Of Harrisburg, Pa, with
So52 communicates, and as large in communi-
cants as the whole State of Louisiana, which
forms but one diocese.
There are many dioceses in the Episcopal
Church but little larger or more important
than the present Diocese of Delaware or the Dio-
cese of Easton. For instance the Diocese of In
dauapos has but 4,455 communicates; Kansas,
4o42; Kentucky, ASA; Lexington, KY, 3,2II;
Maine, 5,o25 Michigan City, part of the State of
Indiana, 1864; Quincy, ILL.,, $3.50; Oregon, the
whole State OF Oregon $3.50; Vermont the
whole State of Vermont, 5Io6.
These figures show that neither the Diocese of
Easton nor the Diocese of Delaware is abnor-
mally small. Either should be able to support
bishop as well as many other dioceses support
bishop. Reasons other than the mere smaness
OF the number of communicates therefore must
be urged for the proposed union of the two dio.
ceses
While no doubt the union would make strong
and effective diocese, many followers of the
church would regret to see the present doceses
lose their individual identity.
In other churches the Delaware and Easton
Shore counties form one religious jurisdiction as
the Roman Catholic Diocese OF Wilmington the
New Castle Presbytery and the Methodist Epis
copal Conference
The question will doubtless be discussed bv
the clergy and laity of the Episcopal Church IN
all its bearings, and there will be no hastv action
taken on subject of such grave importance to
the church.