Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-29
ARCHBISHOP NEEDED HERE P
Is SUGGESTION OF EPISCOPAL
CLERGYMEN.
Importance of Diocese of Washing
ton, They Say, Warrants Estab-
ishment Of See Here.

The declination by Bishop Charles
Henry Brent of the Philippines of the
bishopric of Washington and the ap-
proach Of the election of another to the
episcopate has brought forth the sugges-
ton that the diocese of Washington
should he an archiepiscopal see. headed
by an archbishop. and maybe made the
seat of the prmate of the Episcopal
Church in America.
1t is pointed out by the prominent
clergymen. both outside and in Washing
ton. who have made this suggestion that
this see at the center of government is
fast becoming one of the most important
in the Episcopal Church. and that to have
at its head a man of commensura
ability. bishops and coadjutors as well
as clergymen of other dioceses should be
eligible for election. This would be pos
sible if this were an archiepiscopal see.
AT the last session of the general con-
vention OF the church steps were taken
toward the establishment of archbish-
oprics and when the final action is taken
1t Is believed Washington will be made
the place OF residence of an archbishop.
Such change can be made only by
action of the general convention.
Local clergymen bring I'D this matter
of the election of a bishop October I. de-
claring that if Washington expects to bt
an archiepiscopal see the bishop elected
at this convention should be man whom
the general convention would elevate to
the archbfshopric
When asked about this matter recently
Rev. c. F.. Dudley. rector of st. Stephens
Church. gave the following explanation
of this movement:
THE diocese Of Washington is destined
to take A high. If not the highest place
among the dioceses of the branch of
Christ's church known in Law as the
Protestant Episcopal Church. This is ip-
evitable for many reasons chief among
which is the political character of the
city after which it is named. AS the
capital of the nation assumes more and
more Its true position as the center of
things. civil. educational and scientific,
SO the eyes Of the religious world will be
turned more and more to Washington,
and the Christian churches of whatever
name here will become examples and
, leaders. The Episcopal Church is truly
democratic andspatterns it's polity closely
after that of the state. 1t can never
become an autocracy, for the reason that
in the last analysis the legislative. and
judicial power is in the hands Of the lay
men of the church. In advocating. there
fore. the centering of authority in Wash
ington as the ultimate result of present
trendings. no fear need be felt that in
SO doing too much power will be given
to any one diocese or man.
In the natural processes of church
life and work we are learning the neces
sty Of concentration, and at least lin
tied leadership. The Inst convention
broke new ground in this direction In
proposing an elective presiding bishop. in
stead of the present plan. The day OF
provinces and archbishops is not far dis
tant. and when it comes Washington
will inevitably be one of the archiepisco-
pal sees. if not the seat of the primate.
Every one at all In touch with churcn
affairs in the District of Columbia knows
how wonderfully and completely the late
beloved bishop. DR.. Henry Yates Satter-
lee not only realized but prepared for
this very thing.
He found the diocese merely a young,
newly organized work. and by his great
wisdom. wonderful foresight and untiring
zeal he made it what 1t is today-one OF
the leading dioceses in the church. TIE
beginnings Of the national cathedral pro-
iect so wisely planned and carried out,
show how deeply is Washington planted
in the hearts Of church people all over
the land, for contributions great and small
have been flowing In from every section
and even from abroad. This would not be
so if in the mind of the whole church
Washington diocese and washington
cathedral did not in some very real sense
belong to them as we'll as to us who live
here.
..Well has it been said by one of the
great bishops of our church that the i'm
portance of this diocese makes 1t almost
necessary, perhaps, to step beyond the
precedents of by-gone days and IL
thought best choose one of the diocesan
or cOadiutor bishops for this most re-
sponsible work. :.
whether this would be wise or not is
not the question. it Is at least testimony
from one worthy of respect as to the I'M
portance of great care and mature de-
liberation in the choice soon to be mace
of a man to carry on Bishop Satterlees
work.