Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-07
ebay Re=Elect Bishop Brent
Convention Members Suggest That Course or
Postponement Of Action Until Fa1l-Other
Local Episcopal Church News.

The declination of Bishop Brent to give
up his Philippine bishopric in exchange
/ for the bishopric OF the National capital
OF the United States. while immeasura-
bly, confirming the wisdom shown in its
choice of such a man by the diocesan
convention, is great disappointment TO
many. Any diocese in the world might
consider itself fortunate, it is felt here,
to have as its bishop man capable of
declining for any cause whatever SO
great an honor when the alternative was
the continuing to live among half-civil-
lied peoples several thousands of miles
from the land of ones own kin. and all
In tropical climate. where white men
live out hardly half their days. Those
who best know Bishop Brent have said
all along that it was precisely what he
might do and what he would be sure to
do did conscience SO direct. Hence his re-
ply has been more than half expected.
Still. as no one actually knew what the
outcome would be. 1t is felt here that
1t was abundantly worth the effort OF
the convention to bring him to Washing
ton.
For the holding of another election a
special convention has been called for
June L. as announced in The Star yes
terday.
In view Of the fact that the vacation
period has already begun. with its posi-
BILE many enforced absences from the
convention of deputiesswho would natu-
rally want to be present and exercise
their franchise. it is felt by many that
this call. to convention which is to en-
gage i'm such important work as the cleo
ton of Il bishop does not allow ample
time for all to be present. These con-
"a = needed than
eleven days notice, even for those near
at hand. and that the notice to those
living in the country districts should GER
tainly be longer still. 1t n Guild be re-
pointed out. If any country clergyman
did not receive his notice OF the assem-
bling Of the convention until after it was
all over.
Moreover. it is further maintained,
three or four Of the clergy, including the
archdeacon of Washington, are either
now in London or on their way there to
act as the representatives of this diocese
in the great missionary congress meeting
this month. These cannot possibly be
here in time even If. being notified by Ca
blegram. they should leave the object of
their journey undone and come back by
the next steamer.
On the other hand, 1t is regarded as inn
portant that the Washington diocese
should have u bishop all ready to take up
work at the earliest moment after the
fall activities begin, and unless an cleo
ton is held almost Immediately this can
by no means be the case by reason OF the
canon which governs Episcopal elections.
The canon requires that every election to
the episcopate shall be submitted to the
bishops and standing committees Of all
dioceses for their confirmation. which al
ways causes a delay Of two or three
months.
It is maintained. however, that even If
another election should be made June H.
and the bishops and standing committees
are forthwith promptly notified of 1t. 1t
by no means follows that any time Will
be saved after all. for the bishops. with
scarcely an exception, will all be in Lon
don attending first the missionary con-
gress and then the an-Anglican confer
ence. which latter only meets once every
ten years-hence the general attendance
AS for the standing committees. 1t is not
likely that more than a small percentage
Of them can be gotten together until fall.
That the convention re-elect Bishop
Brent has already been suggested. His
reply to the election of May was given
1t is pointed out by those who suggest
this course. The singular unanimity
which characterized 1t. the generally ex-
pressed belief of those who took part In
1t in his remarkably special fitness
to be Bishop SatterIee's successor. the
conventions evident abiding sense of
divine guidance, are thought to be
still unknown to him. and it is
held by some that when, on or
about the 18th of June. he hears Of
these things for the first time from let
ters which were sent to him by many dis
tinguished members Of the convention.
both clerical and lay, shortly after the
election. and which went forward by the
mail of May II. he should receive from
the convention then sitting cablegram
telling him that for a second time he had
been elected Bishop of Washington, It
would almost certainly lead him to the
conclusion that God was calling him
away from the Philippines to greater
work in Washington.
Out of courtesy to the absent represent
atives Of the diocese who cannot be pres
ent under any circumstances, it is sug-
no one else should be elected to be Bishop
of Washington. and especially so I'm view
of the apparent impossibility of Fastening
matters by any action now Therefore to
re-ccct Bishop Brent seems, it Is contend
ed. the only gracious thing the forthcom-
ing convention can do, il 1t is to do any
thing at all.
TIL. past week has been one Of i'm
portance for the National Cathedral
School at Mount St Alban. the one dis
1iurtively Episcopal school in the city
and diocese Of Washington Tho morning
the rector of st. Adams parish, who is
the chaplain of the school. begins the
school girls day and the evening prayer