The Washington herald., 1908-05-07

/ from his earliest boyhood the boy was
/ destined for a career in the church, and
raised in a churchly atmosphere. He re-
ceiyed his collegiate training at Trinity,
/ Toronto, from which he was graduated in
/ 1854. Trinity his alma mater, made him
master of arts in 1883, and in 1901 con-
ferred on him the degree Of doctor Of
divinity.
/ In 1856 the future bishop was ordained
/ TO the diaconate, and the following year
was ordained 10 the priesthood by Bishop
| Sweatham, Of Toronto. The bishops first
/ charge was an assistant at ST. Pauls
/ Church. Buffalo. n. Y. Then occurred an
event which had much bearing on the
future life Of the bishop-eleet Of this do
cese.
Belonged go MOnastie order.
He was attracted to the Society Of ST.
John the Evangelist. popularity known as
the Cowley Fathers. a monastic Anglican
order widely known for their piety and
elevated lives. SO. in 1SSs. the future
bishop went to Boston and entered the
society as a novice intending to take
the full VOWS after sufficient preparation.
| Here he remained in comparative obscur-
ity Tor three years, outwardly differing
little from the other members OF the Or
der who wore the unnecnming monsstic
uniform. But here Bishop Brent first dis
played his wonderful gift OF ministering
In things spiritual 10 men Of other races,
for he began splendid work among the
negroes of Boston In St. Augustine's Mis-
sion. This is a happy precedent for
bishop OF Washington. for q large share
OF the diocesan problem has to deal with
the 00000 negroes IN the diocese, to
whom this church must do a missionary
work OF difficult and astounding proper
tions
When about to take the full orders of
the society. an event happened which re-
suited in Father Hail." the superior OF
the society In America. now the Right
Rev Arthur G. Hall, Bishop of Vermont
returning to England This was the cleo
ton OF Phillips Brooks as Bishop of
Massachusetts The novices Rev. Torbet
and Rev. G. II. Brent, then withdrew
from active membership in the Society
Of ST. John the Evangelist. and found a
father in God in the new bishop. who
placed them in charge OF St Stephens
Mission. Then Bishop Brent labOred for
nine years building an active city mis-
sion in the heart Of Boston. This situa-
tion endured until 1901, when Mr.. Torbet
died, and Mr. Brent was elected the first
RishOp Of the Philippines. In this parish
Bishop Brent displayed 20 the utmost
those rare gifts Of ministering to all sorts
and conditions Of men. proved himself
an effective preacher and of singular
transparency Of spiritual character.
Citizen OF United States.
II was through the influence OF Rev.
Mr. Torbet that Bishop Brent became
imbued with the great patriotism and
love OF this country that led him 70 re-
nounce his British allegiance and become
a naturalizad citizen Of the United States
He loves his adopted country, and is for
ali things that are American.
At the general convention which met
in San Francisco In October, 1901. IL was
decided 10 send a missionary bishop 10 the
Philippine Islands, on October II, Bishop
Brent was elected TO this Office by the
House of Bishops. an action that was
heartily concurTed in by the House Of
Deputies
The American church said well done,
for it knew the new bishop 20 be man
Of broad sympathies. man Of adapt
ability. one who could wrestle with that
immense Philippine church problem. and
solve IL. II IL was 10 be solved Bishop
Brent accepted the trust imposed on him.
and on December 10. 1901. was cOnsecrated
in Emmanuel Church, Boston. in the pres
ence Of an immense throng of go per
sons, first bishop Of the Philippine Islands.
One hundred and forty clergymen were in
the professional line, and II was felt that
the occasion marked an epoch In Ameri- /
can church history.
A pathetic incident Of the conservation.
In the light Of after events, is the fact |
that one Of the cOnsecrators was Bishop /
Satterlee, Of Washington, whom Bishop i
Brent is now to succeed. Bishop Satter- |
lee and Bishop Brent were Intimate /
friends, and what was said in the conven- /
tlon yesterday is true, that Bishop Sat /
terlee had often expressed the wish that /
Bishop Brent might take up his work as /
Bishop or Washington when he should /
lay It down. Bishop Brent was attending 1
a retreat in Washington when the news
or his election to be Bishop Of the Philip /
pines was brought to him. and Il was Z
largely because OF Bishop Satterlee's ad- /
vice that he accepted the new duties laid 4
upon him. The following Easter Bishop 1
Brent left for the Philippines and took
up his work there. He soon won the es-
TEEN and love Of Americans and the lit /
tie brown brothers, and also the admi- /
ration and respect Of the officials Of the /
Philippines.
BuiIt a Cathedral.
He did valiant missionary service. and |
soon had a fine organization at work:
built a stately cathedral in Manila. and
won the s0bTiQuet Of Our Bishop" from
all classes.
In one Of the Moro campaigns he show /
ed the caliber Of the man he is by taking i
of his Episcopal habit. donning q SOL /
dier's suit. and going to the firing line in /
the thick Of the peril and laboring at |
rescuing the wounded and soIacing the /
last hours OF the dying. Many times he /
was under fire.
By constant trips to the United States
he kept the church at home interested in
his work, and was enabled to keep up his
labors there. The most notable work of I
his Philippine career is the part he has
taken in the crusade against the opium
habit
Bishop Brent was the first TO see that
the best way to neutralize the opium
traffic was TO procure an international
agreement to which China and Japan
would be parties. The negotiations along
NtAN@N AiitSo eAO ilbN Al pANS4 tSS al the /
State Department. Mr. Robert Bacon,
Assistant Secretary Of State, is co-operat-
ing with Bishop Brent. and it is known
that the President approves Of the inter-
national agreement Bishop Brent IS Of
the Bishop Satterlee type Of man. Like
him. he possesses gigantic powers Of ac-
combined with a deep
spirituality that enables him to know the
right use Of power ard use It for the
veal of others. Another bishop whom he
resembles strongly is the Lord Bishop
Of London, for like Bishop Ingram, he
Is a bishop Of the people, a magnetic
leader OF men, an effective preacher, one
who is capable Of an immense amount of
work and whose enthusiasm leads 10
achievements.