The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-02
Rushes Across Continent 10
Quiet Clergy House
and Surgeon.
MUST REST MONTH
OR MORE IN NORTH
Will Go TO Country Today-Secrecy
Being Observed, Evidently at
Prelate's Request.

BOSTON. Aug. Rushed across the
continent from Vancouver. B. c.. the
Rt. Rev. Charles 7. Brent. newly elect
ed Bishop Of Washington. arrived az
Boston last Thursday to be placed I'M
mediately under surgeons knife for
+ a serious nasal operation.
Guarded with the utmost secrecy by A
Few churchmen and layn,n who refuse
to divuige any information regarding
Bishop Brent or his condition. the prel-
ate is in the quiet environment OF the
Mission House, which adjoins st. ste
phen's church on Florence street. where
ne was at one time rector. He is under
the care of trained nurses and special
lists
I Even the officials OF the Diocesan
House, the Episcopalian headquarters
Of Boston, are in absolute Ignorance Of
( the bishops presence in Boston. They
declared emphatically that the preIa.e
would not be IN Boston for some DAYS
/ Their official organ. the ChurchmaD
/ does not expect him in this CITY before
/ the latter part OF the month by their
latest publication.
Must Rest Month at Least.
In spite Of this secrecy correspond
ent OF The Times was able 10 learn 81
the operation. and upon good authority
that Bishop Brent would be Obliged 10
remain IN Boston a month or q month
and a half before he is able to under
take any sort Of duties
lie viii be removed to the cfosnr.y
residence of enc Of the parishiohers of
81 Stephens tomorrow. where 10 VIII
be better able 10 recuperate The/name
OF his host is kept absolutely secret.
The fact OF the great secrecy sur
rounding the bishops condition and his
record run across the country. is indie
alive that the patient Is far from rec,v-
cry. The informant for ths' Times SAID
that the news Of the bishops condition
was being carefully withheld from The
newspapers. but for what reason ne
did not know.
Grew Worse o. Journey
Bishop Brent was 81 when he left the
Philippines for this country and il
must have been this Illness wnich nee
essitated the operation. Tha. il did not
develop until the bishop was well on
his journey is apparent. but the last
stages of his journey 10 Boston were
made in great haste his arrival here
being at least two days ahead of his
scheduled time
Since his arrival there is scant in
formation OF what has happened other
than the fact that he was operated
upoh Immediately.
Al automobile brought him from the
railroad station TO Mission House which
is Decatur street and backs Up against
old ST. Stephens Church. Even the
name OF the specialist who performed
the operation could not be learned.
At Welcome House and about Mission
House all that was known by the teach
ers and other officials was that the
bishop was in Boston. They did n5t
know that he was III and the church
sexton only knew that there had been
an operation. but for what or by whom
he could not tell
Has Few Visitors
The bishops visitors are very few.
The people in the neighbOrhood assert
THAT an automobile or TWO each day is.
the oniy excitement at the house.
A. it is church holiday time. all OF the
| prominent EpiscopaliaB clergymen were
are out of town. and those reached by
The Times correspondent were not
aware OF the bishops visit to Boston.
When told of his illness and the opera
| ton they were greatly alarmed
Those who have seen Bishop Brent de-
scribe him as being decidedly lacking in
color, and apparently extremely weak
IL IS said that he insisted that he be
tai 10 nd II
for the operation, and absolutely re-
fused to stop at any place along the
route
At Mission House he was greeted upon
his arrival by his old friend and CO.
worker in the Philippines, the Rev.
Samuel L. Drury. now rector OF ST.
Stephens. who took entire charge OF
the proceedings. The operation was
performed a few hours after the bishop
reached the Mission House. and is re-
ported TO have been very successful.
Evidently Wished Silence.
That none of the prominent clergy
was notified of the affair is evidence
that it was the expressed wish OF the
bishop that nothing be said about il
until he had fully recovered.
It is not strange that Bishop Brent
should come 10 Mission House in his
extremity, for it was while he was rec
tor of st Stephens Church that he
wrote his famous Noble lectures, which
ne later delivered at Harvard College.
aside from the near presence Of his old
time acquaintance.
The Mission House is the official home
Of the St. Stephens reGtors and of the
missionaries who conduct the mission
work in the south end OF Boston Its
location is admirably adapted for
quiet retreat, such as the bishop
would want, especially If he did not de-
sire publicity.
1t Is located I'm the tenem ent house
section ana the neighborhood is mostly
occupied By families OF foreign birth.
When The Times correspondent called
the officials in charge OF Aiissioa