The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-21
Bishop Brewster Strongly Favors Plan to Divide Diocese of Connec-
 ticut.
His Object "Not to Do Less Work, But More Think ing' - Cumulative Plans Assign the Territory in Som e W h at Differing Ways-Estinates of Ter ritory and Expense.

It looks very much as if the plan tc divide the Episcopal Diocese of Con- necticut may finally be adopted. It is possible that the new See may be call- ed after Bridgeport, and that it's bish- Op may make his home in Bridgeport In the last issue of the Connecticut Churchman, which is the official organ of the Connecticut diocese, Rt. Rev. Chauncey B. Brewster, DID,, the bish- op, gives his approval to the plan, sub- stantially as it was originally adranc- ed by Rev. Frederick W. Hartman, DID.
 The principal objections to the di- vision are both sentimental and finan- cial. Some favor keeping the oldest Diocese intact. The financial objec- tion is met with the claim that the ad- ditlonal expense would not be bur- den upon any parish. Bishop Brews- the fund for the endowment of the new spiscopate.
 Bishop Brewster says: "It is now nearly half century since the divis- ion of the diocese was urged by Bish- Op Williams. Time has served only to confirm and strengthen the position he took. My own desire for division. so far as I am personally concerned, is not based upon fear of breaking down. My thought is not that I may do less work, but that I may be free to do better work. I should like to be more what a bishop ought to be in his relations to the clergy as pastor pas forum. I should like to do more as are besides things upon which it would be well for me to spend more time and energy than is now found possible. Furthermore, I recall a re- Presbyter, to the effect that bishops ought to talk less and think more. Truly, thinking would seem to have a place in the business of one set to ton, however, which under present cir cumstances is neglected more than is meet.'
 The bishops plan would make the new diocese. consist of New Haven, Fairfield and Litchfeld counties, less eight towns in Litchfie1d county, or Waterbury, Plymouth, Thomaston, Harwinton, Torrington, Winsted, Riv- erton and Pine Meadow. The old dio- cese would contain the five other coun- ties, and the towns named.
 Under this plan the new diocese would contain 90 parishes, with eight missions, and 2S,000 commitments. The cost of conducting it's affairs would be S20828 approximately.
 The old diocese would contain 63 parishes, 23 missions, IA, 930 commun1- cants, and it's estimated expense would be s131, ,567.
 A plan proposed py Dr. oIorrs o' Seymour of Iitchfield, has many friends It makes a. division that is more nearly equal Under this scheme the new diocese would consist Of Fairfield and Litchfield counties entire, plus the Naugatuck valley towns in New Haven county, Ansonia, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour, Waterbury, OK ford and Southbury- The old diocese would contain the other five counties entire and all of New Haven county axcept the towns named.
 Under this division the old diocese would contain 80 parishes, p missions and 2O,340 communicants. Its est1mat- ed expense would be $178,763.
 The new diocese would contain 7S parishes, missions and 17,653 com and it's expense would be s161, ,OS6.
 pr. Seymour suggests that the new See might be called the See of Bridge port He also suggests that the Bish- ops home would be properly located in Bridgeport, to give him the max mum advantage in visiting the parish eS in his diocese.