The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-28

Adding to the long list of failures
30 secure bishop coadjutor for the
Fl Diocese OF Virginia. Rev. Robert S.
COPELAND. l.. D.. rector OF Trinity.
Church, New Orleans has declined 10
accept the office. to which he was
elected by the council OF the diocese
IN session at Winchester on May is.
Bishop Robert A. Gibson and the
committee appointed 10 notify DR..
Eoupland received kilograms from him
yesterday announcing his decision and
stating Tint the reasons would be out
lined In a letter which Is to follow. Il
N II Is presumed that DR. Coupland
was unwilling 10 rellnQuish his charge
In Now Orleans. for the reason that
ne has occupied his position there for
only Few weeks. Doubts on this
Pcore were expressed at the time OF
the election In Winchester. DR.. Coup
2and resigned as rector OF the Church
OF tho Ascension. in Baltimore, TO 20
TO Nav Orleans His church IS one
OF the largest and wealthiest In the
South. the salary of the rector being.
II ID stated. $1,000 year.
Notifies Committee.
Following the election or DR.. Coup
land to the bishopric. Bishop Gibson
appointed committee composed of
Rev. r. X. Massie. D. D.. of the Epis-
copal Theological Seminary. and Judge
j. X ii. Morton. OF Alexandria 10 no
tify Dr. Coupiand OF his election. He
wired them yesterday that he must
decline.
Dr.. Coupland was put in nomination
by Dr.. Afassie and his name was sec
onded by Rev Thomas Semmes. OF
Richmond. He led on each ballot over
oil other candidates. bui not until the
fourth did he receive sufficient num-
her of votes to elect There was some
opposition to the election OF a coadju-
tor at the recent meeting of the coun-
Gil. several OF the members preferring
to postpone the matter.
Previous Elections
The Diocese OF Virginia hes been ex J.
ceadingly unfortunate in its efforts TO
secure a bishop -coadJutor. Rev Ber-
fyman Green. D. d., professor of the
English Bible at the Theolog ical Sem
mary, was elected, but declined, say
Ing that he felt 1t his duty to remain
at the seminary for some time to come.
Then the council met and elected Rev.
Arthur Seiden Lloyd, b. D., who has
for many years been connected wi th
the foreign mission work as general
secretary in New York. Dr. LLOYD ha s
dtoceses, and 1t has been stated that
his record in this respect is unequal ed
in the history OF the Church of Eng
land or the Protestant Episcopal
Church All of these he declined. feel
ing that missionary work was his call
Ing.
4, For this reason. there was general
rejoicing when DR.. Lloyd announced
his acceptance OF the bishopric. He
was ordained with imposing ceremon-
les and entered upon the discharge Of
his duties. But he remained with the
work only few months The call OF
the mission field was upon him. and his
resignation speedily followed. Great
Ing @ vacancy again.
1@ Elected Second Time.
The council met in special session
at st. James Church In Richmond on
February OF this year. One of the
ministers mentioned, curiously enough
y was Rev. John J. Lloyd, archdeacon OF
Southwestern Virginia. brother of
the retiring bishop coadjutor. The
meeting resulted In the election of
present, and when attention was called
one the floor to the fact that he had
previously declined, It was pointed out
" that he was then in the council and
that IL he would not accept he would
4 say 30 in advance. His silence at that
4 time makes 1t certain that he would
: have become the bishop but for his I'M
fortunate Illness. which began few
days later He was stricken with
paralysis. and although he has nearly
X recovered. he felt that he should not
undertake the important duties OF such
I'm oftioe In weakened physical con1i.
fion Few men indeed have declined
she Same bfshoprio twice.
f Further attempts to elect were post
poned until the regular meeting of the
council. held this month at Wincheuter.
RI Bishop Gibson could not say last
night Just what further steps would
oe' taken looking to the elect on of a
Eoad1utor It may be that another
PReeial seHls,ionawill .pe held I1.,