Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-06-28
DR.. THlRkIELD
ELECTED BISHOP OF N. e. CON.
NEcTiON, RECEIVING 537 VOTES
ASSIGNED TO NEW ORLEANS.

NEG lion, NeCGJVtN1 o3f NO1ES
ASSIGNED TO NEW ORLEANS.
. Washington.--All Washington n
gratified over the election Of DR.. VIII
bur P. Thirkield, president of Howard
university, as bishop OF the Methodist
Episcopal church. For many months
It has been known that his friends
would push him for promotion at the
Minneapolis conference and his sue.
cess comes as a happy elimination Of
a period of service to God and human.
ity. His election took place on tho
twenty-sixth ballot, receiving 557
votes, SO more than the number neces.
sary to a choice. He was a member
OF the body as delegate from the
Ohio conference. an unusually high
compliment to one residing outside
the state Bishop Thirkield's eleva.
ton is richly earned, and he has been
showered all this week with kilograms
and letters of congratulation from
friends of both races in all sections Of
the country. The only fly in the oint.
ment" lies in the fact that the race
must lose his eminent services as
president of Howard university, in
which capacity he has given six years
of solid achievement. Despite the
satisfaction felt by reason of his cleo.
ton. his departure from this fruitful
field. is attended with the keenest re-
greet by those interested in the deve!.
,opment ofathe- races premier school
for the higher education. Justice An.
derson of the district supreme court,
and one of the trustees of the institu.
ton. speaking of the valued labors Of
Doctor Thirkield. admirably summed
up. the general feeling in saying
HE has done more for the univer-
sity in the past four years than has
been done in the preceding forty
years."
In six years the enrolment of stu.
dents at the university has risen from
800 to 1,400. The number Of profes.
sors and instructors has been trebled.
and a half.million dollars in buildings
and new equipment has been added to
the permanent improvement Of the in.
stitution. Best Of all, President
Thirkield has been able to bring to
Howard the permanent support of the
federal government, and the assump-
ton of this enormous obligation in.
sures it's future as national institu.
ton.
His successors will find the task OF
administration much, lighter re-
sponsibility than: when he took charge.
Doctor Thirkield's life Is one long
story, of devotion to the uplift of the
negro people. A native of Ohio, he
soon gave up a Cincinnati pastorate
to accept a call to Clark university. at
Atlanta. Here he founded the Gam.
mon Theological seminary, and for
seventeen years he worked incessant-
ly to make that institution the potent
agency for religious education that it
is today. In 1900 he became one of
the secretaries of the Freedmen's Aid !
society, from which he was called to
the presidency of Howard university
in 1906. Since coming to Washington
Doctor Thirkield has not confined his
labors to Howard university, but has
taken an active interest, in every
movement for the benefit Of the col.
'ored people. He: was elected to the
directorate of the Young Mems Chris
tian association, and for several years
has been second vice-president of the
organization, counting no sacrifice too
great to assist in carrying forward the
purposes of the association. His per-
sonal popularity and strength with
men In high station have been utilized
for the advancement of the causes
most helpful to the race. Among
those who have evinced great concern
for the success OF Howard and who
have commended the effective labors
of President Thirkield are President
Taft, former President Roosevelt, Am
bassador Bryce, former Commissioner
of Education Elmer E. Brown and An
drew Carnegie DR.. B. T. Washing
ton became member Of the board OF
trustees under Doctor Thirkield's ad-
ministration.
The new bishop has been assigned
to the episcopal station at New Or
leans. He carries with him the best
wishes of a grateful people.