Norwich bulletin., 1913-05-27
Connecticut Diocese.

Mir. Editor; Some of the articles which have been appearing in the newspapers of the state on the sub ject of the division of the diocese of l Connecticut are most misleading, eS- pecially as regards the attitude of Bishop Brewster. One article in par ticular asserts that the bishop has sent circular appeal to the members of the convention which is to meet in New Haven next month, asking them to vote against division and for a Suf- fragan bishop. Now, in view of the fact that no such appeal has been made by the bishop and of the further
 fact that such statement is calculated
 to mislead those who will be called
 upon to vote on this subject at the approaching convention. it seems to
 the writer that the true facts of the
 case ought to be stated and circu-
 lated.
 Three years ago Bishop Brewster, in his convention address, suggested and earnestly advocated a division of the diocese. It had become apparent to him, as 1t had to many others con- Vefsant with the situation that the diocese had outgrown the possibility of successful administration by one bishop. It was proved at that time by accurate statistics. that if the diocese were divided each one of the new dioceses would be larger. in clergy, parishes and material resources, than any one of sixty other dioceses in the
 country. Moreover, 1t was clearly shown that wherever dioceses had di- vided the result has always been a marked increase of growth and pro- gress. At the time of which l am wtiting no one questioned the need of making some provision to meet the situation. It was the conviction of all that the diocese of Connecticut could not be efficiently administered by one bishop. (ndeed, Bishop Williams had even proposed the need of division as long ago as 1865) Some were of the opinion that the need could best be met by the election of a bishop -coad- jutor This solution, however, was ruled out by the refusal of the bishop, for good and proper reasons. to con- sent to having a coadjutor. The only alternative available at the time was a division of the diocese. which was voted down. The general convention of 1910 passed a canon permitting the election of suffragan bishOps-an of flee hitherto unknown in the American Episcopal church, and necessarily, therefore, partaking more or less of an experimental character. Bishop Brewster hesitated a whole year be- fore venturing to ask for a. suffragan. It seemed apparent that he was loath to undertake the experiment of a sui fragan. The office is not only so new among us as to be practically untried
  fragan is. by many, regarded simply as a "bishop's curate."
 In the case of Connecticut, it was, cohfessedly. a makeshift. No one ap- peared to be in favor of it, except as a last resort. But the problem was a pressing one, and finally. last June, the bishop felt compelled to ask for a suffragan, and the convention elect ed the Rev. J. Chauncey Linsley, of Torrington, to the office. Shortly af- rewards Mir /Linsley felt it necessary to decline the election and nothing further was done. At the April meet ing of the Fairfield County Clerical as- sociation, which includes all the clergy of the county. the Rev J. H. George, of NewtoWn. read a paper on the sub ject of the Division of the Diocese. | The paper presented the case for di- vision so ably that the association or dered that it be printed and sent to all the clergy and laymen who are to be members of the coming convention, and every one of the clergy of the county voted Individually to append his name to the paper, and in favor of division. The fact that the author of the paper was an opponent of division three years ago, and had been con- Verted by the memorable logic of events made his paper all the more con- vincing. A committee was appointed to present the matter to the conven- ton. This committee, consisting of the Rev. Louis B. Howell of Norwalk, chairman; Rev. J. H. George. and MT. Schuyler Merritt, of Stamford has since addressed several meetings, and four of the archdeaconries have voted in favor of division.
 There are now over 100 clergy on record in favor and the number of laymen is increasing every day. The latest utterances of the bishop on the subject is found in the last issue of the Connecticut Churchman. and is as follows:
 From some of the clergy learn that there is an increase of sentiment in favor of the division of the dio- cese. Regarding division my own mind has been before this plainly ex- pressed. and is. am convinced, inevit- able. If the matter might be agreed upon and definitely made ready for presentation to this general cOnVen- ton which is to meet next October, well and good"
 In view of the fact that the bishop himself proposed division three years ago, there can be no doubt where he stands. Moreover, he has definitely said, since writing the above in the Connecticut Churchman, that he has