The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-09
Popular Rector of St. James Is
Named by Diocesan Council
to Succeed Bishop Strange
Has Not Decided
To Accept Honor
Election Came After Fifteen
Ballots Had Been Taken.
Elect Man of Splendid Per-
sonality--Generally Beloved

Rev r c. Darst, rector of ST.
James Episcopal church, Richmond.
was on yesterday elected bishop OF
the Episcopal diocese of Eastern
Carolina by the diocesan council Sit
ting at Washington, n. c.
. Ten names. 1t is understood. were
before the council. bailoting having
begun on Wednesday. resulting yes
terday afternoon in the election of the
Richmond Clergyman.
Mr.. Darst was notified by telegraph
late yesterday of his election. He
wired a reply thanking the council
for the honor conferred upon him, and
advising the body that he would give
serious and prayerful consideration to
the matter before rendering de-
cision.
II fs known that Mr.. Darst's parish
toner's at St James, while pleased by
the honor conferred upon him, feel
that their church needs a man of
just his ability and personality. and
will not willingly give him up. 1t is
said that the claims of st. James are
felt by Mr.. Darst TO be of such ma
ture that he may possibly feel 1t in
upon him at this time to de-
cline the bishopric OF the Eastern
Carolina district.
He will no, render a Anal decision
in the matter for a week or ten
days
A Man of Ideas and Ideals.
Rev. T. c. Darst is native Of
Pulaski county and Is forty years of
age He was educated at Roanoke
college and at the Theological semi
nary at Alexandria. graduating from
that institution in 1902. After being
ordained by Bishop Peterkin, of West
Virginia, ne began his ministerial work
near Fairmont. West Virginia. later
taken charge OF two churches in
FauQuier county, where his work gave
the highest satisfaction. A man OF
ideas and ideals. of magnetic per-
sonality and strong spirituality. he was
soon called to Richmond, taking the
pulpit Of st. Marks Episcopal church.
Here he labored FIVE years. building up
the church largely and winning the
hearts of both his own parishioners
and OF the people of all denomina-
tons.
From ST. Marks he went to New
port News, where he served as rector
OF ST. Pauls Episcopal church for
about four years, TO the up-building
in a large measure of his church,
In February OF this year ne ac-
cepted the assistant rectorship of St
James Episcopal church, of this city,
coming to the aid OF Rev. DIR. Will
liam Meade Clark, who was then in
declining health. Upon DIR. Ciarks
death ne succeeded 10 the rectorship
OF St James.
An interesting feature Of Mr.
nars,'s election as bishop OF Eastern
Carolina was that his name was
placed in nomination by one of his
former Pensioners. Rev c. Aylett
Ashby. formerly a we'll known New
port News lawyer who few years
back entered the ministry and Is now
rector of Episcopal church in Eliza
beth City, n c.
The Bishop-elect is wldower with
several children, Mrs. Darst having
died last November In Newport News.
The following special TO The vir-
ginian from Raleigh, N. c.. last night
gives interesting details of the cleo
ton:
Raleigh. n c., Oct s-Rev. r.
G. Darst. rector of st. James church,
Richmond, was this afternoon elected
bishop of the diocese of East Caro-
lima, by the diocesan council in SEES
sion at Washington. n. c. He sue
ceeds the late Bishop Robert Strange,
who died last month at his home in
Wilmington, n.
Balloting had been in progress since
II o'clock last night, when. after the
fifteenth ballot, the Episcopal council
adjourned until today. DR.. Melton
one OF the leading candidates with
drew his name, He and DIR. Harding.
OF New York. had been the two lead
ing candidates up to that time. The
Melton vote then went to DIR. Darst.
and he was elected.