Evening journal., 1919-10-06
CLERGY and LAITY
HAVE equal Vote
New Procedure In Election
of Successor TO Bishop
Kinsman


formation regarding the bishopric Il
set forth In articles by the Rev. F. NJ
kirkus, rector OF Trinity Church. In
the current issue Of Trinity Church
Annals.
The diocese Of Delaware is just now
in a most anomalous position says DIT
Kirkus. I'VE are without a Bishop
yet technically we are not vacant do
eese. Bishop Kinsman has resigned his
Jurisdiction under circumstances which
preclude any continuance whatever OF nj:
Official relations 10 the diocese, yet his
resignation cannot bec0mesenectiVe un-
iii It has been accepted by the House
Of Bishops, which will meet gn Detroit
during October"
Regarding episcopal Elections" DR..
Eirkus says:
The method OF electing new Bishop
kh subject OF Interest and moment 10 all
hurchmen In the diocese at this time.
Nothing can be done until the House OF
Bishops has acted upon Bishop Kins-
mans resignation. When that has
been duly accepted, II will become the
duty OF the standing committee to ap-
point a time for a special convention
for the purpose OF electing his sue
cessor. The time and place OF the con
vention are at the discretion OF that
committee. but not less than thirty
DAYS notice must be given Of the date
actually chosen.
NO election Of a Bishop shall be
held unless there be present at the time
lhree-fourths Of the clergy entitled to
leats and votes In the convention. and
hy delegates representing three-fourths
" the congregations in union with the
convention and contributing to. the con-
vention fund.
when Bishop Kinsman was elected.
Delaware acted under a rule peculiar
10 itself, by which the laity had no
voice In the matter until the clergy had
indicated their choice. The clergy hav-
ing nominated their candidate. his name
was presented 10 the lay delegates, and
II on a ballot IL should appear that the
person so nominated was approved by
two-thirds OF the laity, he was de-
clared elected.
Following Bishop Coleman's death |
it took three conventions 10 elect his 1
successor. The first was held on Feb |
ruary 49, 1903. and q frulress ballots |
were taken in the effort 10 nominate a
Bishop The second was held IN Dover /
on April 80. and 81 ballots were taken. !
Two nominations were that day made /
10 the laity-Dr. Hart. Of Connecticut.
was the first, and Dr. Bliss. OF Vermont.
was the second. Both failed Of cleo
tlon through non-concurrence by the
lsity. Being on-lookers merely while
81 ballots were taken was not a godd /
preparation for ready and cheerful ac-
qLlescence in the reluctant choice OF :
about fifteen clergy who seemed not 10
known their own minds Al the third |
convention, held I'm Trinity Church, VII
mington. on June 3, 1908. Or. Klnsman
was elected on the first ballot making
60 ballots in sll), and his election was
promptly confirmed by the lay dele
gates.
"A few years later the constitution
was/amended and I'm the approaching
election the clergy and laity Will have
equal rights Of franchise The clerical
and lay deputies will each he entitled
10 a vote. the two orders voting sep u
arately and concurrently until some
nominee shall have received a two
thirds vote OF those present and voting
in each order.
The prOprietv ~ the new rule under
which the laity share the responsible
ties and privileges of the clergy In the
election Of a Bishop. would seem TO
need no argument. But 10 Is forcibly
emphasized by a review OF conditions
during the eleven years Of Dr. Kins- :
mans episcopate. At the time Of his ,
election there were I'm the diocese eigh-
teen clergy entitled 10 seats and votes .
In the convention or that number flf- I
teen were present and effected the ,
Bishops election. or those fifteen the =
Rev. Frederick NJ. Kirkus is the only I
one who has been in continuous service {
In the diocese ever since. The Rev. DR..
Turner. OF Lewes. was also one OF the 7
number and Is again member OF the I
diocese, but for several years In the a
meantime he has been economically resi- q
dent in Georgia. OF the remaining thir- q
teen one is dead. one Is incapacitated '
by Illness. and the others have left the
diocese for other fields. OF the three
clergy who were not present one fthe :
Rev. L. w. Wells Is still doing faithful r
work in the diocese. The Rev p. L. \
Donaghsy and the Rev. William II. v
Laird were both present at the con- a
ventlon, but had entered the diocese \
too recently 10 be entitled 10 votes r
This Is a striking testimony to the
changing character OF our clergy list, q
but would become more striking still IL :
by the many changes q
which have occurred since 1908. During a
the eleven years that have elapsed 4
only two parishes have had the same 4
rector continuously; four have had two y
rectors, six have had three four have Il
had four, and two have had five rec d
tors. within three years of the bishops Il
election more than half his electors
had removed from the diocese. q
The lsity. on the contrary, are a com n
paratively permanent element in the V
diocesan constituency. A large propor- g
lion OF those serving on vestries and .
delegations at that time are 4
still active in their respective parishes. y
md Of influence in the diocese at large. n
Their concern In the election OF a CHIEF q
pastor over the diocese in which most n
II them expect to spend their lives n
should be obvious TO everybody, and n
We may all be thankful that their part n
viii be an active one in the coming \,
Episcopal election. lr
"0f the prominent nominees at the al
held during the last va n
ancy in the Epscopate, the Rev. Ma =.
haniel Thomas then rector OF a promi- n
ent church in Philadelphia, received a ri
majority OF the clerical votes. for n
wenty-seven consecutive ballots. but e.
allied Of receiving the necessary two 81
birds vote. Or. Thomas was soon after c