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


TO succeed Bishop Frederick j. Knsman
OF the Protestant Episcopal diocese OF
Delaware ana some other interesting IN
formation regarding the bishopric Is
set forth In articles by the Rev. +. 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 pr
Kirkus I'VE are without a Bishop
yet technically we are not vacant dio-
sese Bishop Kinsman has resigned MS
Jurisdiction under circumstances which
preclude any continuance whatever OF MS
oflcial relations 10 the diocese yet his
4, resignation cannot become effective un-
IN n has been accepted by the House
Of Bishops. which will meet in Detroit
during october
Regarding Episcopal Elections Dr.
Girkus says:
"The method OF electing a new Bishop
sh subject ofdntersst and moment TO all
shurchnen In the diocese al this time.
Nothing can be done until the House Of
Bishops has acted upon Bishop kins-
mans resignation When that has
been duly accepted. Il will become the
duty OF the standing committee 10 ap-
point a time for a special convention
for the purpose Of electlng 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 bo given Of the date
actually chosen.
NO election Of a Bishop shall he
held unless there be present at the time
hree-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
n on a ballot 10 should appear that the
person so nominated was approved by
two-thirds OF the lalty, he was de-
clared elected.
Following Bishop Colemans death
70 took three conventions 10 elect his
successor. The first was held on Feb
ruary 10, 1908, and q frulness ballots
were taken In the effort 10 nominate a
Bishop. The second was held IN Dover |
on April 80, and % ballots were taken. /
Two nominations were that day made |
to the laity-Dr. Hart Of Connecticut, /
was the first. and DR.. Bliss. Of Vermont, /
was the second Both failed Of cleo |
ton through non-concurrence by the /
laity. Being on-lookers merely while |
81 ballots were taken was not a godd |
preparation for ready and cheerful sc-
qulescence In the reluctant choice OF .
about fifteen clergy who seemed not 10 |
known their own minds. 40 the third |
convention, held IN Trinity Church, VII |
mington, on June 3. 1908. Dr. Klnsman
was elected on the first ballot making |
50 ballots in all), and his election was |
promptly confirmed by the lay dele
gates.
a few years later the constitution /
was amended. and IN the approaching /
election the clergy and laity will have |
equal rights Of franchise. The clerical /
and lay deputies will each be entitled |
10 a vote, the two orders voting sep
arately and concurrently until some
nominee shall have received a two
thirds vote Of those present and voting
in each order.
The propriety Of the new rule under
which the laity share the responsible
ties and privileges OF the clergy in the
election OF a Bishop. would seem 10
need no argument But II Is forcibly
emphasized by a review Of conditions
during the eleven years Of Or. Kins-
mans episcopate At The time Of his
election there were In the diocese eigh-
teen clergy entitled 10 seats and votes
in the convention. or that number mr.
teen were present and effected the
Bishops election. or those fifteen the \
Rev. Frederick n. Kirkus is the only
one who has been IN continuous service
in the diocese ever since. The Rev. Or.
Turner, Of Lewes was also one Of the
number and is again a member Of the
diocese, but for several years In the
meantime he has been economically resi-
dent in Georgia or the remaining thir-
teen. one is dead. one Is incapacilated
by illness. and the others have left the
diocese for other fields. or the three
clergy who were not present one tthe
Rev. L. w Wells Is stll doing faithful
work In the diocese. The Rev. p. L.
Donsghsy and the Rev. William n.
Laird were both present at the con
vention, but had entered the diocese
too recently 10 be entitled 10 votes.
This is a striking testimony TO the |
changing character OF our clergy list.
but would become more striking stlll II
supplemented by the many changes
which have occurred since 1908 During
the eleven years that have elapsed
only two parishes have had the same
rector continuously; four have had two
rectors' six have had three. four have
had four, and two have had five rec
tors. Within three years Of the bishops
election more than half his electors
had removed from the diocese.
The lsity, on the contrary, are q com
paratlvely permanent element in the
diocesan constituency. A large proper
ton OF nose serving on vestries and
delegations at that time are
stil active In their respective parishes
and Of influence in the diocese at large.
Their concern In the election OF a chief
pastor over the diocese in which most
NJ them expect TO spend their lives
should be obvious 10 everybody. and !
we may all be thankful that then mart ,
Will he an active one I'm the coming ,
Episcopal election. al
"Of the prominent nominees at thS
held during the last va
,ancy in the Episcopate. the Rev Ma
haniel Thomas. then rector Of a nronni- :
lent church in Philadelphia. received a
-