New-York tribune., 1919-08-12
Episcopal Campaign
For New Bishop Has
; Chief Candidates
Question of Dividing Dio.
cesc Still Pressed; Drs.
Manning and Stires Kept
i'll Race by Friends

Campaigning for the vacant Office OF
Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal
Diocese is being conducted with the
intensity of political struggle
Secret meetings Of the clergy and of
the laity, earnest solicitations and
talks of compromises characterize the
campaign.
The three leading candidates are
Bishop Charles Sumner Burch, who
was elected as suffragan bishop dur
ing the incumbency of Bishop Greer;
the Rev. DR.. William T. Manning, rec.
tor of Trinity Parish, and the Rev
DR.. Ernest M. Stires, rector of ST.
Thomas's Church.
Bishop Burch is being opposed by
n large group of city rectors and lay
delegates because of his age. He is
sixty-threc years old. DR.. Stires made
an effort to have his name withdrawn,
but his friends are putting him for
ward more eagerly than ever; DR.. Man
ming is saying nothing, but his friends
are confident.
Want Diocese Divided.
The rural rectors who wanted d-
vision of the diocese with Bishop
burch at the head, have ceased their
activities because of the discovery of
prohibition against the division of
any diocese during vacancy in the
blshopric. But they insist, that
Bishop Burch shall be designated to
nave charge Of the rural work. look
ing toward the day when the division
OF the diocese shall have been effected
lhey have held several meetings at
winch the succession to the bishopric
has been discussed, and only recently
nave been convinced that their weight
alone cannot elect Bishop Burch. 1t
has been suggested to some of them
that, II they unite their support for
one candidate for the bishopric they
can exact pledge that Bishop Burch
VIII be assigned to them.
At the same time there is a we'll or
ganlzed movement for the election of
an additional suffragan bishop, leav-
ing the diocesan free to attend to the
larger administrative duties of his
Office.
This movement had it's beginning in
blshop Greer's request made few
days before his death, for another suf
fragan. The last convention agreed
that additional episcopal assistance
was needed because of Bishop Greers
feeble condition, and the sum of $4,000
was set aside to defray any additional
expenses that might be incurred bv
asking bishops Of other dioceses and
missionary jurisdictions 10 act in
Bishop Greer's stead.
New Suffragan Asked
1t was the expressed wish of the con-
Ventlon that Bishop Greer make an
effort TO accomplish his duties without
the election OF another suffragan if
possible. Thus it was made clear at
the time that there WAS feeling that
two bishops would p4ove sufficient for r
the tasks. Now the Rev DR.. Selden y.
Delaney. associate rector of the Church
Of st. Mary the Virgin and editor of
the "Amercan Church Monthly" has
revived the movement, even going to
the extent OF urging three suffragans
II necessary.
DR.. Manning's recent statement. in
behalf of the Every Name Movement.
IN which he advocated the use of the
--latest power of the laity has won
him many friends among the lay dele
gates. In addition he will have the
backing of the Trinity delegates. With
this strength he will be a formidable
figure from the first
DR.. STRESS friends, who refused tc
heed his request that they cease cam.
paigning for him, point to the fact that
nc Is NOl alilcu with either the high
or low. church party and would be
acceptable to both
Deadlock Is Expected
In the mean time there is large ele-
ment in the diocese that expects tho
early balloting to be deadlocked. with
the result that a compromise candidate
will be chosen. DR.. Charles Lewis Slat.
terry, the rector of Grace Church. is
looked upon by many as the probable
compromise candidate.
The diocesan convention is now less
than five weeks off. 1t will be held in
Synod Hail.
The choice of the convention viii be
subject to ratification by the House OF
Bishops but, as the general conversion
meets in Detroit in October, it is a Ger.
tainty that there will be new heac
of the diocese in actual charge of affair
before the late fall.
1t is almost a certainty. we'll Informed
clergymen say, that the choice will rest
upon rector from within the diocese
At first it was stated that, in order tc
prevent any internal jealousies, a rec
tor from out of town or the bishop OF
a missionary jurisdiction would bt
elected.