Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-12
Al |ANS WILL
FACE A TASK IN
ELECT|NG A BISHOP
Rev. f. M. Kirkus Points Out
Some OF the Difficulties Con
fronting the Diocese.
MAN SELECTED MUST
BE A REAL LEADER

"To find q perfect bishop we must trst
produce perfect man, and Delaware IS
not likely TO find hlm.
Thus writes Rev f. VI. kirkus. rector
Of Trinity Church, in commenting on
the Fpiscopal Convention 10 be heid IN
Dover on Wednesday. for The election oi
a bishoD of thu, Diocese OF Delaware, 70
,ncceod DR.. i. !. kinsman, resigned.
1T NAV he well 10 remind our readers
what the election OF bishop involves
Or. Kirkus continues
First II means the selection of aSader
for the church in Delaware. 10 those oi
ms who love Delaware this consideration
IS vital. for never was the diocese IN great
or need of conSecratcd leadership DurinE
he past ten wears, one parish has gone
an. If existence. not single now parish
has been created, and not one mission
h,., attained i position Of lndcpendenre
The confirmations IN 1918 were barely
naIf the number in 1909 and the entire
diocesan growth in COMMITMENTS during
that ten-vear period was more tnah rep
resented hy the growth ot the i've eadln8
varishes IN Wilmington.
W. need i leader who will recognize
he potential capabilities OF our church IN
Delaware Over and over araIn during
IN. past five wears il has hccn proved that
our state can take a leading part IN good
works OF every description, and ! Go not
ael,eve that people can be found any,
,yhcrc who are more readv 10 respond
heartily and generously when cause
reasonably presented 70 them ny someone
who confidently rchcs on thor co-opfratl"h
The Bishop Of Delaware should he the
rhIef and most actlye missionary 10 i'eLs-
ware. a sylnpathctic pastor to his ciorgH'
y, s[4at.-r 80 tG I
n the common basis at manhood, Wil.i-
yer their place IN life, may he The dioccso
= so srnall that bishop u soon known
rom one end Of It 10 the other and h' has
.mpIe opportunity 70 ri Nerltaoie
Eathcr-ln-Crod to lis clergy.
VIC venture the ho2e thar our next
-i,hop viii have due appreciation 81 the
aIuc ana power u direct counsel 4n1 ~
5orfatlon | hav,. remembered gratefully
Or forty ltars The earnest appeal made hE
1,ish u WLuti gham q the confirmation
4ndl4at,.s whom ! was confirmed T., 7i'0
II seems to nc bat 4 bishop official vlS-
atlnn should hc in important event n
yerv parish and IN cpochai vent to
VERY person presented tor confirmation.
fhe apt and ~vmpathctlr Wnra, dT'ct-
bearing on he act in which they arc 50
.alcranlv engaged. may ~. vtriahln
means 81 cract having de.nitc Sarr3monlal
.al,lc 10 cver> earnest candidate for con-
l-n,ation Nothing further need he ~ald
,hout the splendid opportunity tor Wldc-
,prcad influence which every bishop has IN
!c exercise of his pastoral ana prophetic
flee III lation to the whole dncosc.
But it Is also important to remember
hat bishop Is elected not only for his
1un dioce but for the whole chIrch
He Is. for example an eN u.1cln member
4 the uppcr house IN General tonVen~
ion: he NAV he required art ~ Judge ID
eevent of one of his peer being present
a for trial he has a voice touching tile
,leclol of every new bishop h be chirch,
B, has direct lnfiucnc. and aufhorltN u
nc enlistment and ordination II tand,-
dates for the ministry and III manv other
vavs MS power anc Influence Wav eX-
tend Tar hevond the limits II al~ own
iIoceSc. even though the greater part Of
Ms strcngth and energy n cNcrtcd with
n its borders.
II would hc ca>v - write i treatise
n the duties and qualifications u j bishop
IN the church Of God To 1nI i Derfect
bishop ne must hrSt produce i perfect
mar, and Delaware Is not likely Q 4nd
I'm ndecd, one III tho sn9Ta> which many
.lcctive bodies fall intoIs that &! 4ttflts-
ing to some man of whom the know It-
II. every Irtuc desirable ID ms cticc
simply on tie ground thai fhCv are TN
familiar with MS fault> Prom that error
u may we'll pray To bc delivered
The hardness of our tash lies IT he
ac: that Nc arc & ve~7- small body u
.lectorz n an ofhJe fer val,h there arc