The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
BISHOP BURCH DIES
IN FRIENDS HOME
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serious talk of a successor to the episco-
pate. At the time of Bishop Burch's
election last year other candidates for
the honor were Dr. Slattery, DR.. William
T. Manning. rector of Holy Trinity Dr.
Stires and Bishop Nathaniel Thomas Of
Wyoming.
DR.. Stires in paying a tribute TO
Bishop Burch said This diocese has
had bishops with unusual gifts OF in
telect, eloquence or statesmansNip. but
the diocese has never had bishop more
conscientious in the determination Of
duty nor more faithful In its fulfilment
His sympathy was unfailing, and be-
cause he loved much he was universally
beloved. During the single year of his
episcopate all his fine qualities deepened
and broadened. We were looking for
ward to a splendid advance under his
leadership and for the moment we are
unable to see our way"
His Remarkable Rise.
Charles Sumner Burch was the eighth
Bishop and the first Bishop Suffragan
Of the New York Diocese of the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church. His rise TO the
highest ecclesiastical honors has been
called phenomenal in view of the fact
that he was not ordained to the priest
hood until 1905. and at that time had
attained middle age in the pursuit OF
business and secular journalism.
Bishop Burch- was born in Pinckney.
Mich, June 80 1855. His father. Law
renee ID. Burch. was a writer and his
mother was Emily Dunning While a
student in the University of Michigan
he edited the University Chronicle, and
played first base on the varsity nine.
After having been graduated with the
degree of Bachelor OF Arts in 1876 he
taught school for two years in Detroit,
where he was married. Later he took
up Journalism and served as reporter and
editor on newspapers in Chicago, Kansas
City and Grand Rapids Mich. From
1897 to 1905 he was editor and manager
of the Grand Rapids Evening Press.
During all this period of secular activ-
ity part Of which was passed in his
brothers publishing house in Chicago,
Charles Sumner Burch had the church
as his goal. While in Chicago he had
found time TO take the course in the
Theological Seminary there. He had been
useful as a lay reader and as mis-
sionary worker among the city's news
boys. and had been ordained a deacon by
Bishop McLaren of Chicago. Scholarly
and studious in his tastes and habits. he
had gone abroad after finishing at Ann
Arbor and had taken special courses,
chiefly in oxford.
Ordination 10 Priesthood.
Resgnng his journalistic post in
Grand Rapids, he was ordained to the
priesthood, and in 1865 became rector of
st. Andrews Church. Staten Island.
His entire ecclesiastical career was
passed in the New York diocese He
was appointed archdeacon In 1907 and
while yet holding the post of rector OF
St. Andrews was elected Suffragan
Bishop of this diocese upon the nominal
ton of the Rev. DR.. William T. Man
ming, rector of Holy Trinity, on Novem-
Der 10, 1910. and was consecrated on
February "A, 1911.
Only a few months more than one
year ago he attained the zenith of his
career when he was elected bishop to
succeed the late Bishop Greer. His in
stallation occurred on October 49, 1919
Bishop Burch was the third rector Of
st. Stephens to be elected to the bish-
opric. Those who preceded him I'm the
episcopal honor were Bishop Seabury
first bishop Of America, and Bishop
Moore, who was made Bishop of Vir
ginia I'm 1921.
-.."Scholarly, human. gracious, yet
Bishop Burchs intimates summarized
his character. The human part OF his
personality had been symmetrlcally de-
veloped by contact with life at diverse
angles before he attained to the priest
hood Also the bishop had the attri-
butte Of thoroughness in all that ne did.
One OF his blographers has said Of him.
"He knows the diocese from corner TO
corner. And since the death of Bishop
Greer Bishop Burdh has had the entire
administration OF the diocese also. The
diocese comprises the boroughs of Man
haitian. Bronx and Richmond and the
counties Of Duchess, Orange. Putnam,
Rockland. Sullivan. Ulster and west
chester. IT covers $500 square miles,
and Bishop Burch could go to any one
of the parishes or institutions in the
dark Alsol he knows each rector by
name and by characteristics"
Would Have Gone to War.
But for the fact that the failing
strength OF Bishop Greer made It neces-
sary for the Suffragan Bishop to rema In
at home Bishop Burch would have gone
20 France during the war to preach to
the troops Both Bishop Greer and
Bishop Burch encouraged all theis
clergy who could possibly do so TO gc
c. A. or Red Cross workers. The do
cese of New York has service flag in
Synod Hall which bears upon its field
forty-four blue stars and two of gold
In personality Bishop Burch was g
magnificent specimen OF robust man.
hood. He stood well above six feet In
height was deep voiced and rugged. Al.
though s. years old. he commonly
walked with the alert agility OF a mar
a score OF years younger. His appear.
ance Of health and yirility led many tC
suppose he was not more than so years
Of age II has boon said of him that il
many Of his mannerisms he recalled Il
mind the late Col. Roosevelt. particu
larly In the vigor Of his handshake and
the direct positiyeness with which hC
answered questions.
Bishop Burch married Margaret Had.
ley on November 20. 1875. in Detroit
She survives him. with two children, a
daughter. Mrs. Grace Burch Walker
who went TO Serbia as a member of the
Rcd Cross mission. and Albert c. Burch.
who is in the automobile business in De-
troIt There also is an adopted son
Linden Burch. who was married a little
more than year ago.
Ono Of the most recent utterances OF
Bishop Buroh was his population OF the
blue laws" advocated by some extrem-