Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-22
DELAWARE -EASTON
DIOCESAN UNION
Question Raised by the Death of
Bishop Adams and Declining
of Call by Bishop Thomas.

In commenting on the decision of
Bishop Thomas 70 decline the unanimous
call of the Delaware diocese to fill the
vacancy made by the resignation of
Bishop Kinsman, Rev. L. NJ. kirkus,
rector of Trinity Church, in the March
number of Trinity Parish Annals, refers
10 the intimation of Bishop Thomas in his
letter and also IN conversations, that he
regards Delware, under existing cond-
tions. as too small a diocese to engage
the undivided energy and attention of a
vigorous and progressive bishop. Bishop
Thomas quite openly expressed the hope
that Delaware and Easton would some day
he combined as single diocese, and could
not see why i should not be brought about
at once.
Discussing the question, "'Is the do
cese of Delaware too small to be attrac-
i've TO a capable and energetic bishop"
Mr. kirkus SAYS that, Judged by diocesan
statistics, or measured by its actual
growth and development during the last
twenty years, an affirmative answer
would seem to he the true one. Former
bishops have apparently found 1T so.
Bishop Lee was rector of st. Andrew 5
parish during the entire period of his
cplscOpate In Delaware. Bishop Coleman
is said to have done more work outside
the diocese than he did in it. He was
first, last and all the time churchman,
and when he thought he was through
with the diocesan work at home, he looked
for work that he might do elsewhere.
But" continues Mr.. kirkus, we are
not to measure the outlook and oppor-
tunity for Delaware by the past develop
ment of the church. The State is grow
ing rapidly in population and IN strategic
IL. y, r,lxytrl
There is a higher vision on the part OF Its
business men than ever before. .tgricul
turally it is probably the most productive
district of its size in the United States
Transportation facilities are constantly
improving. Good roads will soon be
found in every corner of the State. Its
educational facilities arc n aking rapid
progress. The Service Citizens move
nent and the new Sch ol Code are potent
factors for the best sort of social Gevelop-
cut. Altogether g outlook for Della
ware is most encouraging. And for
those of us who believe in the church and
It's mission, there Is a undant hope that
church growth can be made to outstrip
the growth even of other institutions In
Delaware. The influences at W rk are Of
exactly the sort TO encourage such growth
in the Episcopal Church, If we have a
leader of the right sort. This may
be made clear by n comparison with
another diocese in the one State of the
Union which is smaller than our own.
Rhode Island has two-thirds the area of
Delaware and nearly three times the
population. But the church (statlstically)
IS fv- times the size of the church in
Delaware. Is there any aSon why our
Iuture may not measure up TO n standard
ike that"
Mr.. kirkus emphasizes the fact that
the field of the Bishop OF Eclawarc is the
State OF Delaware and not merely the
.hurch as at present represented in the
stat. "The Bishop o / elaware can
.asils be among the foremost of its
:itIzens-and even II we must remain
sritorially the little diocese we are
ion't believe we need feel shame in
.Terinr the post of leadership in our
ihurch to the best and biggest man we