Evening journal., 1920-01-12
URGEPRAYfR IN
BISHOP ELECTION
The Rev. Alban Richey Dis
cuSSes Importance of
Proper Selection
DIR. KIRKUS ALSO
TREATS SUBJECT


held at Dover on Wednesday. Congre-
cations were asked % remember the
convention In their prayers on that
day, and reference TO the importance
and significance OF the episcopal elcc-
tiOn was made from all pulpits Of The
diocese.
At ST. Johns Episcopal Church, The
Rev. Alban Rchey, rector devoted his
morning sermon TO the subject OF the
election and cOnsecration OF q bishop.
He. spoke Of the election procedure
on Wednesday. Three-fourths OF all
delegates must be present in order %
hold a convention, he said. The dele
gates include the clergy Of the dio-
cese. two lay delegates from each par
ish, one lay delegate from each mis-
sion, the law delegates being elected
by the various yestries. IN the ab-
-sence OF IA bishop TO preside over The
convention, the first business viii be
70 elect a president pro tempore he
said.
The clergy and the lay delegates Will
vote separately, a two-thirds vote ia
each body being necessary to election
of bishop. said DR.. Richey. When
the new bishop has been elected by
the diocese, the standing committee
Iuust5 send his name 10 bishops and
sunding committees OF other dioceses
in the United States, for approval. The
bishop. may be elected from the clergy
lor bishop Of another diocese may be
caDed), In the United States.
In case Of election from the priest.
lr0od, said Or. Richey, the presiding
bishop viii then appoint three bishops,
including or not including himself, 10
c0nsecrate the NV bishop.
Dr Richey urged that no party feeling
DE shown. OF caucuses held. or political
plays be made. in the coming election,
asking that neither the high" church
nor extreme" low church" people en-
phasize differences Of opinion at this
time; = '~r IT, ...-
: The sreater part OF his sermon was
devoted TO a theological exposition Of
the duties and cOnsecrstion Of a bishop
ind fire faith Of the Protestant EpiscO-
pal Church. incidentally he scored the
former. bishop. Or Frederick ]. Kins-
man. saying, This election is made
necessary by what dare call the faith
less surrender OF one who held this
high Office and then dared TO charge that
the church herself had lost faith in her
mission and that her bishops were not
true Successors OF the apostles"
DR.. Richey said his sermon was an
answer 20 the challenge Of the former
bishop. who is now a member OF the
Roman Catholic Church. He expOunded
the doctrine OF apostOlical succession.
He said in conclusion
ours is the Catholic Church Of all
the AGES, standing four-square against
additions TO the faith as well as against
any substractions from IL. No corrup-
ton and no mutilation. either. is our
Because we have had one
hishop who has been taken in by Rome,
that IS no reason why we should choose
andiher to lead The diocese INTO the trap
Of a decadent Professionalism battling US
with the cry Of Christian unity which
l1tani nothing more than agreement to
lie indifferent to truth.
"For true unity, we must have not
only the spirit Of love bu. a sound mind
as well.
We are .cetrain and sure that he who
shall BE- elected and conseerated as
blshop OF. Delaware. will be what this
church. in her official standards Intends
her bishops to be, true successors Of
the Apostles, made such because oil
those words in the conservation service
80 tremendous in their significance and
which il not true, are the utterance Of
an awful blasphemy.
Receive the Holy Ghost for the office
and work Of a bishop in the church o.
sod: in the name Of the Father, the son
and the Holy Ghost"
In this months Trinity Annual. DIT.
i. NJ. Kirkus says concerning the cleo
tion. of q new Bishop for the Diocese
of Delaware:
q new Bishop for the Diocese Of Della
ware. This means great responsibility
for The clerical and lay delegates 10
the special convention, and The earn
cst PLAYERS Of the whole diocese should
be offered that we may be guided 10
a right choice.
1t may be well 10 remind our read !
crs what the election Of Bishop in
wolves:
First, 1T means the selection Of a
leader for the Church in Delaware. To
those Of US who love Delaware, this
Onsideration Is vital, for never was
the diocese in greater need of conse- /
ctated leadership. During the past |
ten years, one parish has gone out Of !
existence. not a single new parish has |
been. created. and.n not one mission has |
rttained a position of independence.
The combinations in 1918 were barely I
half the number in 1909, and the en- |
Tire diocesan growth in commandments
during that ten-year period was more /
Than represented by the growth Of |
the five leading parishes in Wilmington. !
I'VE need a leader who will recog- !
nlze The potential capabilities Of our |
Church I'm Delaware. over and over |
again during the past five years It has !
been proved that our state can take a |
leading part In good works Of every |
description. and do not believe that /
people can be found anywhere who arc :
more ready TO respond heartily and
generously when q cause is reasonably |
presented 20 them by some one who |
relies on their cooperation.
The Bishop Of Delaware should be )
he chief and most active missionary !
IN Delaware, a sympathetic pastor to /
his clergy, and a lover of men who
them on the common
nSS Of manhood, whatever their place
n life may be. The diocese IS so small.
hat a Bishop is soon known from one
nd Of it 10 the other, and he has
Imple' opportunity 10 be a verltable
10 his clergy.
I'VE venture the hope that our next
Bishop will have a due appreciation
# the value and power Of direct coun-
el and exhortation. l have remem-