Milford chronicle., 1920-01-16
IN. S. THOMAS ELECTED
BISHOP OF DELAWARE
is MISSIONARY BISHOP OF WYOMING
AND CHOSEN TO SUCCEED DR..
FREDERICK J. KlNSMAN.
ELECTED ON FOURTH BALLOT
AT THE SPECIAL CONVENTION WHICH
WAS HELD In CHRIST CHURCH AT
DOVER ON WEDNESDAY.

Bishop Nathaniel j. Thomas, who is
missionary bishop of Wyoming, was
unanimously elected bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Del
aware Wednesday afternoon to sue
ceed. Bishop Frederick ]. Kinsman,
who resigned in order to affiliate him
self with the Roman Catholic church.
Bishop Thomas was the second
choice for bishop in the convention
that elected Bishop Kinsman eleven
years ago in Wilmington.
At that time DR.. Thomas was rector
of the Church of the Holy Apostles, in
Philadelphia, and a few years after
ward was elected missionary bishop
of Wyoming.
His closest competitor in the bal
loting in the diocesan convention held
in Christ Church here was Bishop
Suffragan Thomas ]. Garland of Phil
adelphia. Bishop Thomas led in the
balloting from the start, and lacked
only one vote on the third ballot. The
balloting occupied Just one hour.
The result of the first ballot was
Bishop Thomas, 80 lay and clerical
votes Bishop Garland, 6 lay and l
clerical votes; Rev. E. NJ. Jeffries of
ST. Peters Church. Philadelphia. lay
and l clerical votes; Rev. Phillip Cook
of st. Michael's and All Angels Church
OF Baltimore, lay and l clerical
votes; Rev. F. NJ. Kirkus of Trinity
Church, Wilmington, l lay and , cleri-
cal votes; Rev. George Davenport of
the Seamens Church Institute. New
York, 3 lay votes; Rev. B. F. Thomp-
son of Dover lay and l clerical vote;
Rev. Martin Aigner of Pennsylvania,
l clerical vote; Rev. Alban Richey of
ST. Johns, Wilmington, clerical vote;
Rev Harvey officer, of the Holy Cross
Fathers, clerical vote.
Necessary to a choice, "a lay and IA
clerical votes.
ArchdeacOn Thompson of Dover and
the Rev. Henry Officer were not plac-
ed formally in nomination, although
they received some votes. but all the
others ballOted for were nominated
formally.
Nominations and discussions were
in joint session of clerical and lay del
egates, but the vote of the clergy and
of the lay delegation was counted
separately. A two-thirds vote of each
body was necessary for election.
Much of the morning session was
devoted to a discussion of a proposal
to increase the salary of the new bish-
op from $4,000 a year to a consider
ably higher figure.
1t was found, however, that the sal
airy of bishop could be increased
only by action of a slated diocesan
convention To tide over until the
June convention. tOday's meeting rec
commended a contingent fund of $500
for Bishop Thomas He will also have
Bishopstead in Wilmington placed a.
his disposal for his residence.
I Bishop Thomas is regarded as one
( of the ablest prelates of the Episcopal
Church today He had remarkable
success as rector of the Church of the
Holy Apostles in Philadelphia, and his
labOrs as missionary bishop in Wyom-
I ing have been very successful. Aside
from his ability as preacher and ad-
ministrator, he has q pleasing per-
sonality and reputation as mixer"
which has made him many friends
and which was urged in his behalf
when his name was first put forward
as a possible successor to Bishop
Kinsman.
Bishop Thomas is SO years old
The following committee was ap-
pointed to notify Bishop Thomas Of
4 his election: The Rev. DR.. Kirkus,
chairman; Henry B. Thompson, the
Rev. c. H. B. Turner of Lewes, J. B..
Board of Middletown. and WoOdburn
Martin of Georgetown. They will no
tify Bishop Thomas by telegram and
/ letter.
There is a general feeling that
Bishop Thomas will accept the bish-
opric, it was stated by some advocates
of his election.