The Washington times., 1923-05-12
LA|TY IN FAVOR
OFFREENAN
FOR BISHOP
Clergy Appears to incline To-
ward Rev. George T. Dudley,
of ST. Stephens.

Will the next Bishop of Wash
ington be selected from the clergy
Of the Nations Capital, or will
the diocesan convention, which
meets here on May 81 to select a
successor to the late Bishop AL
fred Harding, choose a man from
another city?
This question Is rife today among
clergy and laity of the Episcopal
Church.
With less than three weeks until
the convention meets in the Church
of the Ascension, Twelfth street
and Massachusetts, avenue north.
west, rumors are daily flying thick
and fast as to the possible success.
or Of Bishop Harding.
At the, present time, these men
are regarded as being the principal
candidates Of the churchmen:
Rev. DR.. James Edward Free
man. rector of the Church of the
Epiphany.
Rev. DIR. George F. Dudley, st.
Stephens Church.
Rev. DR.. George Craig Stewart,
Of Evanston, Ill.
Rev. wyatt Brown, of Baltimore,
Md
It is understood the laity of
Washington is almost solidly behind
the nomination of Doctor Freeman.
The rector of Epiphany, although
comparatively a newcomer to this
city-he is the successor Of the
late Randolph Fl. McKim at Epiph-
any-has made thousands of friends
here.
A democrat of democrats, and
possessing a wide knowledge of
men and current affairs. as well
as a deep insight into the eccles-
iastical life of the Capital, Doctor
Freeman has won for himself a
sturdy following of laymen who, it
is believed, will be hard to con.
vince that their candidate should
not be elevated to the episcopacy
DR.. Freeman, 1t is pointed out
by his admirers, is a natural builder
IA man or great breadth of vision,
coupled with the driving force nee
essa1y to realize that vision.
No matter who the convention.
chooses, he will have to be a broad
gagged man in order to satisfy the
two parties in the church-the
thigh church" and the 'low
church" parties.
In short, the laity will be almost
solidly in back of Freeman. accord
ing to present indications, while the
support OF the main body or the
clergy will be lined up in behalf
Of another candidate.
AS for DIR. Dudley. he is man
whose Guardianship is said to be
''high'-at least 1t is higher" than
that of DR.. Freeman He has been
connected with ST. Stephens for
thirty years and is regarded as a
highly capable man to exercise the
authority of a bishop.
The real battle for the episcopate.
however, undoubtedly will be
fought by Freeman and Dudley;
that is, providing an outsider is not
well up in the running.
Among the clergymen Of other
cities whose name has been looked
upon with favor as Bishop Hard
ing's successor is Rev. DR.. Craig.
He is a real leader in the church
in the Middle West, and recently
was offered the bishopric of the
Chicago diocese. He is an eloquent
sermonizer, as well as being a
keen executive, his friends here
say.
Rev. Wyatt Brown, Of Baltimore
also has been mentioned.
Whoever the convention selects
it is pointed out, will have to be
man Of vision. together with
well-defined executive ability.
The Washington Cathedral. now
in process of erection, should be
finished within the lifetime Of the
next bishop, and the successor to
Bishop Harding, according to ali
accounts, will be one who will be
able to accomplish this feat.
The convention, consisting OF
clergymen and laymen from each
parish in the diocese, will convene
at 10 o'clock on the morning OF
| May 81.