Evening star., 1923-05-30
BISHOP ELECTION
PLANS MADE FINAL

for the special session OF the twenty
seventh convention of the Episcopal
diocese of Washington. to be held
beginning at 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning at the Church of the Ascen-
sion. 18th street and Massachusetts
avenue northwest, to elect the third
Bishop of Washington.
Everything is in readiness for the
election. which will take all after
noon. it is estimated. and may neces-
state a night session. Arrangements
were completed today for hospitality
to delegates from out of town, in
case a night session is necessary.
Rumurs flew thick and fast today
i'll church circles as to what would
be done at the convention tomorrow,
and as TO who would be elected Bis
hop of Washington. 1t may DC stat
ed however. that the most promi-
nently mentioned men for the local
hishopric remained today. upon the
very eve of the elec tion, as they have
been named recently in The Star.
Candidates and Prospects.
In all probability the course of the
voting will be as follows. according
The names of the Rev. Dr. Jane s
f.. Freeman of the Church of
Epiphany and Of the Rev. DR. George
Fiske Dudley of st. Stephens parish
will be placed in nomination.
II is expected that upon the first
ballot DIR. Freeman Will poll a maj jor-
ity of the votes of the house Of lay
delegates. and that DIR. Dudley will
secure a majority Of the votes of
the clerical delegates. Amy candi-
date must secure a majority of the
votes OF both houses To be elected
bishop.
these men. the houses, voting sepa
rately in different places in the audi
torium. will attempt. it is under
stood, to concentrate upon either one
of three other men. Dean 6. &. +.
Bratenahl of the Washington Cath
edrai. the Rev. DR.. c. Ernest smith
Of St. Thomas Church. or the Rev.
DR.. Ernest NJ Stires of St Thonas'
Church, New York city.
Honorary Nominations.
1t is understood, of course. that the
names Of these latter three men in
all proba bility will be placed in
nomination along with those of DR..
Dudley and Dr. Freeman, and a long
list of other clersymert. most Of whom
will be nominated as an honor.
Sentiment continued to be divided
between a local man and an out of
of the clergy from out of the city.
including the names Of several
bishops. We're discussed. Some hold
that Bishop Brent of western New
York has every chance Of being elect
, ed. pointing out thai there is no
canon against calling q man already
bishop to the local bishopric, while
others contend equally that no man
ever has been called as bishop of one
diocese while a fulI-fiedged bishop of
another. and that the unwritten law
in this case is fully as strong as
any written canon. and that, there
fore, Bishop Brent has not a char
1t was declared today in some
quarters. that delegates from the
country churches in nearby Mary nd
would be inclined to vote only for q
man who has had experience iE
small parishes and understands their
problems
Services will open the convention
at 10 O'Clock tomorrow in the Church
of the Ascension, with the Rev.
Thomas W. Cooke. the rector, acting
as master of ceremonies. The pro-
cession is to form in the parish hall
and march into the church, where
/! the full communion service will be
sung by vested choir of forty-five
houses are seated the public will be
admitted To the capacity of the au-
ditorium.
DIR. Dudley Celebrant.
Rev. DR.. Dudley, who is president
of the, standing committee of the
diocese. will be celebrant Rev III. A.
Griffith. secretary of the convention.
will read the epistle. and Rev. J. w.
Clark of St. James Church will read
the gospel. Others to assist in the
service will be Rev Joseph Fletcher
of Rock Creek parish. Rev. Herbert
Scott Smith of st. hfargaret's Church.
Rev. James f. Freeman of the Church
E'ninhanD
Smith of ST. Thomas Church and
Canon William De Vries of the Wash
fngton Cathedral.
At the close of the service DR.
Dudley, as head of the standing com
mittee, will call the business session
together, and provisional organiza =
tion OF the convention will be effect
ed. Names of the clerical and lay
delegates will be referred to the re-
spective committees on representa-
ton. Luncheon will be served at 1
o'clock by the ladies' of the parish.
The convention then will hear the
reports of the committee on repre-
sentation, and will elect its president
for the election. 1t has been the Gus
tom to elect the head of the standing
committee as the presiding officer
but owing to the fact that DR.. Dud-
ley is one of the most prominently
mentioned men for the bishopric, II
IL likely that some other clergyman
| will be elected to preside over the
session.
Nominations then will be in order
! The two houses will vote separately
a majority of both houses being nee
essary to election. There will be
and something like eighty-four OIL
more lay delegates, so that he who
! is elected bishop will have to poll at
least forty-one OF the clerical votes
| and forty-three or more of the lay
votes.
Observation-Disclosures