New Britain herald., 1925-08-08
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
 PLANS CONVENTION
Task ol EIectinS Presiding
 Bishop a Big One

Nc" Ork, Aug, APl-FOr the first time in it's 14o years of exist ence tho Episcopal church in the United States is facing the election Of a presiding bishop who will be the democratic choice of its entire membership The election will oc- cur at the forty-eighth Tricnnial convention to he held in New Or leans, October [ to 22.
 In rank and dignity, if not in. titular standing. it's choice will stand on par with the Archbishop of Canterbury, ranking head Of the Church Of England; and he will be charged with the eNacting and oner- ous duties of ecclesiastical as well as administrative headship of the independent American church.
 For ten years after the organiza- ton of the church in 17S5, its pre- siding bishop was elected by the Honso of Bishops. In 1795 a change was made under which the office doN olNed npon rhe scnior bishop in th" American succession. Then in l9l9 the general convention created the National Council of the church. and enacted that upon the cNpira- lion Of the term of office Of the thon presiding hishop his successor should bc chosen hy ih" House of Bishops, with the concurrence of th" House of deputies, to serve for a term Of six years. The intention of the convention was that the pre- siding bishop thus elected should become the head of the National Council thus combining the ec- ClCSiaStiCal with the administrative function. But, since the vcncra- hle Daniel Sylvester Tuttlr of Mis- souri, was then the presiding bishop, and as his adanvced age prccluded him from assuming administrative duties, thc canon was so worked that no election for his successor was 10 h' held during the period of his life. kt. Key. Thomas Frank Gailor, bishop Of Tennessee, was elected president Of the council. and re- elected al the Trionnial Convention of 1922. A year later Bishop Futile died, but the general convention not being in session, the aged bishop Of Dallas, Dr. Alexander C. Garrett, succeeded him by the seniority rule. Upon Dr. Garrctt's death six months later, Rt Rev. E,thclbcrt Talbot, n.p,, bishop of Bethlehem. succeed ed to the oficr, also by right of seniority. With the coming trien- nial convention, tho first since Bishop Tutuc's death, the first formal election Of presiding bishop hy both houses of the convcntin de- irving direct from the church mem- bcrship will take place.
 SNuous problems faco the church 'n connection with this election. The canon provides that the convention shall choose q presiding bishop "one Of thc bishops having jurisdiction within the United States" but 1t also provides that his term shall be for six years, This is where the prob- lem arises.
 The new presiding bishop will not only be called upon 10 discharge his administrative duties as president of the council, but he will have 10 as- sume as well the ecclesiastical hcadship of the church, which will utterly preclude him from any par tiCipation in the affairs of the di- cCesC of which he is tho titular head. In the meantime, Of course, his coadjutor vii be administering tho diocese, But at the end of six year, 1t is being pointed out, when tho presiding bishop presumably will return to his diocese, he will have lost all touch with that Jurisdiction, 5nl his enforced return after this lengthy absence will work an injus- tico upon him as well as upon the Coaljutor in charge,
 One solution offered is through the election of a presiding bishop 10 serve,until he reaches a retiring age which shall be fixed, thus releasing his definitely from his diocese and paving the way for the election oC his successor. Another is that upon the expiration Of the term of the presiding bishop, providing that he be not reelected, he be retired on a pension, and some dienified service in the church be assigned 10 him.
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