Evening star., 1934-10-04
EPISCOPAL MOVE
HERE IS DEBATED
Headquarters of Church
May Be Established in
Capital.
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

The national headquarters of the
Protestant Episcopal Church soon may
be removed from New York to Wash
ington.
First discussed many years ago, the
subject has been revived in recent
months and will be given serious con-
sideration at the General Convention
of the church at Atlantic City, Octo-
Der 10 to 20.
A sentiment widely entertained in
the denomination is responsible for
the proposed change. Many bishops
and other clergy. as we'll as great
number of laymen believe the proper
place for the executive and admin
istrative center of the church is in the
Nations Capital.
At the General Convention in New
Orleans in 1925 the matter was dis
cussed at length. and the National
Council was requested to make study
of the problem. 1t was understood
then that Charles C. Glover, a leading
layman in the diocese of Washington
had offered the church a plot of
ground at Wisconsin and Massachu-
SettS avenues, just outside the Cathe-
dral close, the land to be free gift in
the event of its acceptance for head
quarters use. The New York prop
erty it was said. could be sold for ap-
proXlmately Sl,000,000, and the money
so obtained would have built a fine
modern building on the Washington
site and would have made possible a
substantial payment on the existing
debt of the church.
Support Is Strong.
The support of about IS per cent
of the members of the communion
was manifested for the plan: only a
small fraction of the total member
ship was opposed But a special COM
mittee of the National Council recon-
mended mo action for the present" 4"
and after several years Glover was re-
ported to have withdrawn his offer.
Until 1923 there was no further
formal consideration of the problem.
Then. when the General Convention
met in Washington. the delegates were
afforded an opportunity TO inspect the
Cathedral construction works at Mount
st. Alban and the experience revived
NJ,
however. was taken.
The subject came before the Gen.
eral Convention at Denver in 1881.
and resolution indorsing the Cathe-
dral program as an enterprise of ma
tional significance to the church was
adopted
But since 1925 another problem
bearing upon the question of head
quarters has been developing-a
change in the organization of the
church looking toward the constitu-
ton of the presiding bishop as arch
bishop.
Reform Is Urged.
Such a reform" it is argued by its
proponents, has ample precedent in
the history of the church. The head
of the denomination is, in effect. an
archbishop. He, therefore. should bear
that title. And a campaign to that
end Will eliminate in an effort to
persuade the 1885 convention to au-
thorize the change.
Should the move succeed. the new
archbishop would have his seat in
Washington, the national headquarters
OF the church being established here.
Local Episcopal clergy are unwilling
to discuss the matter. Right Rev.
James Z. Freeman, Bishop of Wash
lngton, declines to give an opinion.
1t is not my problem, the diocesan
head has declared. 1T is, rather. the
problem Of the church as a whole 1
believe the proper place for the head
quarters is Washington. but l would
not lift a finger to bring it here
against the will of even a single
parish