Evening star., 1935-10-03
BISHOP TT. GA|LOR
DIES IN TENNESSEE.
High Episcopal Churchman
Was Dean of Clergy and
Ex-ChanceIlor.
BY the Associated Press.


SEWANEE, Tenn, October g.
Right Rev. Thomas Frank Gailor,
eldest bishop of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church in this country and chan
cellor of the University Of the South.
died here early today. He was 79
years DID,
Death resulted from stomach dis
order.
Bishop Gailor received every post Of
honor the church could confer, except
that of presiding bishop.
But as president of the national
council of the church through two
terms, 1919-1925, he occupied what
was equivalent to the executive head
of the organization as he was chosen
for the post prior to the time that the
office of presiding bishop was made
elective.
Previously the presiding bishopric
was a matter OF seniority and honor,
and it was indicative of church lead
ership of the front rank when Bishop
Gailor was chosen to organize what
amounted to the first real national
executive post in the history of the
church.
He was Bishop of Tennessee from
1898 on and was chancellor OF the
University of the South at Sewanee
since 1890. OF late years he was also
president Of the university's Board Of
Trustees.
Held High Civic Posts.
Aside from his clerical offices he
was a former vice president OF the
United States Chamber Of Commerce.
represented Tennessee in the national
divorce congress. was an arbiter in
several union labor disputes, a men,
Der Of the Tennessee Coal Commis-
sion and of "the Committee Of 48"
on foreign relations and national de-
fenSe.
Bishop Gailor was born in Jackson,
Miss, September IT, 1856, his parents
being Frank Marion and Charlotte
Moffett Gailor The elder Gailor was
editor of the Memphis Avalanche, a
predecessor Of the Memphis Com
mercial-Appeal When the Civil War
broke out he enlisted in the Confed-
crate Amy. became colonel Of the
33d Mississippi Regiment and was
killed in the battle of PerryVille, KY,
october 8, 1862.
After this tragedy Mrs. Gailor, who
belonged to an old Irish family which
for many years was identified with
the Church OF Ireland, devoted every
effort toward educating her 6-year-old
son for the priesthood Of the Epis-
copal Church. He graduated from the
public schools of Memphis, then went
to work.
Attended Racine College.
After a few years his savings were
sufficient to take him to Racine Col
lege at Racine, Wis. He received his
bachelor of arts degree there in 1876
and his masters degree in 1879. The
same year he won his theological de-
gree, S. T. B.. from the General Theo-
logical Seminary in New York.
He then returned to Tennessee
where he was ordained TO the dla-
conate in May OF 1879 and to the
priesthood on his birthday. September
IT, 1880. In later years he was given
honorary doctorates by oxford Uni
versity, England; Trinity College, Co.
lumbia University. Oglethorpe Univer-
sity and the University Of the South.
Bishop Gailor was a prolific writer
on church subjects, was noted as a
lecturer and pulpit orator and was a
close personal friend of President
Cleveland and Of President Taft. One
of his daughters married Richard
Cleveland, son Of the former Pres
ident. She resides at Baltimore.
Bishop Gailor was married Novem-
Der II. 1885, to Miss Ellen Douglass
Cunningham Of Nashville. A son and
two daughters were born to them.
Their IS years together ended in
tragedy in 1881 when Mrs. Gailor died
Of injuries sustained when she fell
down the steps of their Summer
home.