Evening star., 1943-10-01
DC Delegation
In CIeve|andfo for
Church Farley
Episcopal Leaders
To Pass On Plan for
Presiding Bishop Here
BY HAROLD B. ROGERS

CLEVELAND, Oct. 1-As deputies
arrived here from Washington for
the fifth triennial General Conven-
ton OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church, along with the vanguard Of
about l,200 expected from all parts
OF the country, the proposal to
establish the new presiding bishop
OF the church with a house and
office at Washington stirred keen
interest, with both support and op-
position being expressed.
The Rev. Clyde Brown of Wash
lngton, secretary of the joint CON-
mittee of the convention on the SUBJ
Ject OF the presiding bishops see,
announced that the committee. con-
sisting of both clergy and laymen.
planned TO hold an important meet
ing this afternoon.
The committee will consider its
final report to be presented to the
convention said Mr.. Brown, who is
diocesan missioner of the Washing
ton diocese. I'VE shall also consider
various comments and editorials
that have appeared from time TO
time that the committee may prop
erly evaluate the same"
Would Resign Diocese.
The proposal as it now stands
would provide that the new presid-
ing bishop resign his diocesan luris-
dlctlon, to be freed Of local adminis-
tratlve responsibilities be provided
with presiding bishops house and
Offices in the District of Columbia
and be retired at half his presiding
bishops salary, minus whatever the
pension allowance might be.
For the present, it was explained.
the proposal does not provide for
moving the financial Offices of the
national church from New York,
where 1t is now located, TO Wash
lngton. Whether that would be done
later on depends on future develop
mentS.
New York interests here raise the
objection that the National Council
OF the church located at the Church
Missions House in New York. should
remain there, since it is the business
and purchasing agency O. the
church. The New Yorkers believe
purchase of supplies for missions
abroad, printing and other business
of the national church could be ac-
compllshed better in New York
| City than in Washington.
The New York representatives.
| say, however that if there is no
| prospect of moving the National
Council from New York to WASH
lngton move to give the presiding
bishop house and Offices in WASH
lngton might be adopted BY the
! convention There is strong sup
port for the proposal in several
quarters.
Personnel of Committee.
In the absence Of the Right Rev.
Irving P. Johnson, retired Bishop
OF Colorado, chairman Of the con-
Ventlon committee on the presiding
bishops see, the temporary chair
man is the Right Rev. Paul Mat
/ thews, Bishop of New jersey. 9th
/ ers here for the committee meet
/ lngs include Mr.. Brown, the Right
Rev. John D. Wing, Bishop of Flor
loa; the Rev. Mark Rifenbark OF
San Jose, Calf, Randolph Bias of
Williamson. w. Va: DR.. Harry W.
Horn, Wichita, kans., and Spencer
Erwin of Philadelphia.
The proposal for a change in the
presiding bishops see probably will
come first before the House of Bish-
ops OF the convention, according to
! lnolcatlonS today as preliminaries
got under way prior to the Official
opening Of the convention tomor-
row
The committees on the dispatch
OF business for both the deputies
and the House OF Bishops will de-
clde the routing of all business COM
Ing before the convention. II was
uncertain today when the presiding
bishops see issue would be con-
sidered during the week-long meet
ings.
Early arrivals from Washington
included Mr.. Brown. the Rev. DR..
F. j. Bohanan, chairman of the
standing committee of the Washing
ton Diocese, the Rev. T. Bland
Tucker, rector of ST Johns Church,
Georgetown, and DR.. T. E. Robert
son.
Others Expected at Farley
Other deputies expected to arrive
from Washington tonight or early
tomorrow are the Rev. DR.. T. O..
Wedel. canon of Washington Cathe-
dral: o. R. Singleton. secretary Of
the Washington diocesan conven-
ton. and Charles F. Wilson.
The Washington Diocese is not
represented in the House of Bish-
ops. A new bishop of Washington,
to succeed the late Rt. Rev. James
E. Freeman. who died early in June.
will be elected by a Washington
Diocesan Convention. after the gen.
eral convention here decides what to
do about the issues affecting the
presiding bishop and the District of
Columbia.
Among other outstanding issues
before the general convention are
the election of new bishop to sue
ceed the presiding bishop, the Right
Rev. Henry St. George Tucker of
Virginia; election of a number of
missionary bishops, further consid-
Grafton of negotiations looking to
unity with the Presbyterian Church.
revised canon law on marriage
and divorce and adoption of a
budget and program for the next
three years.
The Rev. F. Bland Tucker Of
Washington is making his residence
here during the convention with
his brother, the Right Rev. Beverley
D. Tucker, bishop of Ohio. The
third brother is the presiding bishop.