Evening star., 1943-08-15
Episcopal Dean Here
To Control Cathedral
Under Proposed Plan
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

last night.
The issue was stated yesterday by
layman closely in touch with
proposed changes at the Cathedral,
in the diocese of Washington and
in the national organization of the
denominations: 'I5 may not be a
matter of any very great Importance
as to who is elected presiding
bishop at the general conference in
Cleveland in October or who IS
elected Bishop of Washington at the
recessed diocesan convention sched-
uled to meet sometime thereafter,
but 1t is a matter of supreme i'm
portance who is appointed to be
dean"
Efficiency Bureau Consulted.
A significant alteration in the
deans position is taking place. this
same churchman said. Under the
original constitution of the Cathe-
oral, the dean was the Bishops
vicar" in the administration of the
cathedral. That was his status when
the late Very G. C. F. Gratenahl.
was dean. In 1890. however. the
Cathedral was 'reorganized" with
the cooperation of the United States
Bureau of Efficiency, and it was
stipulated that the dean should be
the Bishops secretary of admin
istration and his representative" to
whom the department executives
report"
The Very Rev. Noble C. Powell
now Bishop Coadjutor of MARYLAND
and the late Very Rev. zeBarney
Thorne Phillips successfully sought
clarif1cation OF their roles in the
cathedral work. Both were in cor
respondence with the Right Rev
James E. Freeman, third Bishop of
Washington, concerning the prob
lem. The letters exchanged never
have been made public.
But the reformation" plsn nre-
pared for the chapter of the Cathe-
oral by former Senator George
Wharton Pepper of PENNSYLVANIA a
lew weeks ago approaches the oues-
tlon OF the deans functions and
duties from an altogether new angle
Under Article w, Section 3. of the
projected constitution it is stipu-
lated: The dean shall be appointed
by the presiding bishop, by and with
the advice and consent of the chap
ter. The dean shall be the chief
administrative officer of the Cathe-
oral and shall have the responsibility
Of ordering its services, saving that
important changes shall be made
only after formal conference with
the other members of the pres
bytery and with the approval of the
presiding bishop"
Position to Be National.
Thus, the appointment OF the dean
ceases to be an obligation and
privilege of the Bishop of Washing
ton and becomes the business of the
presiding bishop. Correlatively, the
position of the dean will be national
rather than local in character. The
new officer, when he has been ap-
pointed and installed, will have
general charge of the Cathedral
buildings and grounds, its supple
mentary institutions, liturgy and
ritual formulas, policies and proce :
dures in the administrative field.
fund raising, insurance, publicity,
and personnel. He also will be re-
sponsible for continuing the con-
struction program of the Cathedral.
1t therefore Is important that he be
skilled in ecclesiastical architecture
and iconography-a problem of life
long study.
Demand for these changes in the
deans status come principally from
those who believe that the presiding
bishop should not be expected to
carry on the work of Bishop Free
man and from those who desire the
next bishop of Washington to be
free Of the Cathedral burdens which.
as they contend, shortened Bishop
Freeman's life. The latter group is
strong in numbers and influence in
the diocese. 1t seeks a diocesan
leader who will specialize in pastoral
work, build up the weak parishes,
strengthen the diocesan institutions
(as distinct from the Cathedral in
stltutlonsl and perform a miracle
OF spiritual genius in the Capital.
Roberts Heads Group.
The task of finding candidate
qualified to be dean under the new
plan is one which, according to
several local clearygmen. should be
turned over to a committee. Mean
while, the diocesan nominating
committee to consider candidates
for Bishop of Washington, has not
met. Associate Justice Owen Rob-
erts is chairman, and it is under
stood the committee is waiting un-
til it Is convenient for Justice Rob-
erts to hold the meeting.
Men thus far mentioned as likely
to be placed in nomination to sue
ceed Bishop Freeman include: Rev.
DR.. Donald Bradshaw Aldrich, ST.
a native of Fall River, Mass, rector
of the Church of the Ascension,
New York City. since 1925; Rev.
DR.. Norman Burdett Nash. 55, born
at Bangor, Me, rector of st. Pauls
School, Concord, N. H, since 1899:
Rev. Edward Gabler, 81. a native
of Trumbull, Conn, rector Of Christ
Church Navy Yard since 1928:
Rev. F.. Bland Tucker. 48, born at
Norfolk, Va, rector of St. Johns,
Georgetown, since 1925: and Rev
DR.. Charles T. Warner. Sc, native
of Amherst County, Va, rector of
St. Adams since 1912.
Discussion of candidates for dean