Evening star., 1947-01-15
Bishop Sheriff.
Assumes Duties
of New Office
Formally Installed
As Presiding Bishop
In CoIorful Rites
By Cospor Nonnes

Dy ~0SRSt tNSsthSS
In a ceremony suggestive of Mid
die Ages pageantry, the Rt. Rev.
Henry Knox Sheriff. of Massachu-
sets was installed yesterday at
Washington Cathedral as the goth
presiding bishop of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United
States Of America.
The blare of trumpets and peals OF
organ music reverberated through
the Cathedral as the professions Of
clergymen, prominent lay figures
and bishops of the Episcopal Church
entered and marched slowly through
the aisles before taking their places
in the Great Choir Hall.
Flags in Procession.
White robed crucifers, each bear
ing a crucif1x, paced slowly before
each of the professions. Besides
them walked candle bearers, clad in
red gowns with white surplices. At
the head of the first procession two
flag bearers carried the American
and Episcopal Church flags.
Several of the clergy who had
seen wartime service as chaplains
wore service ribbons on their vest
ments.
A blast from three trumpets an
nounced the entrance of Bishop
Sheriff. and his procession. Among
those accompanying the Massachu-
sets churchman were former Su-
preme Court Justice Owen j. Rob-
erts, now president of the Episcopal
Church House of Deputies; the Rt.
Rev. Arthur McKinstry, Bishop Of
Delaware; the Right Rev. James De
Wolf Perry, presiding bishop of the
church from 1880 to 1887, and re-
firing Presiding Bishop Henry st.
George Tucker.
Certifications Read.
Bishop Tucker, chairman of the
House of Bishops, then read that
houses certiflcation of Bishop Sher-
rill's election as presiding bishop.
Justice Roberts followed with q
reading of the certificate Of elec-
ton from the House of Deputies,
Bishop Sheriff. was elected at the
general convention of the church
at Philadelphia in September.
Senator Saltonstall, Republican,
of Massachusetts, read the second
Scripture lesson after the WASH
ington Cathedral Choir, led by
Paul Galloway, sang the first one.
After Bishop Perry had read the
litany, the incoming presiding
bishop said a prayer of dedication
to his task at the foot of the altar
steps. s-'
| Oath Is Administered.
Bishop Tucker and Justice Rob-
erts next walked with Bishop Sher-
rill to the center of the chancel
and placed him in the chair, say
ting. I'm the name of God, Amen"
The Very Rev. John Wallace
Suter, dean of Washington Cathe-
dral, then administered the oath
to Bishop Sheriff.. The latter placed
his hand on the STANDARD Book
of Common Prayer" and said:
IT, Henry Knox, by Divine Provi-
dence Presiding Bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States of America, duly
elected and now to be installed, do
solemnly swear that I will observe
and to the utmost of my power full
fill the duties, statutes and customs
of presiding bishop not contrary to
Divine law. So help me God and
the contents of this book"
"Te Deum" Sung.
Following the taking of the oath
of installation, a blast of trumpets
resounded through the Cathedral,
to be Immediately taken up by the
choir and congregation singing the
"Te Deum."
The Right Rev. Angus Dun,
Bishop of Washington, and James
P. Berkeley, Cathedral verger, es-
corted Bishop Sheriff. to the pulpit
during the singing of the "Te
Deum." Bishop Dun, who partici.
pated in the service, despite cold.
introduced the presiding bishop to
the congregation by asking "for
him your continuing loyalty, affec-
ton and prayers, that he may be
faithful and happy in the execu-
tion of his sacred Office"
In his installation address to the
gathering, Bishop Sheriff. said it
is time "to expect of ourselves and
of others an underlying sincerity
of effort and the realization of the
greatness of our commitment" to
God and Christ.
Questions of international con-
ferences, industry, labor, home and
education can be answered only "by
the standard of the mind and spirit
of Him we call our Lord and Mas
ter" the Bishop asserted.
Special Ceremony Used.
"The organization of the United
Nations, the proposals for world
government, every peace conference
of the. leaders of nations prove the
essential correctness of the Christian
view of the world and human
nature" he continued.
Voicing optimism over the CO.
operative spirit prevalent among
FIOLSSkdllU VAACcO
days, Bishop Sheriff. declared, IF
the Christian forces of the world
can stand together for Christian
truth and practice, there is reason
for the conviction that the powers
of evil can be overcome"
Bishop Sheriff. was installed as
successor to Bishop Tucker In a
special ceremony patterned after
that followed in England during the
installation of a bishop or the en-
thronement of an archbishop. 1t is
the first time the church in this
country has formally installed its
president.
Bishop Sheriff. was guest Of Re-
tiring Bishop Tucker, Bishop Dun
and other dignitaries of the church
at reception at st. Adams School
for Boys following the services.
Bishop Sheriff. will call on Presi-
dent Truman today as member
of the Civil Rights Committee. His
headquarters will be at the general
offices of the Episcopal Church in
Nou vork