SYDNEY'S NEW BISHOP

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 225, 21 April 1933, Page 6

SYDNEY'S NEW BISHOP

Synod's Tactics Condemned

"NEAR BLASPHEMY"

Sydney, April 13.—The methods adopted by various church factions at the election of the new Bishop of Sydney, in place of the late Archbishop Wright, have been roundly condemned iii many quarters. By some it is said that the campaign had all the flavour of a political contest, at its worst. There were scheming*' and intrigues which reflected on the Church as a whole, so it is said. Here is an extract from a remarkable article which appeared in the Church Standard, published on the night before the actual election:

"God, the Holy Spirit, has been invoked to guide the minds of the electors to choose the man God has chosen for this important work. It seems to us bordering on blasphemy to ask God's help after the happenings ol the past few weeks. Every code of etiquette, except that of the racecourse and New South Wales politics, has been violated. Church custom decrees that there should have been no name mentioned in public until the Synod has made its choice. The priest or bishop elected should first learn of the matter from an official intimation of his election, and the public should be notified of the name of the new archbishop only after he has accepted the position. What takes place in Synod is under the seal of secrecy, tor obvious reasons. There must necessarily be frank discussions of men's attainments and character, and this is impossible, unless secrecy is observed. "No such canons of Christian charity or good taste have been observed. AH dignity and decency have been thrown to the winds. The Australian Church Record and the seculr

have boeu full of propagandr :' ■ and that candidate. Caucus meetings have been held to run 'tickets' for the election. In sporting circles the mutter has aroused contemptuous amusement and odds have been laid on the various 'starters.' The diocese of Sydney has been proud of its disregard of the traditional ceremonial of th,> Catholic Church and the consequent lack of dignify in the conduct of services, but now The whole world has been told that the diocese has no regard, also, for those essential decencies which arc generally hold nee.es-

sary by any respectable association However, in spile of all that has happened, there is every indication that the new bishop. Bishop Mowll, of Western China, will command the utmost respect of all section?? of the Church and of the community as a w'-m • It is said by those who know him best Jl m< he will adorn the Australian ' !C< ich of Bishops. Tie is described as :i man of sinking personality standing six feet, a born leader. and possessing exceptional spiritual force and power. It is all in his favour that he is the senior bishop oi more than half the Australian bishops by consecration.