Vicar to Vermont

Vermont has 429 clergymen, of whom less than 10% are Episcopalians. Last week Vermont Episcopalians met to choose their sixth bishop, successor to Rt. Rev. Samuel Babcock Booth who died last June. In four ballots they eliminated such of the 42 Vermonters as had been nominated, went outside the State for the third successive time, elected Rev. Dr. Joseph Wilson Sutton. 54, vicar of Trinity Chapel, Manhattan. Vicar Sutton learned of his election with surprise while vacationing in Mexico.

Rich old Trinity Church, whence such bishops as William Thomas Manning have been elevated, has seven satellite chapels, snug berths which are insulated against penury as well as against inordinate theo logical liberalism. Grey-haired, good-looking Dr. Sutton became curate of Trinity Chapel 22 years ago after having been headmaster of St. Paul's School in Baltimore. Made vicar, he was nearly elected suffragan bishop of New York in 1921. Dr. Sutton is a bachelor. Inside his small parish he devoted himself to friendly pastoral visiting. Outside it he demonstrated interest in causes like the Society for Promoting Religion & Learn ing in the State of New York.

In Vermont Dr. Sutton will not find Episcopal life much more turbulent.

There are in that State 10,000 baptized Episcopalians, 6,000 communicants including Governor Charles Smith. Economist John Spargo is the Church's diocesan registrar. There is one deaconess.

Last year there were 79 Episcopal marriages, 296 burials, no ordinations for the priesthood. Vermont Episcopalians are mostly high church, hence will get along with ultra-high Dr. Sutton. Chief problem he must face is finance -- how to maintain, if not spread, an extensive series of missionary chapels.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.