Episcopal Primus

The "senior" Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church now automatically succeeds to the office of Presiding Bishop upon the death of the former tenant of the office. But in 1925 the office will become elective--so that its duties shall not always fall to an old man.

When this change in church government was voted, Bishop Tuttle of Missouri held the office. Aged 86, he died (TiME, Apr. 28), was succeeded by Most Reverend Alexander C. Garrett, of Texas. Last week Bishop Garrett died, aged 91. He has been succeeded by Most Reverend Ethelbert Talbot, aged, 75, Bishop of Bethlehem, Pa.

Dr. Talbot has spent much of his life as a missionary Bishop of Idaho and Wyoming. He enjoyed buffalo hunts, wrote My People of the Plains, Tim-- an Autobiography of a Dog. Born in Missouri, he was educated at Dartmouth.

The present President of the National Council of Bishop Talbot's Church is Right Reverend Thomas F. Gailor, aged 67. On leave of absence from the Diocese of Tennessee, he devotes all his time to administrative work. Salary $15,000.

The two offices of leadership will probably be combined in 1925.