Again, Paul Jones

A bishop without a diocese or a missionary district is Bishop Paul Jones.

It was in 1906 Utah's late rugged Bishop Frank Spaulding spoke one day to students at the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Mass. The Bishop spoke of Episcopal difficulties in Utah, of the Mormon University at Logan, of Mormon proselytizing. The Bishop was asking for help. "Whom shall we send and who will go?" Student Paul Jones echoed Isaiah: "Here I am, send me."

In 1914 Paul Jones* was appointed Episcopal archdeacon of all Utah. That same year Bishop Spaulding died and all were pleased that the young missionary was chosen to succeed him.

In 1917 Bishop of Utah and a specially appointed Commission of the House of Bishops met in a house in Vandeventer Place, St. Louis. Outside moaned the wind, snow flurried in the streets. The Commission sat alone. Bishop Jones was in an-other room but the Commission knew they might speak to him "whenever occasion demanded." They wrote answers to a series of questions which Bishop Jones, silent in the other room, had submitted to them.

Q. Does the Commission find . . . that I have been affiliated with seditious organizations?

A. The Commission does not charge seditious organizations, but does say questionable organizations in respect of loyalty to the Government.

Q. . . . that I have persistently promulgated unpatriotic doctrines?

A. The Commission is not satisfied that you have persistently promulgated unpatriotic doctrines; but . . . that on occasions you have promulgated such doctrines.

Q. . . . that I have injured the life of the Church in Utah and elsewhere?

A. Yes. . . .

Q. . . . that I have exceeded my prerogatives in coming to the conclusions I have in regard to war and Christianity?

A. ... in our free country you are not to be officially restrained in your maintenance of opinions which you hold as an individual; but . . . that weighty responsibility attaches to pronouncements by a bishop . . . that thoughtfulness and reticence on his part are exceedingly desirable.

Q. . . . that I should accede to the request of the Council of Advice and resign?

A. Yes. . . .

Last week in the Churchman was launched a drive, by no means the first, to reinstate Bishop Jones, socialist, pacifist, hater of war as unchristian, the man during the late War, accused of being pro-German, said: "I believe most sincerely that German brutality and aggression must be stopped and I am willing, if need be, to give my life and what I possess to bring that about." He questioned that war was the right method, and, therefore, since he was in conflict with his government and his Church, lost his diocese. Today the Protestant churches are pacifistic. No longer, therefore, does the onetime Bishop of Utah seem dangerous to Episcopalians, Queried the Churchman: "Is there no place in the ministry of the Episcopal Church for Paul Jones?"

Since his resignation Bishop Jones has been secretary of the pacifist interdenominational Fellowship of Reconciliation (Manhattan). Last March he tendered his resignation, to take place Jan. 1, 1930 be cause "there is a very real danger of having one man continue too long in such a position."

Three Episcopal missionary districts are now without bishops: the Hawaiian Is lands, Wyoming, Nevada.* To any of these three might Bishop Jones be sent -- though his friends say he no longer wants so executive a position since Bishops must now be businessmen and he would miss "the human touch" of his early work.

* No kin of U. S. Naval Hero John Paul Jones.

* Successor to Bishop Jones in Utah is Bishop Arthur Wheelock Moulton.