Bishop William Lawrence of the Protestant Episcopal diocese of Massachusetts was chagrined last week at the premature news of his resignation from office. He explained: "I have already given the presiding bishop the resignation of my title and he was to notify the bishops of the church next Thursday. I planned to announce the resignation at the convention of the diocese in Boston on Wednesday, and I am very sorry that, through some mistake, it has become public before that."
He goes reluctantly from this see, which Orator-Bishop Phillips Brooks (1835-93) directed before him, which he has directed since 1893. Charles Lewis Slattery, his bishop coadjutor since 1922, his son-in-law since 1923, who has been active head the past two years, now automatically becomes titular head as well. Bishop Lawrence, by this resignation, relinquishes none of his prerogatives in Protestant Episcopal Church councils. Nor will he yet give up his educational leadership at Harvard University, Wellesley College, St. Mark's and Groton Schools for Boys.