MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Ferris, Hall, Tollison

Senate Concurrent Resolution 632

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE RIGHT REVEREND JOHN MAURY ALLIN AND EXPRESSING SYMPATHY TO HIS WIFE AND FAMILY UPON HIS DEATH. 

WHEREAS, on March 6, 1998, the retired Presiding Bishop of these United States of America, the Right Reverend John Maury Allin entered into the greater glory as a result of a brief battle with cancer; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Allin was born on April 22, 1921, was a native of Helena, Arkansas, from which he remained until he obtained his seminary training from the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, after which he came to Mississippi wherein he completed his Masters in Education from Mississippi College; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Allin returned to Arkansas where he was ordained deacon by Bishop R. Bland Mitchell of Arkansas on June 6, 1944, and Bishop Mitchell advanced him to the priesthood on May 10, 1945, and;

WHEREAS, Bishop Allin was devotedly married to Frances Ann Kelly of Helena and was the proud father to four loving children, Martha May, John Maury, Jr., Kelly Ann and Frances Elizabeth; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Allin's first charge was St. Peter's Church in Conway, Arkansas, where he served from 1945 to 1949; from 1950 to 1952 he was Curate of St. Andrew's Church in New Orleans and chaplain to Episcopal students and institutions in New Orleans; from 1952 to 1958 he was Rector of Grace Church, Monroe, Louisiana; he became Rector of All Saint's Junior College in Vicksburg in 1958 and continued there until his election as Bishop Coadjutor; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Allin's consecration as bishop took place in St. James' Church, Jackson, on October 28, 1961, by the Chief Consecrator, Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Arthur C. Lichenburger, with Bishop Duncan Gray of Mississippi, and Bishop Girault M. Jones of Louisiana, serving as co-consecrators from 1961 until 1966; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Allin worked tirelessly for racial reconciliation under the Diocesan Direction of Bishop Gray as an executive member of the Ecumenical Committee of Concern which sought to rebuild over 100 black churches that had been burned as a result of racial unrest; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Allin was instrumental in the establishing of the diocesan cathedral; Bishop Allin felt strongly that the Diocese needed a cathedral and thus set his mind to task from which St. Andrew's Church in Jackson would soon become Mississippi's only Episcopal Cathedral; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Allin's work for the Diocese of Mississippi would continue with his succession as Diocesan of Mississippi after the retirement of Bishop Duncan Gray on May 31, 1966; and

WHEREAS, his clear light of reason as recorded here in his 1966 State of the Church address to council:

"Let us not join in cursing any or all of those who come from afar to launch programs for the sake of the needy among us, regardless of their motives, while at the same time we are opening doors to them by doing nothing to meet such needs. Let us not accuse the stranger of taking advantage of our poor and illiterate, if by such a manner as to protect them from the false prophets and power seekers. We do not seek argument here. It is rather logic and reason and right that is sought."

and;

WHEREAS, Bishop Allin's work evolved with an increasing sensitivity to the role of women in the church and his amendments to the Episcopal Canon to permit the election of women to vestries and mission committees, his commitment to the strengthening of the Episcopal Church Women was highlight in his calling for the women of the Diocese to become peacemakers wherever they were; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Allin was responsible for the continued growth of the Diocese of Mississippi in the installation of St. Christopher's in Jackson, Ascension Mission in Hattiesburg, St. Michael and All Angels in Amory, and Trinity Mission in Newton. Through the Diocese, educational day care centers were established at St. Marks, in Jackson and in Bovina, at St. Alban's; and

WHEREAS, his commitment to God and the Diocese was further revealed in his untiring efforts of compassion in dealing with the tremendous loss of human lives and devastation of church property in the wake of Hurricane Camille on August 17, 1969, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Wherein it was determined that twenty Episcopalians had lost their lives; three churches, a newly completed coast Episcopal High School, along with over 400 church homes to which had either been heavily damaged or utterly destroyed. Bishop Allin remained entrenched throughout the days that followed, providing personal assistance to each of the Episcopal parishes in the wake of this horrible tragedy; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Allin continued his commitment to his faith and church with his election and installation on June 11, 1974, in the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Washington, D.C., as the Presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. During his twelve years as Presiding Bishop, Bishop John Maury Allin would become personal friends with five United States presidents and would later be remembered by President George Bush as being his greatest spiritual advisor and personal friend; and

WHEREAS, Bishop John Maury Allin will always be remembered for his devotion to God, his church, his family and his friends:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life, accomplishments and devoted servant of the Episcopal Church of The Right Reverend John Maury Allin of Mississippi, and extend our deepest sympathy to his wife and his family upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Frances Ann Kelly Allin and family, and members of the Capitol Press Corps.