Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-10-31
LETTER OF DR.. FRANKLIN

To Messrs Weems and Grant, citizens o
the United States, 10 London.
Paris, 18th July, 1884,
Gentleme receipt of YOUR Letter
acquaintng me that the Archbishop of Can
terbury would not permit you to be ordsin
ed unless you took the oath of allegiance
| applied to a clergyman of my acquaint
ance for information on the subject of your
obtaining ordination here. His opinion
was that it could not be done, and that il
it were done, you would be required 10 vow
obedience to the Archbishop of Paris.
next inquired Of the Pope's Nuncio whether
you might not be ordained by the Bishop OF
America, powers being sent him for the
purpose-if he has them not already. The
answer was, the thing is impossible, unless
the gentleman become Catholic. This is
an affair Of which | know but very little,
and therefore may ask questions and pro-
pose means that are improper or impracti-
bic. But what is the necessity of your be-
ing connected with the church Of England!
Would it not DO as wcll,if YOU were of the
church Of lrelandl The religion is the
same, though there is different set Of
Bishops and Arch Bishops. Perhaps ifyou
were to apply to the Bishop of Derry, vino
is a man ofllberal sentiments, he might give
you orders, as Of that church If both Bril-
tain and Ireland refuse you, land am not
sure that the Bishop of Denmark or Swe-
den would ordan you unless you became
Lutherans,) what is then to be donel Noxt
TO becoming Presbyterians, the Episcopal
Clergy OF America. in my humble opinion
cannot do better than to follow the example
Of the first Clergy Of Scotland soon after
the conversion Of that country to Christian
ity, when their king had built the Cathedri-
al of ST. Andrews, and requested the king
Of Northumberland 10 lend his Bishops to
ordain one for them. that their clergy might
not. as heretofore, be obliged TO go to North
cumberland for orders, and their request
was refused They assembled in the Ca
thedral, and the mitre, crozier, aud robes
Of Bishop being laid upon the altar, they
after earnest prayers for direction in their
own number. when the king said to him,
'Arisc, go to The Alter, and rcceice your
office at the hand Of God" His breihern
led him 10 the alter, robed him, put the
croizor in bis hand, the mi.re on his head,
and he became the first Bishop of Scotland.
If the British Islands were sunk in the sea
land the surface of the globe had suffered
greater changes,) you would probably take
some such method as this, and ifthey persist
in denying your ordination, it is the same
thing. 4 hundred years hence, when peo-
pie are more enlightened, it will be wondered
al that men in America qualified by their lear
ming and pety TO pray for and instruct their
neighbors, should not be permitted 10 do ii
till they had made voyage Of six thousand
miles out and home, TO ask leave of cross
old gentleman at Canterbury, who seems by
your account to have as little regard for The
souls of the people Of Maryland, as King
Williams attorney, general Seymour, had
for those Of Virginia. The Reverned Com
missary Blair, who projected the College of
'ha, province, and was in England 10 solici.