The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-02
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY In THE
SCOPAL CHURCH.
PASTOR Al LETTER.
70 THE LAIrY OF MY PASTORAL CHARGE -

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To THE LAITY OF MY PASTORAL CHARGE:-
BRETHREN, BELOVED IN THE LORD
Certain of your body have published and disse-
minated document bearing their names, designed
to place me before you as an arrogant assumer OF
prerogative beyond the just claims OF my oiiice,
and therefore one unworthy OF your confidence,
and obnoxious to the disrespect and suspicion OF
the community. have no regret, on my own ac-
count, that they have thus frankly expressed them
selves in their own names. My firm and fearless
adoption and vindication of measures consclen-
tiously deemed by me to be inseparable from the
faithful discharge OF my official obligations and re-
sponsibilities have called forth manifestations OF
i'll will and hostility, both privately and pubiclyex-
pressed, to which, from their anonymous and ire
sponsible character or from other sufficient causes,
deemed it neither demand OF duty, nor a die
tate of propriety, to make any answer Now, how
ever, am accused before the church and the
world under names deserving respectful consdera-
ton I; names, too, which give painful evidence
that there has been subsection OF understanding
to feeling, and OF principle to passion, In quarters
where would have little expected it.
lam accused of high-handed measure OF ty-
ranny, and of an unprinclpled trampllng on the
rights of the aty, in the manner in which treated
the movement OF the Hon. John Duer, at the close
OF our last convention.
That movement was censure upon my conduct
in matter of pastoral counsel to the clergy and
people of my charge. The censure was contained
in a document, signed, or to be signed, by that
gentleman and others, and brought forward by
him, without the accompaniment OF any resolution,
and evidently on the presumption that he, and
they; and any others, had right to spread upon
the minutes any document which they might see
fit to prepare, even without resolution designed
to test the of the convention whether the IL
berty should be taken or not.
On principles which will be duly appreciated by
all lovers of good order was instantly convinced
that duty to the body over which presided de-
handed of me to save 1t at once from such an out
rage. adopted the course marked out by duty
am blamed, however, for not having allow
ed an explanation The whole matter having
been an unjustifiable assumption OF prerogatlve;
that is, an assumption OF the right OF members to
spread what they please upon the minutes OF the
convention, could be faithful to my trust as the
head of that body, laden with peculiar responsible
y the preservation Of its good order only by running
the risk Of refusing sanction to, or cooperation with
say running the risk for upon the unhallowed prin
duct there might have beenI felt the possibility but
feared it notan applying Of the maxim which gives to
h1 tn, SG OF ana be gnk
diocese which fears Him and loves righteousness which
has been distinguished for church knowledge church
had proved years BEFORE how surely to be found
the side ofrght when disturbance bred within it.
sa m
trials Tor the church good were still it's
and noby sustained as appeared BY manifestations
continued appear by the most unquestionable tokens
These have made my diocese dearer than ever to my
scous rectitude and rm pure and nnblenched purpose
which were characteristic Of Bishop Hobart, and
which he manifested when, some thirty years ago. an
effort was made in convention to Interfere with his ep
copal prerogatves but put down by what trust will
be the tone of New York churchmanship II wonid
say, brethren thank you for the sound principles and
feelings you have manifested and the right stand
you have taken but allow me frankly to say that highly
as am gtatiaed BY your support and truly strengthened
event, have peIsevered in my purpose.
But may be said that room should have been allowed
srt
he minutes, as protest fhe abstract right Of protest il
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with that subject Iregard the chief question, however
Il is principle Of common justice, that when official
perogatives are conferred and response
blity defined By competent authority rights are thus in
sponsibilty That is the person clothed with the pre-
negatives has right to claim exemption from any other
restriction in their exercise than involved in the pre-
scribed mode and measure Of responsibility.
Among the most generally acknowledged maxims OF
good government is to be rankedt at which makes espe
cia Of this principle to those who are invested
with peculiarly weghty official responsibilities and such
subject Them for the public good to marked exposure
to popular misunderstanding and will The protection
these the conscientious and Independent discharge
Of duty has been leading object in every weregu
The Church has not neglected it. In consideration o.
the grievous weight Of official responsibilities imposed
upon her Bshops-ofen of the most delicate nature in
volvng points peculiarly obnoxious to Misunderstanding
and censre and having connections and bearings and
leading to processes which necessarily be kept
least for time from public observation has fur
every sound and intelligent friend Of social order and
good to be necessary to sustaining them
in the righteous fearless and independent
Our Bishops are economically responsible only by their
amenabiy to trial on Prssentmsnt by thel, resPscye
this responsibility they economically secured and pro-
ected in the discharge of their duties In no other way
they be called to account Any Judgment upon them
them
nonical. and all infringement upon their rights.
v Ss aa Of Mr pus fear
those gentlemen-andt the remark applies in principle tn
those wholave signed the late appeal to youwere little
selves be drawn for the purposes intended by that paper
Their act impeachment OF an individual before
tribunal to which he was not legally responsible except
senter for trial But nothing was brought before in this
light 1t to be made the instrument, through its
minutes of condemnng the Bishop for abetting unchrs
an conduct and unsound doctrine. On what principle
justice and Of regard for equal rights could these gen.
sared by the convsnon Viii they carry the doctrine
which their procedure based into connection
that they may sustain with the administration Of civil
trust you see, brethren, what is obvious to every
sound Churchman the correctness OF the distinction be-
tween my position in the Convention Bishop of the
Diocese, and President of the Convention. In my for
capacity, it is both my prerogove and duty as the
ofhe diocese ogve to its and through
that to my whole spiritual charge such religious nsruc
on advice and exhortaton az to me may seem right and
proper And this is the prerogative brethren which
said and say, and which should he unworthy OF
your confidence and Of the oversight Of you which the
Holy Ghost has given me- il should ever hesitate to
will assert and maintain, and exercise to the last
tremity. aa
Such are the grounds, brethren ON which aver that
any resolution offered to the Convention going to mpugn
any the Bishops acts whether in the discharge Of his
peculiar episcopal prerogstives those OF his pastoral
office, except in the shape Of proposed impeachment Of
him for trial. Irregular disordery, uncanonca and
invasion of his rights. The President of the Convention
therefore bound to refuse to receive as utterly out of
order.
Even in the matter of advice, wisely cautious,
ervave and just canons that they provide each
Bishop in the Diocesan Standing Committee, with his
proper advisers in his official transactions The inter
ference Of conventions therefore, in this matter directly
indirectly is of order Here is another important
security to Bishops the discharge Of their functions
And while law thus prescribes and settles the mode and
Of their responsibility thus also as before OBJ
served their rights All reaching beyond II In
the latter and all invasion of its bounds in the former
and radical character