The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-01
KcpIy to an Address ito the Lnity OF the
Protestant Episcopal Church In the Do
cese of New York;

We have lately seen an address to the lay of the Pro-
testant Episcopal Church in the Diocese OF New York.
This address is subscribed by about hundred gentle
men. Whether the subscribers all Epscopalians
know not is certain that several Of them are rarely
in church, and are not regular worshippers in II
They are however, respectable men, and 1t Is to be la
mented that any respectable man in this city should be
found who could be induced to subscribe such paper
II must however be source Of great Joy and gratifca
ton to every sincere Epscopalian to find SO few willing
sign it. Immediately after the adjournment OF the con.
venion in October last we were told and it was publicly
that paper that in the elections for vesrymen III the
vera parishes this spring. care would be taken to elect
yesres opposed the bishop and the present order Of
things in the church These gentlemen have Teen active
since in endeavoring to ioment discord IN the de
and to enbody in the church party strong enough 10
carry their threats into execution OF managing the
tries in the diocese And the result Of all their exerlions
has been embody party Of hundred in all the Eps
copal churches In the city, willing to act with them IN
their noble enterprise. 1t is known that many persons
applied to- to sign the paper, who refused to do it.
and whose appear upon IT, Is believed,
subscribed it without reflection or full consideration OF
its aim and object
slider the object of this address and not suffer themselves
to be led astray by an artful appeal 70 cr passions ana
prejudces from persuasion that the rights OF the Lalty
have been disregarded and violated by the BishoP.
By the sth Canon of the General Convention Of 1884,
is that any annual Diocesan Convention, the
Bishop shall deliver address, stating the affairs OF the
Diocese since the last meeting OF the convention the
of the Churches which he has visted the number
of parsons conrmed the names OF those who have been
ordained suspended degraded; the changes by death
or otherwise which have taken place among the
Clergy and in general all matters tending to throw light
the affairs of the Diocese which address shall be in
serted in the journals
BY the 9th article of the Constitution Of the Church in
the Diocese of New York. it is declared that the Bishop
shall preside in the Convention but in csse Of vacancy
or ABSENCE the members shall elect President,
from among the Clergy"
There is nothing in the Constitution or Canons of the
Church in this Diocese requiring authorship the
Bishop to make any address to the Convention
The delivery OF the annual address made his duty by
the General Convention. II is imposed upon him Us
Bishop OF the Diocese and in obedience to the Canon oil
the General Conventions and in the discharge OF the duty
thus imposed he msnestly responsible to those uhder
whose direction he acts and not to the Diocesan conven
ton which, constitutionally, has no power 10 require
the address from the Bishop and none TO prevent ms
making II ,, =,
Again with the doctrines contained in the address OF
the lisbon the Diocesan Convention can have nothing to
do unless in the pointed out by The Canons OF the
Church The Diocesan Convention may present the
Bishop TO the House OF Bishops any crime for heresy
"a In no other way the Diocesan Convention inter
fere with the Bishop in the discharge OF his duties
Having seen what the duties Of the Bishop in rela
ton 10 the address which he is bound annually TO make
TO the Convention OF the Diocese, let us examine for