The New York herald., 1844-09-08

special Convention OF the Protestant Episr
copa1 Church-Resignation OF Bishop On.
derdonk ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS o. the
Convcntion-so Assistant Chosen. s..s1
AT four o'clock this evening the Convention as
s'.mbled, when the proceedings OF the morning ses
sion were reaI and approved
The Lay Delegates were admitted to their seats
The Rev. Mr.. NEWTON rose and offered resolu
ton excluding the reporters, and the public gener
ally, but the New York Herald in particular, from
the Convention He went into an argument in sup
port of his resolution, which contained nothing
worthy OF especial notice.
The Rev. Mr.. CoLroN made reply to the remarks
Of Mr.. Binney delivered in the morning, and con-
tended that as matters Of peculiarly delicate char
aetsr were be brought before the Convention, il
ought 10 SIT with closed DOORS
The SECRETARY remarked that the Convention
had placed itself very strange and extraordina-
~ position, from the fact that they had received
communication from the Bishop OF the Diocese,
whilst session, refusedlts reading supposng that
IL contained matter not intended for the public ear,
and made an effort to sit with closed doors.
The motion OF the Rev. MIR. NEWTON then
Withdrawn, when two letters were received from
Bishop Onderdonk-only one OF which was read
motion to. suppress the other having been made
and desated for some time when it was finally test
ed and orderedto be made public
Ii gave an account OF the i'll state Of his health
at the present time, which he said had been declin-
ing for the past Is years. He states that he took
brandy and ioater only stinsmant, finding IL the
only medicine chith could possibly afford hin. any
relief when suffering the most acute palms, tie IN
s,sts that The simple fact OF his drinking brandy
the quantity per day IS not stated-s the sole and
only cause tor the gross and criminal charges against
the other allegations, and courted investigation.
We annex some OF these allegations which he de-
nies:-
To ARc X -
The Rev Robert Davis having informed US that you
possession of certain authenticated facts touching
the offences charged the present Bishop Of Penn
sylvania respectfully request you furnish with
the same in writing if convenient with your views OF
proprety, and that early may be convenient.
Respectfully your obedient servts.
GEORGE UPHOLD.
THOs CRUMPrON.
To which, in reply was sent copy duly (each) attest
ed Of the following charges and correspondence as
Whereas, appears from s,ndry good and substantial
Of the Right Rev. Henry w Onderdonk Bishop Of
the diocese Of Pennsylvania upon public OF scanda
lous srderly immoral conduct under the following
specifications setting forth time place, and circumstances
Right Rev. Henry w. Onderdonk is generally charged
by public rumor with being guilty Of scandaous disor
dery and immoral conduct in perssng to put his hand
upon the person Of Esther Ridgway in aewa licenous.
and ndelcate manner, on the nineteenth day Of the
sand eight hundred and thirty is thus spec
fled in the first part.
charged by public with being guilty Of scandalous
disordery and immoral conduct in persstng to put his
hand upon the person Of Esther Ridgwsy, in swd Ii
given for time and In rail road car travelling from
Philadelphia to Lancaster "Place" is thus specified in
Said Right Rev. Henry w. Onderdonk, is generally
chagedby public with being guilty as set forth
above and under the following circumstances:
Esther Rdgway sitting the back Of The rail
road car, lady with her husband was sitting near the
lady on the with Esther Ridgway and the gen
eman opposite to her The lady and her husband left
the cars, and then Right Rev. Henry w. Onderdonk
came and onbs seat that had been vacated
by the gentleman Immediately in front of Esther Ridg
way behaving towards her in manner which was high
ly insulting female feelings and female virue and did
put his hand upon her in lewd lcentious and
ndecate manner, leaving her room to doubt OF his
scandaous dsordery and immoral conduct exhibited
in his evil behaviour to her She astonhed and
frightened by this department of his that she knew not
how to ac but upon his persistng in and repeating this
,hsu IN ane arrs
kng the place where che stop, she thus
lieved from his indecate and vicious conduct OF persist
ing to lay his hands upon her person in improper
and immoral manner "Circumstances are thus spesfed
in the third par'.i
And whereas, "Time place. and circumstances" are
forth required by 3D. section s OF the Pro
testah Episcopal Church in the diocese of Pennsy
the Right It Rev Henry W. onderdonk with the scansa.
lsus disordery and immoral conduct set forth do
hereby in full belief Of the same call upon the clerical
and lay delegates OF this Convention, to institute
quiry into the character and conduct OF the Right Rev.
Henry w. Onderdonk upon those charges Of public ru
for said mmoralities and do hereby forward the
with my name duly subscribed thereto; ,,.c.,,,,,
Philadelphia April 10th, ls4o
JOSEPH RrpcwAr-
purpose to bring forward at the first meeting of tho
Episcopal Convention for the State of Pennsylvania
tain charges upon public rumor against the Right Rev.
Henry w Onderdonk and in order to enable to DO
sowoud respectfully ask you Tor such testimony your
may read Il and be able to decide how far she Can consc
entiously srm to subantiate the truth thereof as
Yours respectfully, 4. +. K. necALLuM.
To which came the following reply.
PHiLApELPHrA, 4th mo. II, ls4O
Thy note yesterdaylis before me- with the charges
conduct against the Rt Rev. Henry w. Ondcrdcnk, in.
tended to be forwarded to the Episcopal Convention Of
% Sad named IN sad Charges
and willing to testify on solemn affirmation to their truth
J. RIDGWAY.
There is now also in the hands Of Rev. Uphold, OF
Pittsburgh oath Of the nature by lady Of Allie
gany town-one Mrs. b.
The Rev J. Bull. then moved the considera-
t,on of the Bishops resignation, when Mr.. Lewis
Ashurst offered resolution that the resignation OF
the Right Rev. Bishop Onderdonk be accepted,
and demanded the yeas and nays.
HORACE BINNEy, Esq. rose and moved to postpone
the question, alleging that appeal being to the
house of Bishops alone, and ably discussed the
question at great length.
The debate was continued by Rev. Dr. Ducha-
chet, DR.. Boyd. Rev. DIR. Tying, and others, after
which great excitement and confusion prevailed,
with frequent cries of "question," I" order," &c
in various parts OF the house.
JOSEPH K. lNeERsoLL, Esq LEWIS K. AsHURsT
E:q.,. and Others addressed the Convention, after
which the question to postpone Mr.. Binney',
resolution was d sciled as follows
| CIgaGy-Yeas l1-Nays 50
Law ljerrGATrs-Yeas l5-Navs 81
Considerable debate then followed, when the
| final question upon the resignation Of the Right
| Rev. Bishop Onderdonk, was taken thus =
CLERGy-Yeas 51-Nays 13.
CHURcHEs--Yeas 55-Nays Is.
| And SIX were divided.
The resignation was therefore accepted, ant
Bishop Onderdonk is no longer the chief prelate o
the Protestant Episcopal Church Of Pennsylvania