The New York herald., 1845-01-28

determination on Friday, Nov Ist afterwards
learned from Bishop Doane, as the result Of a con-
yefsation with them, that presentment would pro-
oaoly De MADE on Friday or Saturday
1t soon came to my knowledge that certain per-
sons-Mr. John Jay, of this city, and Mr.. G. G.
Memmlnger, OF Charleston, s. c., then in this city,
tlgatlng rumors against me, and for that purpose
calling on families where they had reason to hope
they might hear something to my disadvantage
Inc Inc tnree bishops, meanwhile, waiting IN read-
brought to them.
The expected Friday and Saturday passed with.
out my receiving presentment. On Sunday. Nov.
Sd, Bishop Kemper told me that he had, day or
two before, spoken to the Senior Bishop on the
subject; who told him that he had notified the
the three Bishops that he should leave town the
following Tuesday, previously to which he would
be in readiness to receive any communication
from them. On Monday 4th, Bishop Kemper told
me that he had on that Gay seen Bishop Otey,
S,p who tod MN NJ tnas 'hs % next Gay, Tuesday 9Th 10
bringing the matter to an issue. On the evening
Of that day. at about 10 o'clock, received the fol-
lowing letter from the three Bishops:-
"NEw YoRx, Nov. 8, 1914.
HI0Hr REVEREND AND DEAR BRoTHER-
During the investigation Of the painful charges which
have been laid before u.s. affecting the purity Of your
OF diocese, has been handed u.s. which leads us 10
suppose that notwithstanding the clear de6aon Of the
made in your presence in the House of Bishops you mis-
understand that position, and to be
with person. and circumstances with which has
These chargss, you may remember. were laid before
from highly respectable csrgymen and three equally
respectable laymen Of the Church, and all holding the
responsible office of Trustees Of the General Theological
Seminary OF these memoralists, two three had been
soemnly charged by the Diocese Of South Caroline to in
vestgate rumors affecting the welfare of the Seminary;
and in the course OF that investigation these charges
against your moral purity had come before them in such
irresponsible shape, that they felt compelled by
OF DUTY to lay them before the House OF Bishops visi
tors OF the Seminary. You may remember likewise that
upon the appearance that memorial an excited discus
to receive such paper coming such shape when one
Of u.s. your brethren, and in your presence. submitted
Bishops who might entertain for presentmen the charges
Of the said nemoriass These questions laid over for
Of New York respecting alterations in tie SeSSp con
stution Of the Foreign and Domestic Missionary Socie.
y were discussed; and upon the next morning full
self taking part in the conversation in which these points
were considered as combining the views of the House Of
Bishops
That the three Bishops presenting occupied very
much y position Of grand jury, who are to take
out aprima facie case against the accused
That these Bishors should not be considered just-
sbls PERSONS delivered before personally or
duly witnessed before some civil magistrate qualified to
That the acts charged. if constituting sequence,
some Of them at least should within period OF
time not barred by an equitable statute Of limitations
Under those crcumstances, and with these views we
your brethren and with the purpose of shielding you
from rumora which were deeply affecting your character
evidence as ss as or the protection Of the House Of
Bishops against the imputation Of refusing to
the painful position which occupy in relation to
yourself We can assure you that have non@ other
God that you will be enabled to answer t the sisfac
ton Of House of Bishops the charges which WI shall
to The
From you pastoral, you to labor under Another
msspprshension which we hasten to remove And that
in his
we'd By in Phisdephis was frankly and freely rdad sy
one OF our number to Bishop Ives, Dr.. Wainwright and
Dr. Berran with the understanding that their contents
should be communicated fully yourself and with the
should be had in this case until you and your friends had
been advised OF the Since arrival in New York
testimony and by this caution have been enabled to
clcar Satisfactorily to ourselves Of the dsa
ar Sss laid
MAINS a. will appear from the articles accompanying this
communication together with the Of the witnesses
to render 1t incumbent upon to lay the matter before
the House Of Bishops, that you may, God helping you
put at these charges against moral
We sincerely trust that you will not misconceive our
motives, nor misunderstood our course Of action. Our
desire IT, repeat it, for your sake and the churchs
sake to bring out the truth and nothing but the TRUTH and
stand before the world as that of Christian Bishop
should b.ameless and spotless.
We have delsysd making this communication until we
sary to trouble you at ali upon this painful matter
And nUw anS God remain
Your brethren in the Episcopate.
WILLIAM MEADE,DD
IA. OTEY,
STEPHEN ELLIOTT, Jr.
The above letter was accompanied by docu-
ment contalnlng-not copies of the affidavits,
which had particularly desired to see, and the
granting OF the request to see which had been qua
rantied by Bishop Elliotts promise and pledge,
but-the charges intended to be embodied in the
presentment and a verbal message that they would
receive any communication from me the next
morning at ten o'clock.*
This was the only redemption OF Bishop Eiou's
repeated pledge, that before the affidavits were
used for the purpose of Presentment. any request
should be granted for my friends and myself to zee
or hear them, with opportunity of offering to the
presenters explanations or counter statements
friends In this city were patiently and respectfully
demption Of the pledge, when ! was told, a. ten
o'clock at night, that we were allowed until ten
o'clock the next morning need not say how
useless was this offer, and how utter the falacy OF
any distinction that may be imagined between the
sending OF this letter and document, and the SER
wing upon me at once of the presentment.
Thus il appears, that although it had been boast
fully vaunted, as early as about the middle Of Oc-
tober, that proof of guilt was possession sufficient
for my official destruction, and was deposited with
Bishop Elliott, with whom Bishops Mead and Otey
were soon connected, yet was not until Nov. 9th,
that was apprised of their readiness to proceed
Meanwhile, if ! am rightly informed, they gained
no new affidavit nor could aught be found against
me for period more recent than nearly two wears
and half. Ample opportunity, however, had thus
been afforded to my enemies tor prosecuting their
designs. Nor was II unimproved by them Every
effort was made to ruin me in the estimation Of
the church and the world. The most bare.faced
fasehoods were circulated verbally and through
tne press. Through the influence Of the latter, my
character and conduct were subjected to the most
scurr,ous abuse in all parts Of the country; an evil
winch, It IS obvious, pampering as it does the
n A.
the least welcome, passions and affections of the
natural heart, IT Is hard and toisome for virtue and
integrity to arrest.
Such was the cruel treatment to which was
subjected by the delays of the presenters and the
abomlnable practices against me which those de-
lays encouraged; when, as appears by the issue.
their work could have been as well done at least
fortnight earlier. No one need be told how much.