The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-05-11
Trouble In the Episcopal Church.

A PASTORAL LETTER, addressed by the BIsHop
of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of
Vermont, to the people of his diocese, on the SUBJ
ject of his correspondence with the Rev. William
Henry Holt, late Rector of Union Church, ST. AL
bans. Burlington Chauncey Goodrich, 1876, PIP.
4S.--The Right Reverend author of this letter is tie
most celebrated pamphleteer in the United States
of America. Like Jack in the box, when the lid
is removed, pops up his head and looks all around
him, so doth this Bishop sally forth with some new
catch-penny production, whenever he has a
chance of obtruding himself upon public notice !;
as if, forsooth, he was heartily tired Of the quiet
and repose Of his Green Mountain solitude, and
painted for notoriety.
The subject of attack in the aforesaid letter is the
Rev. William Henry Holt, an estimabe, devoted
presbyter in the diocese of Vermont, who, not APP
proving of the course pursued by his own diocese,
in the affairs resulting from the lay ordination in
this diocese, and disregardng the bugbear of
Romanism, which has since been setup, to scare
and alarm sober-minded Protestants out of their
seven senses, and which has brought upon the
church all the mischief and trouble that her worst
enemies could bring upon her, has, in conse-
quence, become obnoxious to his Bishop. The
occasion Of the correspondence is this THE
Rev. Mr.. Holt, in the month of February
last, happened to be in Burlington, Vermont
on Sunday he attended, good clergyman,
divine service in the church of which the Bishop
is Rector, in the morning, and also in the after
noon, until the end of the prayers; but before
the sermon he left, and went Immediately oppo-
site to the Roman Catholic Chapel. The Bishop
heard ofthis and not unmindiul OF the slight put
upon his sermon, considered Mr.. Hoit's conduct
a scandaium mdgnatum ecciesie. Accordingly, UNI
der date Feb. 18th, Bishop Hopkins wrote to Mr..
Holt, and told him he was exceedingly afflicted by
the report which had just reached him-for, as re-
ports never lose by being told-he had heard that
Mr.. II. had not only gone from his church before
the sermon, and attended the Roman Catholic
chapel, but had actually Crossed himself
with holy water, as it is called, and took his
place among the congregation, conforming OPEN
" to the Roman Catholic worship until the
close, after which he remained conversng
with the priest for considerable time that giving
seeming color to the boast which he (the priest)
is reported to have made throughout the village
that Mr. Holt was a convert to that church,
Mr.. II. respectfully replied that he did, as report
ed, attend the vespcr service OF the Roman Ca
tholic Church in Burlington, and did what he con-
ceived all persons should ever do when they at
tend divine service among any class of Christian
worshippers, namely, conform 10 the usage of the
congregation around them. He says he took no
part in the Offices, had no book with him contain
ing them, and was simply an attentive and
spectfu listener and, that, when the service was
ended, he left the house, and did not speak with
the priest at all, either then, at any time during
his stay in Burlington. Mr.. Holt then adds, my
motive for doing so was, frankly, that of interest
to something practically of the services Of the
Roman Catholic Church, into whose history, cha
racter, claims, doctrines, usages SC, am at the
present time making very diligent and earnest
inquiry. As ! have ceased to be parish priest,
or 10 exercise the public functions OF the Protes-
tant Episcopal ministry for the present, and as
had as passing sojourner in your place, attended
both the morning and evening offices OF our
church, did not think that was doing wrong,
thus to avail myself of the opportunity to gam
information which desired"
The truth of the matter we believe to be this -
Mr.. Holt is exceedingly fond of music, is anna
teur performer himself-felt a desire to hear the
music in the Catholic chapel, and went thither
for no other purpose. Now, il the Bishop of Yer
mont, upon hearing the story, told him (Hoit)
that he had done wrong in going or being seen
there at that time, whilst his own church was
open, no one would have complained. But bent
upon usurpation, and the unjust exercise of epis-
copal authority, the sequel puts the bishop in the
wrong, whilst II exalts Mr.. Holt in the estimation
Of his own church, and the friendly consideration
of all others. laE
We have heard of acertain Bishop, when at a
friends house, being, abruptly caught listening at