Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-06-17
For Tie Tins

EOT INC lnlCS.
Mn. EpIToB:--ln an editorial OF YESTERDAY
you made some remarks concerning the lat,
oirculsr from Bishop Chase 10 the other Bsh
ops OF the Protestant Episcopal Church ia the
United States, which were calculated to leave
wrong impression on the minds of your rea
ders, both IN relation TO the authority OF Ia,
Senior Bishop, and to the situation of the sus
pended (but not degrdded) Bishop Of New
York BY inserting the following extract
from an article in the Evening Posi-, each par
~ will appear in his true light.
June Is. LAICUS
Allow me, first IN
order 10 correct what may be a not unnatural
mlsapprehenslon, to state that according 10
the polity OF that Church. the senior Bisbon
holds no general and permanent official rank
over ms brethren in the Episcopate They
are IN no sense responsible or amendabe TO
him; nor has he, asa superior, the least right
To counsel them. lie possesses no executive |
or Judicial functions giving his Office any re- |
senolance 10 that OF an Archbishop in other
sections oil the Church-au Office entirely un-
known IN the American Episcopal Church.
by canons, which may be changed at any
meeting oil the General Convention, he is en-
clerkship than to executive prerogative.
Under proper call, for instance IL is his
DUTY TO summon court OF Bishops; but he
mas no night OF presiding ia il, unless elected
ny the court when Assem- led; nor any right to
review, or To approve OF disapprove OF. its pro-
Ceedings. In the House of Bishops. i'm Gen
eral Convention, he has no preroeatiyes con
Tered either by the constitution or canons
OF the Church. BY rule of the House OF
bishops, which may he altered at any meet
Ing, " The senior Bishop present at any Gen
eral Convention is to preside IN that house
at that Convention. BY the same rule, thus
aiterable, the senior Bishop OF this Church.
Is constituted the presiding Bishop for all
purposes Tor which that office is recognized in
the canons or liturgy II will be perceived
therefore, that the senior Bishop of The Amer
ican Episcopal Church is in no sense the exc
cuuve or judicial head Of that Church
With respect TO the main object Of Bishnr
Chdses above mentioned circular, it is moi
now intended, nor is il necessary, to saw q
word on the general merits Of many grave and
important points connected with its subject
matter II IS but Just, however. that the fol
loving facts aud considerations should b,
weighed
The Bishop Of New York is not in a pos;.
ton which vscates his office as professor in
the Theological Seminary
lie and las friends take the ground vhetb.
or right or wrong, matters not Tor the pres-
ent argument, but honestly and sincerely and
are therein sustained by the deliberate con
Nlctlon OF many OF the most intelligent no
ISht, anu pious men, clerical and Law aud a.
mOng them men OF the highest legal and iuli.
cal standing both Of the Episcopal and other
commons, la all parts of the United State
mat ne - neither awiuliy nor cauitsbly IN
nus present position m the Church.
The canons make 10 provision for an ao.
peal III his case. IL, therefore, wrong has been
done, tic oniy chance OF having IT righted !,
70 wait until the case can come before the ,u.
preme council of the Church.
lt Is au obvious dictate OF iusiic, a. we'll n.
oi Christian principle and feeling that u.ll,.
lnS should be done tO prejudice the csse IA
tie estimation OF that council. by connecting
u with any accidents or circumstance. max
ing Al more or less than Just what the Conf
made it. The action Of that body. supoosiuo
u legal, did not deprive the Bishop Of lis h.
plscoPal, diocesan, or ministerial Office b,t
only ui hls right TO exercise the functions of
tithef. IL in no sense whatever excluded
Hhh "om any oil biS prcrDgatiyes ar privileges
oss member OF the Church and of society' or
a. CIulen OF the commonwealth
The Bishop, 10 Is we'll known. has b..e,, ,,,
portuned irOm two opposite quarter. .,,,,,,
taking the ground that ihe septsn,a +. -, ,Ii,
~ one, nave urged his claiming tie ngt fa
proceed % tlic discharge ul his Epi..,,,,.I
functions, and prosecuting iOr bis salary. ,d,
rfs nave endtdyOtcJ tO induce bitu g., ra.is,,
his diocesan office, and retire into the tu,2.
al the pu'ste Bcmbcrs at the Chur.b u,s
determination, as ., well known. ha, been
ih opposition To both these views. Ia ,it stiiI
in tlc position ~ which the Cour placed
hlmi = denomination which was clearly an.
proved by ihr majority Of clcEyncn and com.
inunicanta 900 thl last Diocesan Convention
The manner 10 whichhc hi, carried tIi. d..
termination into effect Is also well known.
The movement which led to Bishop On