The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-05
Protestant Episcopal Convention.

Uhereas The House of Bishops and the House
of Clerical and Lay Deputies, in the General Con
venton of ls47, passed a canon in the words fol
lowing:
as Whenever the penalty of suspension shall be
inflicted on a bishop, priest deacon, in this
church. the sentence shall specify on what terms,
or at what time said penalty shall cease
Ind tchereas, The diocess and diocesan OF New
York have been for long time suffering under the
disabilities which il was the design of the canon to
prevent in future; therefore,
50 Resoped, That the standing committee be re-
quested to present, at an early day, address to
the House of Bishops, praying that venerable body
To adopt such measures as may render the wise IN
tent Of the provisions of said canon of lS47 avaia
bic to the relief of diocess, that the objects
may be accomplished of the unanimous prayer OF
this convention, addressed to the General Conven
ton of lS47."
Judge Jay then rose and said
Mr.. President: | have to this convention
with great reluctance and am here only because
doubted whether could rightfully decline the
opportunity of leaving my public protest against
the restoration of an unworthy bishop. ! will not
detain the convention by an examination OF the
resolutions before it, nor by statement of the
many and powerful reasons which think ought
TO prevent their adoption. | shall confne myself
to one single point-the opinion generally enter
tanned by the community, that Dr. Onderdonk is
unworthy to exercise the office of bishop in the
church of God. | am satisfied that the judgment
of the House of Bishops founded on ample,
unimpeached and legal testimony There may,
with me in this opinion, and who either doubt the
guilt or believe in the innocence of the suspended
bishop. But whatever may be their doubts or
belief, the fact of the general bad reputation Of
DR.. Onderdonk remains the same. II is fixed,
irrefuted fact. No public opinion, popular
claInor, can justify the judicial condemnation Of
any man, without proof of his guilt. 1t is equally
certain, that the popular belief OF the vice and i'm
morality of any man is valid and scrptural OBJ
lection to his appointment to high and responsible
Office, and, above all, to the sacred Office of bishop.
When the twelve Apostles authorized the appoint
ment of deacons, the brethren were told ''Look ye
out among you seven men of honest report;'' and
St. Paul, speaking the language of inspiration de-
cares ''that bishop must have good report Of
them that are without that is, he must bear a
good character out of the church, well in it.
DR.. Onderdonk has, by lawful and canonical
thority, been indefinitely suspended from the office
of bishop in the church of God. He is therefore not
in that office, and the removal of that suspen
sion would virtually be his reappointInent. To
such reappointment, among other reasons, object
that he is not of good report, either in the church
out of it. He could not legally teach common
school in the State of New York, because the law
requires the teacher TO possess good moral char
acter; and none of his friends however strongly
they may believe in his innocence, could, with
safe conscience certify that he actually enjoys such
character. No female school in the United States
would dare TO brave pubic opinion by receiving
him a preceptor. Were he now presbyter,
with his present character member of this
convention would for moment think of him
a Cdndldate Tor the EplsCOpate but the VIII
nesses before the House of Bishops may have been
mistaken perjured, and the bishops may have
sacrificed their consciences their preludices and
animosities. All this should at least be proved, be-
ors We ask that the ludgrno DO set ASIDE. IL
however, a grievous mistake 10 suppose that the
evil report agoinst DIR. Onderdonk is exclusively
founded on that judgment. 1t existed before the
Jud glnent was given; II would now exist, had the
court never assembled. IL is a matter of record
well of public notoriety that the of bishops
| had no power TO compel the attendance of wit
nesses and that various persons were required to
testify before it, and positively refused. The de-
| sired witnesses were women, and the delicate
ture of the testimony required made them and
their friends unwilling that they should be subject
ed 10 public interrogation. If any reliance can
be placed on public rumor, the witnesses who tes-
tihed the trial not 1.-THE of those who could
have been brought up against him by writ Of
subpoena, had DR.. Onderdonk thought proper, by
action Of SANDER, 10 give his accusers opportu-
nifty of proving their charges in a of justice.
can myself name five ladies who are said TO have
been msulted by him in the county of Westchester.
have spoken with the father of one and the hus-
band of another They were both incensed against
the bishop. An attempt made TO procure the at
tendance of one of these ladies before the bishops,
but the father refused. During the debate in this
convention the resolution declaring the restora-
ton Of the suspended bishop inexpedent, lay del.
| cgate thus addressed me. "Mr. JAY had known
| at the time what passed in my carriage, | would
| have horscwhpped the bishop" He did not inform
me what had passed. but learned from others that
lady OF his family had been insuted by the bishop
while riding with him. The gentleman from whom
the bishop thus accidentally escaped a horscwhip-
ping, was afarmer, and represented country par.
ish. Reports Of acts Of indecency committed by
the bishop are rife IN many other counties besides
Westchester; and refer 10 these numerous and
wide spread reports as proof, not of his guilt, but
| Of his bad character. ] now ask, can any member
Of this house lay his hand upon his heart and an
| pealng 70 his Maker, affirm that DIR. Onderdonk
If restored will be or can be a bishop after the pat
tern given us by the divine ApOstlc-a bishop must
be bamcless, yigilant, sober, Of good bchavior-he
/ must have good report of them that are without
! lest he fall into reprosch" Does any minister of
the Lord Jesus Christ here present believe that the
entry Of his name in enduring record, as having
voted for the restoration Of the suspended bishop,
will give JUNCTION TO his public prayers, force TO
his eNhortstions, 70 holiness of life cOnsOa-
| ton To himself when called 10 give an account Of
HE stewardship, Others will do AZ they see fit-to
| their own master they stand or fall. For myself
thank my God that, If the action of this conven-
| ton shall bring scandal upon the church, and re.
proach upon it, ministers, and give great occasion
10 the enemies Of the Lord TO blasphcne no portion
Of the dreadful responsibility will rest upon me-
DR. WHTEHoUsE submitted some resolutions,
and would accept the preamble Of Dr. Sherwood,
with slight alterations Re proposed that IL the sen
tencc were removed, they should call upon Bishop
| Onderdonk to resign; that he should receive the
sum Of S2,WO per annum payable quarterly,
during the term Of his natural life, and in the event
| Of biz decease, the convention should pay 10 his
| widow : 900 per annum.
|
O'Clock in the evening, and DR.. Whitehouse's re-
! solutions we're ordered to be printed.
! Al O'Clock the convention again assembled,
when the reverend secretary read the report of the
| standing committee concerning the episcopal ser.
vices performed in the diocese during the past year.
| by Bishop Doane, Of New Jersey, and w r. Whit
| ungton, Of Maryland; the number and names Of
| candidates for orders, ordination, &c, &c.
| Some objection raised 10 the delegated power
\ Of the committee over some special matters; and
| long and dcsultory conversation ensued, during
! which Nr. Spencer rose to order.
I DR. WhItehOuse submitted one of his resolutions.
| Il involved the principle Of the resignation Of
| BisnOp OndcrdOnk at the request Of this conven-
4 ton. The question was then put and negatived.
! difference Of opinion 10 whether the "syes"
/ or mays we're in the majority arose, when DIR.
| Hawke, with view that all should be- perfectly
satisfied, moved and DR.. Higbec seconded, that
| the question b. reconsdered, although they had
voted with the majority, az declared by the Chair
| There was another long, irregular, and uncOn-
| nected conversation, 10 whether the question
/ should be recOnsdered after the decision Of the
Chair had been made. II was ultimately agreed
that the votes should b. taken the names Of the
! members Of the convention called; upon
which there appeared for DR.. Whitehouses resOlu-
! ton, 30 clergymcn and "a lay delegates; against