The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-10-03


Va. sDcy occssio, ed by the lsmented d-ssh Of the
Provisional Bishop OF he diocess, the Right Rev.
J, nathan Ma hew Wainwright; and . the public
eye is ma ural y TUNED toward the person upon
VIII. thi high honor has been conferred, we have
been at Q aims to look little into these church
matters, COR the Information Of the readers of the
herald, who, in certain sense, are the people OF
our chsrgs meat on to such spiritual things.
The Horatio Potter, D. D.. tn bishop elect,
came into the Ep scopcl Church, 1t seems, by side
door. 1t was not, however, as in the case Of the
first bishop of this diocess-Blshop Provost
through the por o. Of the Dutch Churcn; nor, as
in the ases of Bishop Hobart and Bishop VAIN
wright, through he less easy entrance of Puritan
Ccpgresa tonahsm; bu. trough what we have
GALE the side door Of Quakerism. His father, Jo-
seph Potter, of Dc hess county, n this State, was
q member of the Society o. Friends. And friend
Joseph, it is aid was trained up aft the true
model of the code of dis ip ice, and was fully per
suaded in his own mind toat this vain and naughty
world of ours received some just rebukes from the
pure pIecepts of George Fox and William Penn, of
Robert Barclay and of other chief men among the
spirt-moved prsac hers Of the Friends Society.
But, to use smile which we once heard from
the lps of an eloquent oratress at quarterly meet
irg the branches of families like the branches OF
tree, are apt to grow in different direction from
the tropk. Friend Joseph, as his three sons-Para-
clete, Alonzo and Horatio--were sporting around
him in their boyhood, would have hearkened with
inciedulity to the homogeneous association Of his
name with that of prelatists. Yet these SONS were
destined to become-all three-members Of the
Episcopal Church; and two of them not only to
lay aside in boyhood the drab suit of the Quaker,
bnt to be robed in manhood with the lawn and
satin Of prelste of the church.
The eldest of the three eons, Paraclete, became q
bookseller and an editor, at Poughkeepse, and was
LEI to adopt the faith which his early orefathers in
the old country, had renounced. He became zeal
GUS member of the Protet tant Episcopal Church.
Intelligent inquistive and afabIe he rendered his
bookstore and Office very agreeable places OF resort.
His two younger brothers, Alonzo and Horato, soon
caught the spirit Of his religious investigation and
declared their agreement with him in views of
sacred truth. All three applied for and received
water baptism. 1t was great change in their 1850
Citations, but it was the preliminary only to chang
yet greater.
Alcnzo and Horatio, both educated at Union Col
lege, soon became eminent as men of scientific and
literary requirements.
years filed, with great celebrity the chair OF Moral
Philosophy and Bellies Lett1es at Union College,
Schenectady, consecrated bishop of the diocess
of Pennsylvania after the suspension of the RI. Rev.
Henry U. Onderdonk, who had been the bishop of
that diocess. In few weeks from the present time
the younger brother, Horstio Potter is to be cons
Grated bishop Of the diocess Of New York. The cir.
cumstance Of two brothers, bota elevated to the
epscopate, thus occupying the places of two bishops
brothers, both suspended, and both yet living, is
certainly very singular ecclesiastical phenomenon
The plsce Of the elder Of the Onderdonks Henry u,
is supplied by the elder of the Potters Aonzo; and
the younger of the Poters, Horatio ia to supply the
place Of the youn ser Of the Onderdonks, Benia-
min 4.
Tho life OF the bishop elect exhibits none Of those
striking alterations which diversity the private
history Of most men. His course, from its incep.
ton, has been that of Q stream moving steadily
onward, increasing by accessions gradually i'm.
parted to i, and at length reaching some great
metropolis, and bearing on its ample bosom the
argosies Of an Empire State.
Educated at Union College, while his elder bro
Their, Alonzo was professor there be graduated in
the year 1926. In October of that year he became
a member Of the General Theological Seminary Of
he Protestant Episcopal Church in this city. But
he entered an advanced class, and left the semi.
nary before the usual period OF graduating. Soon
after be filed the chair Of Mathematics aud Natural
Philosophy At Trinity COLLEGE, Hartfor,, Connec
ticut, ard admitted to holy orders by the Right
Rev. DR.. Brownen. He continued for several years
in his professonhip, enjoying an unusual share of
popularity. But his ability in the pulpit prevented
his remaining permanently in . college. In the
year 1888, having received call to St. Peters
church, Albany, he was instituted rector Of that
parish by Bishop Benjamin T. Onderdonk.
More than twenty-one years have now elapsed
since he entered on his labors in that cure and In
that period the results OF his success as the con-
ventons journals testify, afford ample proofs of bis
pastoral zeal und parochial efficiency.
HIS is now just ffty.two years Of age. His brother
Alonzo, the Bishop Of Pennsylvania, is ftty-four.
The hue Of his compile xion, and the general air
which is his characteristic, would seem to indicate
feebleness of health. But his tall, manly person,
and his muscular Frame give proof Of great poxer
of endurance.
1t is true that in the last ten years he has twice
crossed the Atlantic to recruit himself amidst his
labors. But his ailment a dyspepsia, has yielded
very readily to the short respite Of release from
toll. There is reason to hope that he may for many
years adorn tie episcopal Off e.
He is well educated theologian. Avoiding the
compromising policy of ore extreme party Of
chuIchmen, and the fantastic symbolism of another
extreme party, he Is a conservative. His manners
are grave, and, Ike those Of his distinguished
brother, they blend, in a happy manner, . little
ststeliness with great urbanity and kindness-the
noble oak with an exuberance Of foliage. The dio.
cesar convention has done itself great credit in the
eye Of the public by It's wise choice of such leader
And it they heed us they will always thus avoid
alike the high ard dry on the one hand, and the low
and mugey on the other. We shall have more to
say on the occasion of the conservation of the
bishop.
Opening OF the Academy Of Music.
The Academy Of Music or 1t win probably be called
the Opera Eouse, vas opened last evening with