Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-10-04

CHRIsTIANITY NOT HoNoRED.-The regu-
lar diocesan convention" of the diocese of
New York, in session last week, did some
things which attract attention and challenge
criticism. Bishop Onderdonk, who, after long
struggle, very disgraccful to his supporters,
Was suspended from Office for sundry scandal
loats sins of sensualism, has asked to be restor-
ed The Inundated old sensualst processes
penitence but it does not appear that he has
made any reparation whatever to the respect
able ladies and other persons whom he sought
to destroy by fierce charges of conspiracy and
perjury. If he had done this, and if he had
given every possible evidence ofpenitence, still
proprety, and wholesome regard to the influ-
ence of Christian principle, would have hid.
den him away from public observation. Peni-
tence itself would have kept him from all
desire to figure again in any way as
.--Rishop of New York. BIk..e hts demanded
restoration and secured a vote of the conyen-
ton in favor of it, not a unanimous vote, but
sufficient majority. OF course the unbe-
leying "come outers," will have some very
hot thunderbots to launch against the religious
brotherhood of which this man is to be once
more the official head. The power actually
to restore aim is vested the blouse OF Blsh-
ops" which will shortly be in session in Rich
mond, Va; but it is not doubted that the ac-
ton of the bishops will be in accordance with
this vote of the New York Convention.
This diocesan convention had another sub
ject before it. A petition, duly signed by re-
spectacle members of the church, was pre-
scented by Mr.. Jay, in relation to the reopen
ing of the African slave trade, and the fitting
out of slavers at the port of New York, within
the diocese. The petition stated the case dis
tnctly, and asked the convention to do some
thing to encourage sound Christian sentl-
ment on this subject" Mr.. Jay asked for a
committee on the petition to report to the next
convention. He described the petitioners as
'men of high character and position, known
for their moderate views and conservative
principles, and he supported their request in
a speech remarkable chiefly for candor, COM
mon sense, and moderation. One of the New
York papers states the result as follows =
"This petition of Mr.. jays created quite
sensation in the convention, and was received
with sound Of suppressed laughter, and
slight attempt at Kissing. When the question
came to vote, the resolution was rejected by
very decided majority, and only the sacred
ness of the place kept the applause from break
ing forth at this result"
This is not what is usually meant by "inf-
delity;'' nor is it what is meant by those who
write and preach eloquently on the Eclipse of
Faith 2 and yet no eclipse of faith can be
more sad, and no infidelity more real. Never
theless, there are in the Episcopal Church, and
there were in this diocesan convention, a re-
spectacle proportion of earnestly religious men
men who did not vote to restore Bishop On
derdonk, nor sneer at honest Christian concern
about the African slave trade. But they do
not control the affairs of their church or, at
least they could not do SO in this case. And
they can not determine what use shall be of
such things by those who find satisfaction in
misrepresenting and libeling Christianity.