The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-10-03
Rir!lmonn pispatth.
MONDAY MORNING. ....,...... OCT 3, 1857
The Episcopal Convention OF New York;
Letter from Rishon lnderAnnL

| MONDAY MORNING. OCT. 2 ,sse
| The Episcopal Convention OF New York;
Letter from Bishop 0nderaonk.
| The Protestant Episcopal Diocesan Conven-
ifon of New York, commenced its business
session in New York Thursday. Tho meet
| ing was unusually interesting from the fact
that petition from the suspended Bishop
| onderdonk, WAS read and discussed. DIR.
| Ninton read a resolution asking the Conven- :
| ton 10 petition the House of Bishops for re-
! versai 81 the sentence OF suspension. As part
| of his argument in favor OF this measure, he
| read the Bishops memorial to the House OF
| Bishops, which, il appears, was drawn mp nn-
der the auspices OF the Rev. Drs. Hawks,
! Tying. Anthon and Eigeubrodt Formal state
meuts recounting their connection with the
matter, and the motives by which they Were
governed in regard to it, were made by the
| three first named of these gentlemen. The
following is Bishop onderdonk's petition:
| TO she III. Ret. The Bishops cf The p. T.. Chgysh
| IA The 4. s. Of America;
| BRgTHgEN--Fourteen years have elapsed
| since, by the canouicai action of an eccles las
| tical Court of Bishops, / was suspended from,
| the Office of a Bishop and from all the func-
! tons of thc sacred ministry. To that sentence
/ have quietly submitted, and now pres sent
| myself before you, respectfully. 10 ask for its
| In making this request, l deem il right be-
| fore God and man frankly and truly to lay
! before you the present state of my feelings
! aud the grounds on which ask the removal
! of the penalties under which l suffer.
In the excitement OF feeling consequent on
my trial and sentence, it was natural that
! much should he said on both sides, that in the
/ more d is pass sionate moments of calm Christian
| Judgment Syould afterwards be regretted aud
| disClaimed. You WILL however, brethren. per-
mil me TO say, that deeply aggrieved rs | felt
| at the time by sentence which l thought To
/ be unduiy severe, have no recollection Of
having endeavored to jus tify my own view by
! attrihutiug 10 my bre ihren unworthy motives.
! If the feelings of any Of them have been hurt
| by the supposItion that had in ihis way done
| them ia Justice sincerely regret IL, ana nope
that | may be p3rdoned for any expression
! which may have been supposed 10 bear such
! construction. l cenSure them not for uphold
| ing, rs they believed, the honor OF the Church,
| by the administration OF discipline, when ihey
| couScientiouSly thought IL was deserved.
| l should very little deserve, brethren, what
| | solicit at yonr hands, If were ready at once
| TO acknow ledge all the crimes which may have
been imputed to me by enemies, and to profess
| penitence for that which am really not guilty.
| | cannot consent to purchase even restoration
| At the price of 1alsehood and hypocrisy.
| And yer l presume not TO say that am en-
| trely taUltlesS. and have deserved no censure
! am not exempt from human infirmity; and
in the calmer reflection 10 which the lapse OF
| time has contribu ted. / acknowledge that
!
| betrayed indiscretion, and that my demeanor,
| must. in some instances, have been calculated
| 10 produce impressions injurious alike TO the
| Church and myself however sach effect may
| have been unintentional and unperceived on
! my part. / say that l cannot but believe this
| because some of my fellow Christians. and
| among them some otyourselves, brethren, felt
/ bound, TO TINS extent, 10 condemn me. beg
/ you. however. t0 believe me, when | most SOL
! EMMY declare that, i'll this matter, L was not
the slave of deliberate impurity OF intention.
! But be my offences small or great. 10 whatever
extent, brethren, have brought reproach upon
| the cause OF our Master, of giving Just Of
| fence to any of my fellow Christians, even
! Withouta purposed intention of wickednPss--
| | am-WIthout reference TO your action this
| uest-heartily sorry, and desire TO humble
| myself in penltence before God and man. |
| can say truly-and ] thank q cd for it as / now
| do. without any reference to man or his
! doings-that l have long endeaYored To live in
| state OF habitual repentance for all my sins,
| known and unknown, and have duly sought
| forgiveness for them from the mercy OF God,
| for the sake of His Son Jesus Christ.
| l have borne the sentence imposed on me
! with bitter anguish, confess, and painful
| sense OF humiliation, but withoutmurmuring
! or complaint and with constant and earnest
| prayer Tor the pardon OF all my sins and grace
| Tor amendment. Of the effect of this repent
| ance the hidden man of the heart, there is
! but One Judge OF its effect on my outward
| life. there those who can speak with more
| proprety than my self. And herein l am told
| to refer you not only to those who have been
! generally considered as my friends, but to
| those also of 4 different class. Those who
have known me Will, l humbiy trust, bear me
witness that ever since the sentence IS been
| imposed, my life has been quiet, my doings
| unObtruslNe, and my conduct as a member of
| Christ's Church, not liable TO reproach.
| ! now beg, Christian brethren. the mercy of
| Il removal OF my sentence. So far as the honor
! OF the Church is involved, L have hoped that
| ali would see it had been amply yindicaIed by
| fourteen wears of punishment borne in silence
! that Christians hg ~
| the object Of eccicSias teal punishment to be
| reformatOry aud not 1indictiye would will
! llngiy see the Church, after Yjndicatiug her
purity, exercise her blessed privilege Of show
| ing mercy by restoring a brother whom she
| had once felt obliged TO blame and rebuke, re-
! jOicinE more over his happy return than over
! the ninety and nine which went not astray."
! BTeluren, II any man be uEeftaken III q fault
! ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in
! the spirltof meekness, considering thyselt lest
thou also be tempted
l need not say how deeply my heart is inte-
| rested in the object of this appication-what
! Il painful and oppressive burden would be re-
moved from it, and with what Joy and glad
ness it Wonld be filled, if before the short re-
| mainder of my life has passed. l could again
be allowed the happiness which for many
! years was impaired by exercising the 1unc-
lions Of the Holy Ministry. Look, brethren.
| into your own hearts; consider their loves of
| the duties OF office, and then Judge ye
l. OF the consequence ofmy res toraton, should
you grant it, l have little 10 say. You would
| very justly despise me, II. FOR the sake OF en-
| forcing this my application, l should, on this
| subject, make promises concerning my action
| in the diocese of New York. All | can say,
! therefore Is, that age and suffering have done
their work on me- and that hope am humble
! enough, and know that L am sincere enough in
my love Of the Church of Christ never wan
Lonly, by any act Of mine, to disturb its har-
Inony or obstruct It's progress. Beyond this
] can say nothing, without seeming TO seek
clemeacy by gratultoUs offers disrespectful TO-
wards You and unworthy of myself.
My application, brethren, is now before You;
! may God, for Chrisl's sake dispose you to re-
ceiye it fayorably Believe me- that l but tex
| press the sentiment OF my daily prayer for my
| with the Apostles words, MERCY unto you,
| ana peace and love be multiplied.''
In the spirit, humbly hope, of this my
! hearts desire and prayer TO God, subscribe
| myself Your faithful brother III Christ.
| BENJAMIN L. OHDERDoEK.
Bishop Onderdonk has written letter
promising, in the event of his being re-instated,
to assign" to Bishop Potter all the admins
| tratiye portion of Episcopal duty in the Dio-
cese. The letter written on the supposiiion OF
| his restoration, says:
AT my advanced age, the heavier duties OF
the episcupate must deyolye on you, and my
| performance Of Episcopal acts must of neces-
sity be less freq uent than yours. Hence, au-
| thorize you, under the canon-subiectas before
| stated--to retain the entire general admins
| tration of the diocesan affairs in the regular
| routine, including the exercise of Episcopal
| canoncal consent-when such consent may be
| required on my part, cheerfully agreeing to
! confirm and ratify such consent VIXEN thus
| exercised by you; II being my heartfelt desire
| aud determination that, III no case, shall there
| ever be any difference or collision. or aught
but harmony, between US in any Church mat
ter or question. For myself, l propose only
the performances of such Episcopal duties as,