The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-04
Bishop Onderionk and Protestant Deve.


Bishop Onderdonk and Protestant Deve-
lOpement.
The Diocesan Convention that held its session
in this city last week made most important
movement in church practice, and the House of
Bishops that meets in Richmond tomorrow
will be called upon to approve or disapprove
of it. The question has been pretty we'll ven
tilated in the secular and religious press of the
country for several years past, and is a familiar
subject to the whole community.
A bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church
was arraigned and convicted before his peers,
some fifteen years ago, for having INDUCED in
certain unchaste and immoral practices, calcu-
lated to bring the church and the clergy into
disrepute, and was, as punishment therefor,
destituted Of his diocess. Ever since then he
has submitted to his sentence, and the func-
tons Of his former Office have been, and still
are, performed by provisional bishop.
Under the sanction and with the aid of seye-
raj of the leading clergymen of New York, a
through-so far as the Diocesan Convention
had power in the matter-to have the sentence
annulled, the backslidings Of the erring but
penitent shepherd condoned, and himself
placed once more in charge of the fold, or a
portion thereof. It is the action of the Dioce-
san Convention in regard to this subject which
we regard as Of such immense significance, and
the public will look with much interest to the
disposition which will be made of it by the
House of Bishops, the court of last resort.
1t is to be remarked, however, in this connec-
ton, that while the confession of Bishop Onder-
donk is not fully up to the point, while he
neither admits nor denies the justice Of his
sontonoo, but inaulsos in sonao yeneral DECLARE
tions of his manifold sins and transgressions-
declarations which the hottest and purest Of
men Oftentimes make-neither is the pardon
full nor the remission of punishment entire
No priest would accept the one as full con-
fession, nor would any penitent be satisfied
with the other as complete absolution. There
are reservations in both which detract from
their general efficacy. The bishop regards the
sentence which he has undergone as just re-
tribution for general, not for special backslid-
ings, and his judges couple with their grant of
pardon secret provision that he shall not in
sist on exercising the functions of his episco-
pacy if restored, but shall agree to certain ar
engagements in regard to the dividing of the d.
ocess, and the general distribution of powers
and duties. In fact, the Diocesan Convention
have not shown to Bishop Onderdonk that kind
of mercy which
"Blesseth him that gives and him that takes
AS the confteor is strained and incomplete, so
is the absoluton unchristian and hampered
with oppressive conditions.
But, nevertheless this proposed restoration
of Bishop Onderdonk is curious movement in
the history Of the Protestant church. 1t is an
assumption of the power of absolution from sin,
which, however recognized in theory, has been
rarely observed in the practice Of that church.
Confession and dissolution have hitherto been
practised only in the Catholic church. The
Protestants have ignored both, although form
ing part of their church ritual. This movement,
however, is return to first principles, and
chimes in very appropriately with Mr.. Bellows
recent sermons on the suspense of faith.
While the House Of Bishops shall have the
matter before them we recommend them to
read and study the very striking and curious
condolences between the sermons of Arch
bishop Hughes and Rev. Mr.. Bellows as re-
ported in the HERALD of Monday, 26th Septem-
Der last. They will there find remarkable aft
mites of sentiment between these representa-
tives Of rival creeds; and they may thereby per-
haps be strengthened in their merciful leanings
toward Bishop Onderdonk. Henceforth con-
fession and absolution may be grated on the
practice, as they upon the ritual, of the Pro-
testant church. Thus new dogma is about to
be established among Protestants, through the
operation Of the law Of development, just as the
dogma Of the Immaculate Conception was es-
tablished among Catholics few years ago.
Progress is the law of existence, and there is no
reason why churches should not be as subject
to it as are societies We will look with great
interest to the proceedings Of the House of
Bishops
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