Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-10-06
MUM BER 80.
Religious Intelligence.

THE CASE OF BIsuor ONDERpoNK.-The
question OF the restoration of Bishop Onler-
donk to his episcopal functions is exciting
considerable discussion in the New York jour
nails both secular and religious On Thurs
day last, Rev DR., Anthon, one OF the signtrs
in behalf of the Bishops restoration, address
ed Il rotc to the editors of the Times stating
that, being satisfied, upon further reflection,
that the peace and advancement of the Dio-
ccse required the resignation of Bishop On
dcrdonk 5 jurisdiction over it, previous to the
removal OF his suspension, he had withdrawn
his name from the petition i'll circulation
/ DR.. Anthon was one Of the thirteen memori-
alists who, in 1919, protested to the House
of bishops against the restoration Of Bishop
/ Onderdonk-a measure which was then in
contemplation.
The New York Post of Saturday profcsscs
to bc able, upon unimpeachable authority, to
present concise statement of the matter as
it now stands in correction of the distorted
views which have been put forth in various
quarters. The Post says that a few "months
ago the restoration of Bishop Onderdonk was
proposed by an influential member of the
clergy, who, strange to say, was one of the
first promptcrs of the movement which led TO
his deposition, and one whose ailidavits on
the trial went far in influencing the suisse
quent verdict.
:. One of the clergy to whom the petition was
presented, expressed his readiness to sign it
on condition that the Bishop, on his restora-
ton, should cedc to the Provisional Bishop
all the authority of his office TG this the re-
ply was that as the Bishop had been depo-
scd without conditions, lie should also be re-
stored without conditions.
| The Post then proceeds to say that several
! documents will be laid before the House of
bishops next month, including the memorial
OF the clergy desiring bishop Ondcrlonk'S
restoration and the petition OF the venerable
prclatc himself. The latter document that
, Journal says 'rcatcs TO the state of the do
ccsc in case Of bishop Onderdonk 5 rcstora-
| ton. Some of the secular as well as religious
papers have given their readers to understand
that Bishop Ondcrdoni coniesscs his guilt
| iustics the court which condemned him, and
hopes for his restoration through his public
| " expressed pcnjtcncc for past mis,lec,ls-
| This impression has, with reason, given rise
to severe structures upon the desire of the
| Bishop to resume Episcopal functions, and
~ no pains have been taken by the parties
who are fully aware of the real contents of
the document to correct this impression, it is
not surprising that the Bishop should be
| harshIv Judged. We are, however, assured
that the Bishop plainly retcratcs his inno-
ccmcc of the alleged crimes for which he was
,lcposcd, but thinks he may have committed
imprudenccs which in the eyes of his prose-
cutters may have appeared sufficient justGi-
cation for their course.
From the whole article we gather that the
Bishop entirely denies his guilt, and asks
rcstoratious without conditions, but is not the
man, in the language of onr cotcmporarv "to
thrust himself upon any parish who would
prefer the services Of the Provisional Bishop
DR.. Ondcrdonk is now near seventy years Of
age, and it IS not surprising that he should
wish to remove the stigma that has So long
rested on his Eamc.'
We further learn from this article, which
is evidently written 'by authority" that there
are two shades of party engaged in the rcsto-
ration movGmcut-thc Low Church and mod
crate cclcrgy-who either thinl; the Bishop IA
wrongcd man, or one, who, havin. committed
errors las atoucd by an exemplary life for
his past misconduct, and that minority who
hold TO the pcrmancncy of the Episcopal
Office. Once a Bishop, always a Bishop is
their motto, and to drpn,c a conscCratod man
is, in their opinion, touching the l.ords IA
mointcd'
The project of the division Of the Diocese
has few supporters, Bishop Potter does not
desire it. aud the subject is not likely to be
discussed in the Diocesan Convention next
week