New-York daily tribune., 1865-05-29
IMPORTANT
PASTORAL LETTER
BIS HOP POTTER,
To n. CI.rgy cfthe DiOee,s6f Nec- York.

yield 10 the sense Of duty which impes add ess
10 you the following considerations, touching the law Of
| tbe Church Whe's communication like the present
must Of necessity be sent TO all the clergy Of the diocese
without distinction yet il happiness to believe that
thorc are but few among large number for whom such
suggestions as those now presented can be ut all neces
sary. And Il there should be few clergymcn in the
diocese who are conscious to themselves that there has
been something in their official proceedings which may
have had some influence in suggesting the prorrety
and even necessity Of the present observations 1t is be-
eyed that they will be candid enough to recognize and
acknowledge these tgo truths:
First, That the present Bishop OF tho diocese has
been unfaing in his personal Kindness toward them
selves-in his manifestations Of personal respect ana
regard and
Second: That his administration OF the diocese (what-
ever may have been its faults in other respects) have
not been marked by any disposition on his part to i'm
pose needless upon the official conduct Of the
Clergy to interfere in any without necessity,
witlfthoir freedom Of action.
If the present OCCASION the Bishop steps forth In
unusual way address his brethren ii is because he
fears tha. things have occurred In the way OF clerical
action which are contrary tie law OF the Church
and injurious to its peace and good order; because he
has been again and again appealed to by both.Clergy
and Laynen (who not apt to be busybodics or
censoriOUs) 10 do something u cheek what seems 10 De
growing evil and above all because he hopes that
there those who may have acted hastily and who
upon candid and serious review OF what II IA rght Tor
them 10 DO Ministers Of this Church, and viii throw
tie influence Of their Judgment and example upon 'he
side OF order and unity within their own fold.
Suffer me, then dear brethren, in all neakness and
charity lay before you for your consideration some
Of the principles and laws Of ne CAureh which We aS
cepied when became her Ministers. and which. with
all TIE solemnties oi an OATH we bound ourselves to
observe.
l. Jus; previous to our ordination (wben admitted 10
the diaoone. and again when advanced TO The priest
hood) a ceremonial which Tses above everything else
that know in life by its awful religious -olemny we
deliberately write ana pronounce To tae Ishop the ioI'
lowing emphatic declaration: II do believe the Holy
Scriptures Of the Old and New Icstaments to DO the
Word o. God. and contain all things necessary TO
salyHOn; and do solsnnIy sHRfHe 70 conform 10 ne
do,riHs and u0rhP Of The Protestant EPisoopd! Ch1reA N
The UsfSd Safc..'
2 Tlcn in the midst Of the service OF Ordination as
stood before the Bishop and the Holy Table we were
asked:
vii you then give your faithful diligence ALWAYS so
to minister the doctrine aud the sacraments. and the
discipline Of Christ, as the Lord hath commanded, and
az nis church kGh rooered e sdie according 10 tie
commandments OF God. 80 that yon may teach the
people committed 10 your care and charge with all dill
gence, To keep ana observe the same =
10 which each one Of NJ deliberately replied II nH
DO 20 Nv fhs help Of fhs LorG'
g. Let Us now what the doctrines. discipline and
worship OF this church TO which with 20 much solem
niiy promised conformity at our ordination
FIRST H. the preface 10 the orduhl the church sets
cIh her principle and her law IN regard Ia the sacrcd
ministry in the clear, formal and authoritative
way. She SAYS IN is srsd,Hf rHfo al 'a'a diigenhy
r,adrR Hoiy ScriEr and aneirHf GEnors to' Jro- n'
Aposle, frs herr been fkcss orders 81 hatsrs ~
Chrisfs ChEreA-Hnhop', Prio' and DtaooH'. BAieA
ofceTs he'd m Sac. ror0snd esafioH a!
hs prsune 70 ehecL!s any Of he s4ef AZ 1rs
e-s calsd tired eIaf,sd and kH0rH hare ,acA qrSi.
rsgUisifs for e and aso by public prayer
sh aposiiOH of hands GIprorsG and aansa nfrs-
by igrfII authority. hnd h0rr, g. 't> tHcHf msi
fL,.< 0f1f he . I'd
eseet,d fhis CAEroA sAS "a 0eoosse 0r iss,n
be lawful B,shop Priss, Dsaeon IN Ais CtU'A or
su6ered aay Of As unof,oEs eTeef he b ead
ind eI1minsd ana dfnitd ffrSLsi0. Gccoreag % hs
form hctGGu JoiloUng. o. Aai had APeepa' e@H's@s'
.iOs ordination
Sseond Then the church proceeds. according to tha,
declaration enact in her very hrs canon that in
this Church there shA always be three oTdcr- n the
ministry viz Bshoy, Presfs and Deae0E'I J. OF course
episcopsly ordained and consecrnied for,
Third In the sixth section oi her tiih canon (he y
,he enacs that candidates who. not having Episcopal
ordination, lave been acknowledged ~ ordained Or
hcensed Ministers In any other denomination Of Chris
tans may nj the expiration of not lees than sI months
from their admission candidates bt ordained B1aeoE'
90 ,r passiaR the miGii0aS az 0er oaHaiasie'
hy Dsaoon's orafrs" Whence appears the importance
which she attaches to Episcopal ordination ior,
Fourth IN The ninth canon oite y she provides 'or
receiving Deacon OF Priest ordained by Bishop not
IL communion with this Church laiter due inquiry hd
examination and probation Of siH month. and a de-
claration of conformity Hs minister oi this church
ri'AOpf ro0rGtadfiO..
F,0h And in her eleventh canon title y this Church
enact, that person shall be permitted 10 oil ciate IN
any gregaf0n Of this Church without first producing
the evidence OF his being Mnfafu u,reof 10 the Minis
er or in OF vacancy abtence, 10 the church
Wardeis Vesirymen Trustees " the CONGREGATION
Having thus provided that nore but cpiscopaly or
dained clergy shall minister IN any " her congre.
cations this Church next prescfbes WIN the utmost
care and precision. tLs form OF worthip 70 which they
TO conform.
In her twentieth canon Uiilc y Oh. ordains that
every Minister shall before all sermons nnd Lectures,
and on ai Other oeeasion, Of PEbc No'P use tie look
OF Common Prayer as the sHre is or may De established
by tie authority o' the general convention OF this
Church and in performing such service no oher
prayers ahaH b. Used than not" pree'i6ed 0y hs' 'H'a
book
FINALLY in canon second ditle y the Church
,es tie Oenses for which ever minister shoI be liable
10 be presented tried and punished. and among them
she neniOus r,olafaon cf the eonann'oh or eaH0E' Of
the Church On Of The dioeess 10 uhie. he bsoas aud or
Gers that beinP fo1d gully, hs fhGi Be ddonis.sd
susgesd.d de1roded accoreRR 10 ne eaHoHs o. t do
oese N uh,eh Tho n.a! fdhei place
The same canon provides that ." u rihasier Of nis
church shall Be accused BY public raro of any one OF
certain enumerated oienses ono OF them Delng thnt
o. ri09fin4 me caHOns IT SHALL BIZ IHf DuIi oY THs
BISHOP 10 sEE THAT Al NQuni BL hsfiiuILp As TO
IHE Truth srCH PUBLIC ~ sOB and that, u TIE ac-
clsed be convicted after due process. Ae 'hGH be ed
m0risbed, susposdd or GgraGtd az ne nGtWt o. h case
mGV regHus"
1t vii be apparent from the canon last referred TO-
that the bishop much under Tho guidance and con
troll o. The law Of the church y any other clergy man
aud that when charges duly supported are presented
md even when public rumOr accusing clergyman
taxes clear md definite form, win reasonable probi
bity Of being well founded the bishop has little OF no
discretion butts bound opIOceed diligently to exercise
such dIscipSe ar, by the authority OF God Word anu
by the order Of this church. is committed to him
Prom the preceding review Of The principles and law
Of the church. these particulars plainly appear
!. The Church makes IA fundamental distinction De
tween ministers Episc,pay ordained and ministers
not EpscOpally ordained; for when she admits them 10
nj her hars she reoan the latter but she d0es
reOrdan the former
.. The Church requires Of all who minister to her CON
gregaonf two things; frat that they he hPscopaHy or
daHed, and second hat they De Epscopally ordained
ministers ci ia: church; Nor'Epscopai diyines are.
therefore, doubiy excludedfrs because they are not