The New York herald., 1869-09-20

Right Rev. Henry PhilIpstts, ID. D., Bishop 0l


Right Rev. Henry PhilIpstts, ID. D., Bishop Of
Exeter.
On Saturday last, as we are informed by o cable
telegram from London. Right Rev. Henry Phillpotts,
Bishop Of Exeter, died, aged ninety-one years and
some months During the past few years but little
had been heard from him. he appearing to have re-
tired from public life altogether. No doubt though,
many OF our readers Will remember the sometime
famous supporter and champion of British toryism
ana theologicai controverslalist, whose pamphlets
were at one time noted for their numbers and for the
frequency with which they were published.
DR.. PhillpOtS was born In Gloucester, England, In
May, 177S In the same house In which Whitfield, the
founder Of the Cavanistio Methodists, was born,
and where his father kept an inn. 1t Is remarkable
that both the fathers OF Whitfield and Pnill-
potts, although tavern keepers. were regard.
ed with more than ordinary favor by their
townsmen, and were included among the
hst OF those known as respectable" When
about fourteen years Of age the subject Of this
sketch was elected to scholarship at Corpus
Christi College, Oxford, and in June, 1895 took the
degree Of .. A., and soon after was awarded the
ChanceIOr's prize for an essay ION the influence
OF Religious Principle" In 1895 he was elected to
fellowship at Magdalen College. ana about the same
Latin panegyric on Sir William Jones. ey the ceie sH.
brated Oriental scholar. In 1904, and after he had
Surtees niece Of the late Lord Eldon Not jon@
after he became chaplain to Or. Darlington Bishop
OF Durham, with whom he renamed until death
parted MIN from the old prelate twenty years later
In 1905 Dr. PhipOtts first appeared before the pub
lie In the character OF contrOversialIst. DR.. Bar
late Catholic historian, DR.. Lingard. mad attacked
with force To this attack the now deceased gentle.
man replied, defending the Bishop Of Durham with
great spirit This event was the f0rerunner of never
ending controversies. He subsequently, wrote some
pamphlets defending and vindicating the established
clergy In the north OF England from the attacks made
against them IN the House Of Lords by Lords
Grey Grey ana Sa durham; o For the services thus rem
Prebendary Of Durham Cathedral In 1909 % and ten
years later with the rich living OF Stanhope In 1921
he took his degree OF d. d. and four years later
nent Of Mr.. Charles Butler author OF "The Book of
the Roman Catholic Church." which publication had
work was published in an octave volume ana ''it at
tracted much attention at the time. A year subse-
guent QS2o ne continued the controversy by pub
fishing "A supplemental Letter to Charles Butler.
ESQ., on some parts OF the evidence given by the Irish
Roman Catholic Bishops, particularly by DR.. Doyle,
before the Committee OF tie two Houses Of Parlia,
men in the OF 1926 and also on certain pas
sages In Dr. Doyle's Essay on the Catholic Clays,,
This pamphlet ended the controversy 80 far as Mr..
year, when the question Of Catholic emancipation
occupied the public attention, DR.. PhiIpotts pub
which he gave expression to the most extreme tory
views, reviewing previous demands for certain kinds
OF securities from the Roman Catholics before they
were placed upon an equality with Protestants T1is
letter was the great sensation Of the day. and passed
through several editions.
AS might be supposed the labor5 OF DR.. Phillpotts
were not allowed to go unrecognized and unre-
warded. In 1928 he was promoted 10 the deanery OF
Chester and In October, 1880. appointed by the
Duke OF Wellington to the blshopric OF Exeter. There
appears to be no doubt that this exataton was the
price paid for the support Of the Dukes scheme OF
Catholic emancipation. He was severely denounced
at the time for his gross Inconsistency but he did not
venture to defend himself. AS member OF the
House OF Lords Bishop Phillpotts was distinguished
for his jealous advocacy OF tory principles He
opposed every liberal measure before Parliament,
including the Reform BILL the Irish Church Tempo.
raites bill, the Poor Law bill the Ecclesiastical
became the recognized Episcopal head OF the High
Church party, defending Its donmas and principles
by his speeches In Parliament and By hts writings
and warmly advocating the revival OF Convocati0n
and OF other ecclesiastical customs. In lS49 he re-
>ected Mr. Gorham, who was nominated to the
to the effects Of infant baptism. In his
refusal toj institute the nominee he was supported
by the ecclesiastical courts, but Mr. Gorham appeal
to the Judicial Committee Of the Privy Council VINO
rendered a Judgment In his favor in 1880. Upon
which he formally excommunicated the Archbishop
of Canterbury, VINO had been a party to the
decision and who had also Instituted Mr. Corham
into his living. In the following year be held
synod Of the clergy at Exeter, which was pro-
nounced Illegal by the law oflcers OF the Grown.
This was about the last public appearance OF the
bishop, then man far advanced In years. Hts
reputation rests entirely upon his controversies
which are so numerous that the list Of his pamphlets
embracing them occupies no less than sixteen pages
doubt however, II DR.. Pnillpotts ever conferred
real benefit upon his country. He was O most
bi9oted tory and yeritabe bar In the way OF pro.
gres,