The New York herald., 1869-09-20
o1xTuAR =.
Right Rev. Henry PhilIpstts, ID. D., Bishop Of

Right Rev. Henry PhilIpstts, ID. D., Bishop Of
Exeter.
on saturday last, az we are informed by cable
telegram from London, Right Rev. Henry Phillpotts,
Bishop OF Exeter, died, aged uinety-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 theoiogicai controversialist, whose pamphlets
were at one time noted for their numbers aud for the
frequency with which they were published.
DR.. Phlllpot.s was born In Gloucester, England In
May, l77s, In the same house In which Whitfield the
founder OF the Calvanistic Methodists, was born,
and where his father kept an inn. It is remarkable
that both the fathers OF Whitfield and PHIL
potts, although tavern keepers. were regard
ed with more than ordinary favor by their
townsmen, and were included among the
list of those known as 'Tespectable.n When
about fourteen years Of age the subject Of this
sketch, sketch & was erected to scholarship at Corpus
degree OF b. A., and soon after was awarded the
ChancelOr's prize for an essay ''On the influence
Of Religious Principle" In 1895 he was elected to a
time won the prize offered by the Asac socety for
Latin Panegyric on Sir William Jones, the ceie-
Srated nIs Oriental scholar II 1s4 ana after he had
Surtees, niece Of the late Lord Eldon. Not long
after he became chaplain TO DR.. Darlington Bishop
parted him from the old prelate twenty wears later
10 1905 Dr. Phillpotts first appeared before the pub
nc IN the character OF controversiallst DR.. Bar
rngt0n mad delivered an episcopal charge which the
late Catholic historian, DR.. LinQard. had attacked
with force To this attack the now deceased gentle.
great spirit This event was the forerunner Of never
ending Controversies. He subsequently, wrote some
pamphlets defenaing and vindicatlng the established
against them IN the House Of Lords by Lords
Grey, ana Durham. 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 i ms degree Of D D.: and four years later
nent OF Mr. Charles Butler author OF 'sThe Book Of
the Roman Catholic Church. !" which publication had
work was published in an octave volume and at
tracted much attention at the time. A year subse-
duent qs2c) 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,
ment in the session OF 1926 and also on certain pas
sages In Dr. Doyie's ESSAY on the Catholic Clainsn
nis pamphet enaea the controversy 30 far as Mr.
year, when the question Of Catholic emancipation
occupied the public attention, DR.. Phihpotts pub
lshed his celebrated "Letter to Mr.. Canning y in
which ne gave expression to the most extreme tory
views, review previous demands for certain kinds
were placed upon an equality with Protestants. TSs
letter was the great sensation OF the day. and passed
through several editions.
AS might be supposed the labors OF DR.. Philipotts
were not allowed to go unrecognized and unre-
warded. In 1928 he was promoted TO the deanery Of
Chester, and IN october, 1880. appointed by the
Duke OF Wellington to the blshoprc OF Exeter There
appears to be doubt that this exatation 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 dd not
venture to defend himself. AS member OF the
House OF Lords Bishop Phipotts was distinguished
for his zeal0ns advocacy OF tory principles lie
opposed every liberal measure before Parliament
including the Reform bil the Irish Church Tempo.
ralities 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 Convocation
and OF other ecclesiastical customs In lS49 he re-
lected MI. Gorham, who was nominated to the
ground that he held erroneous opinions as
TO- the effects OF infant baptism. In his
refusal to1 institute the nominee he 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 $780, Upon
which he formally excommunicated the Archbishop
Of Canterbury, VINO had been party 10 the
decision and who had also instituted Mr.. Corham
into hts living. In the following year be held
synod Of the clergy at Exeter, which was pro-
This was about the last public appearance OF the
bishop, then man far advanced In years. Hts
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. Phillpotts ever conferred q
real oenent upon his country. He was a most
oi9oted tory aud vertable bar In the way OF pro.
yres,.