The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-23
BISHOP WHITE.
The Centennial Anniversary of the Entrance
of the Late Bishcp white into the Ministry
Interesting Services In Old Christ Churoh.


This morning, at II o'clock, services connected
with the one hundredth anniversary of the adms-
sion of the late Bishop White first Bishop OF Penn;
Church, were held in old Christ Church, Second
street, above barket They were OF most interest
ing character throughout. The celebration In addi
ton to its anniversary character, is int-,,,,so "a
mark the time Of removal Of the late BIshops re-
mains from the family vault, where they have here
for them beneath the chancel Of Christ Church,
where they will hereafter be deposited This dispo,
stion of them is peculiarly appropriate when it is
considered that Bishop White was bne OF the early
rectoTs OF that church.
WI IAN Wnlte' u. ~, nrst BISHOP OF ia the Pro-
sylvana, was born in philadelphia on April 4, 174s.
He studied at the College of Philadelphia, now the
University, and graduated from thence In 1IG5. He
afterwards studied theology, and when fully pre-
pared went to England to be ordained minister Of
country OF what afterwards became the Protestant
Episcopal denomination being then dependent upon
the church organization of the mother country. He
was ordained deacon in 17I0 and afterwards priest
in 17I2 consequently the present year is the centen
nial of his deacon's ordination, or his frat entry
The Bishop Of London performed the deacons
ordination, and the Bishop OF Norwich admitted
him to priests orders After being admitted to the
priesthood he returned to his native city and be-
came assistant or curate of Christ Church, in con-
nection with St Peters, then under the same gov
ernment, which po siton he occupied until he be-
came rector few years later. AT one time he was
the only minister Of his denomination In Pennsyl-
vania In the year IT77 In the midst Of the Reveiu
tonary times, he was elected chaplain to Congress-
nent official acts of that body connected with the
war. 1t was on the organization or the first Con-
This was 10 ade memorable by the action of General
Washington, who was observed to be the only men,
Der who took the trouble to kneel.
The meeting which issued a call for q convention
preparatory to the organization OF the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United States was held in
his private residence in this city I'm the year lisa
Afterwards in 17s9, he presided over the convention
itself, meeting in Christ Church, and wrote the con-
stituton OF the church. With Bishop Seabury he
had the chief part in revising the Book of Common
Prayer for the use Of the church in this country.
Having been elected Bishop of Pennsylvania in
17s6, after the independent Church was established,
and the country at peace with England he pro-
eeeded to ENGLAND and received Bishops orders
the Episcopal hands of the Archbishop OF Canter-
bury This was on February 4, 17s1. Some Of Bishop
tive Views of the Controversy Between the Calvin
lists and .Armenians," memoirs of the Protestant
Episcopal Church" ga Commentary on the Ordina-
tion Services" Lectures Catechsm," etc. lie
died in Philadelphia July II, 1886.
The first rector Of Christ Church was the Rev.
Mr.. Clayton, who took charge about the year 1895
Inc Inc next Is supposed to De KEY, Evan Evans, who
followed by Rev. MIR. Cummings (i726l Rev. Robert
Jenney Q742), Rev. Richard Peters u762 and Bishop
White as assistant H772l and as rector d77sl.,
living on High (now Market street, between Fourth
and Fifth streets next door to Quaker family Of
the name of Pascal thata little daughter belonging
to the latter family used, as child to play with
the boy who afterwards became bishop In the
quaint language of ''Watson's Annals" this young
lady when grown up used to say, in her own style OF
speech that Billy White was born a bishop, for she
church. He would tie her apron around his neck
for gown and stand behind a chair for bis pulpit
whilst she, seated before him on low bench, was
the congregation"
The Commemorative services in Christ Church
began at the appointed time in the presence of a
large audience. The Historical Society OF PennSyl-
yania and several other organizations were present
in full force.
church, and the invited guests was formed in the
tower OF the church and passed around the church
late Bishop The front pavement of the church was
guarded with line OF police officers from the inter-
ruption OF the crowd. The following was the order
trustees and faculty of the University of Pennsyl-
vania. .
Mayor of the city.
Managers OF the Pennsylvania Hospital
Invited guests.
Members OF the Historical Society.
Trustees OF the Episcopal Academy.
Trustees OF Church Extension Society.
Trustees OF the Bishop White Prayer BOOK So
ciety.
The clergy of the city and elsewhere in surpices.
Right Rev. William Bacon Stevens, Bishop of the
diocese of Pennsylvania.
on the arrival of the procession in the church
edifce, the 18th Psalm from the Psalter was sung,
during the singing of which the remains encased In
solid oaken cOfiin mounted with the marks OF the
bishops Office were borne up the aisle TO the chan
men. It was there IL ref FORMALLY delivered by Rev WI
liam White Bronson assistant minister OF St. Peters,
ad d S SsGUP M Se S
wardens and yestrymen Of Christ Church, and by
them formally accepted through Rev. Mr. Foggo
The prayers set for the special service were then
offered and the lesson from Acts chap. Xxx, was
read. ...
which the centenary discourse, by the Bishop OF
the Diocese, was delivered. ..
The Bishop reviewed the life OF the late Bishop
in every particular, and gave picture OF his church
life as it was lived one hundred years ago.
Bishop Whites various important services TO the
Church in this country were reviewed in detail on
the day when the Declaration OF independence was
declared he united in the recommendation OF the
be Omes the ee a ss
that from the first he was ready TO cast in his lot
with the new republic. He was the first to suggest
councils OF the Church. He introduced, In addition,
several new ideas which had never been thought OF
| before. One OF these was the organization OF the
Church so that 1t could be capable OF self govern
ment without any reference TO the civil authority.
Another was the power to the Church to elect its
own bishops in which elections the laity had equal
rights with the clergy. His efforts in benaf OF the
Church were what the efforts OF General
| Washington We're to the country. When Wash
ministered in this chance, there present the
! two men to whom the nation was most Indebted for
its life; the one hand for its civil liberty and on
the other for fot free church. His teachings were
always opposed to the sacerdotalism ana rttualism
which have since crept into many churches IfyOndeI
| modern ritualistc churches, how would he be
| greved? He would not know how to conduct the
service which ne himself framed. He never told
the congregation to remain standing until the clergy
| had left the chance. lie never wished the com
| municants to remain until what remained OF the
| ala not care to have his congregation
| bow at the name OF Jesus Christ in the
creed and even wrote two pamphlets disappearing
in this spirit one OF the founders OF the Bible
| Society. When its anniversary services were held
mpatS1S stood side 5y side NiS him ~ IN me cSan
\ Gel and addressed the people. When he died,