The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-22
BISHOP WRITEHOUSE AND REV. Mr..
CHENEY

TO the Editor of the Bvenfng Telegraph.
1t may be comfort TO those OF fellow citizens
who have the welfare OF law-breaking clergymen OF
the Episcopal Church so much at heart to know
that the prop osed canon suspending ministers who
have promised obedience to ecclesiastical authority,
and who to escape punishment appeal to the civil
courts, has not passed-though to the credit Of the
ministers OF the Church be It sald they passed IL by
large majority. The lay vote was a tie, and the
Bishop decided the canon lost. SO the "great
scandal and injury to the cause OF religion
and morality"(D which was feared is not so
imminent. But 1t is perhaps rather
loose phraseology for you to assume in speaking OF
the treason for this harsh enactment" that 1t
to be found in the action OF q clergyman who was
arraigped for the "high crime OF officiating In the
church building Of another denomination or some
similar o6ense-unless in your judgment all ofenses
sgaii st church authorities are 'smilar." The case
OF Rev. Charles Z. Cheney of Chicago to which you
intend 10 refer, was that Of plain, direct, and
wilful breaking Of his ordination vow whereby he
promised in writing conformity I'm worship in the fol-
loving words:-"I solemnly engage to conform to
the doctrines and worship Of the Protestant Epsco
pal Church in the United States." These doctrines
and worship are set forth in the "Book Of Common
Prayer" which the minister is obliged TO use on all
occasions OF public worship. Canon 20, Title 1.
Among the "offenses for which minister may be
tried and punished" is included "any act which
involves breach Of his ordination VOWS" Canon 2,
III lie H.
Now, Mr. Cheney undertook to alter the service TO
which he had "solemnly promised" in writing to
conform, and made material omissions In the Bap-
tismal ONCE. This he notoriously did, and at the
t'ChlcagO Conference" SO called, was so unwlse as
to boast of IT, 1t was matter OF public comment.
BY the law of the Church 1t is made the duty of the
Bishops in all where public rumor charges a
clergyman with any of the offenses enumerated, TO
cause enquiry" to be made, to ascertain the truth
OF the same This Bishop Whitehouse did, and the
result was presentment in due form. Pending the
trial. Mr.. Cheney, with the evident consciousness OF
guilt took the unusual course OF applying to Judge
Jameson the distinguished jurist who grants the
divorces for Chicago) for an Injunction against fur
ther proceedings, alleging among other things that
was In receipt of an income of $4,000 from his
occupation and that it would be a serious interfe-
nth his business should he be suspended He
wilfully commits specific ofense, and then shrieks
for "civtl" protection from the penalty. nice
martyrfor conscience sake. II, entered the Church
voluntarily and assumed its obligations. No word
of the Book Of Common PRAYER, which he agreed to
conform to, has been since altered. He has altered
his mind says he cannot believe the plain words of
the Service, but-cannot bring his mind to give up
his talary Other people who have been "conscien-
tious" have left the Church, he wishes to stay and
be a law unto himself. The Chicago jurst, like
city aldermen, decided for the plaintiff. An ap-
peal was taken to higher court, which is not yet
decided.
The denunciations of Bishop Whitehouse for SIM
ply doing his duty are quite unmerited. He suffers
from the misfortune Of having a perverse law
breaker in his diocese. II there the slightest
pretense that Mr.. Cheney was innocent OF the
ofense charged, there might be ground for the
'sympathy" so literally bestowed in some quarters.
The trouble is that he wants the sympathy and the
salary, and wants PERMISSION to break the law too.
He cannot be ndulged in all these desires, and per-
sons who understand the facts of the must fail
to see any tyranny" in the refusal to indulge
him. The New York Observer the leading paper of
the Presbyterians, instead Of joining in the clamor
against the Bishop, came to the sensible conclusion
that If Mr. Cheney continued to be minister of the
Episcopal Church he should abide by its rules and
regulations and that when he could no longer do 80
it was his duty to leave the Church.
A SUBSCRIBER.
September 90, 1870