The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-30
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Thc Sd. CIemenl,s Trouble

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As you have opened your columns to a COM
munication from "a Parshioner," upon the
present unhappy difficulties at st. Clements
Church, trust you will allow "An Outsider"
corner in THE EVENING TELEGRAPH, for few
remarks upon the same subject. A deep interest
is already felt in the matter by the members of
the Protestant Episcopal Church, and 1t is
spreading among the general public; while
owing to the meagre data furnished by the OPP
posing parties, it is not easy to form a correct
opinion of the merits of the case, and, as q
natural consequence, exaggeration and mis-
representation are rife.
! Two official documents are published-the
first an extract from the minutes of the vestry.
including the letter of the Right Rev. William
B. Stevens Bishop of the diocese; the second
paper addressed to the congregation of st.
Clements by the Rev. H. G. Patterson, rector
of the parish. Both Of these have appeared in
your paper, and your readers are therefore we'll
acquainted with their contents. The letter from
"A Parishioner" in your issue of Friday last, is
in support of the rectors case, couched in
nearly the same language, inspired by the same
thought, and actuated by the same object as DR..
Battersons paper. 1t has, however, addi-
tional end in view, very clear to the general
reader-a strong desire to throw discredit upon
the vestry in their corporate capacity and as
Christian getemen.
! A few words will probably shed useful light
Tor vestTy is to be held at Easter, according
to usage. For two years DR.. aBatterson has
occupied the position OF rector, and during that
period it is scarcely necessary to say, there has
been radical change in the mode of conducting
| the services, and it is alleged that there have
also been radical changes IN some of the doc
trines taught. Unquestionably the services of
the church have fallen under the control of
certain brotherhood" of which the rector was
once the chaplain an association committed to
the encouragement of what they are pleased to
pon GsadV npa6 viz md tn tn (Hio-
mepts to see the fun" became, and still is the
Sunday evenings amusement of great many
people who have very little respect for religion
OF any sort. The vestry very properly felt that
the odium of countenancing these advanced
views" rested upon their shoulders. and they
frequently discussed the matter at their meet
iDgs, demonstrating, in all probability, too
mildly with the reverend gentleman they had
called to the parish. The expression "too
Nmildly" is Intentionally employed, as it best
indicates the gentle, forbearing character
evnced by these long-suffering gentlemen ever
since the church was built. 1t is impossible to
say by what means were circulated throughout
the church the many unkind things uttered in
! regard to the vestymcn These utterauces must
nave become very abusive, as may be seen in "a
! Parshioner's" letter, when he ventures to put iu
public print such paragraph as this:-"Of the
ten dissenters of the vestry, three are not COM
municants, one has never been baptized, three
do not attend st. Clements at ALL and one has
received communion only once in twenty years.
1t seems that Christian duties of any kind lay
III.
pri0iegeS, voluntary penance, for instance are
abominabe in their sight"
The italics are in tire original BY 'teu dis
senters" is meant the ten out of the twelve YES
trymen who are opposed to the present condi-
tion of affairs in the church. It is perfectly
evident that the plan of the PATTERSON party is
to create an impression that the vestry are ire
ligious men, and that their sanctimoniOus selves
represent the purely religious element. 1t may
we'll be conceived that many such slurs as these
would rouse the mildest men to vindicate their
position. They took the simplest means to make
their real standpoint known, previous to the
rejection, by publishing the minutes of those of
their meetings at which the diff ulties had been
discussed, together with the letter of the Bishop,
the highest clerical authority in the State-a
letter which proves, as clearly as any words can
do, the correctness of their views.
DR.. Patterson makes great complaint that the
matter was referred to the Bishop at all, and, in
Nthe course of his singularly incoherent paper,
defes the Episcopal authority-a very unusual
proceeding in the High Church, as it has been
wont TO regard a bishop with marked reverence.
The friends of the rector, including "A Parish
ioner," doing their utmost to force the belief
that the vestry published their statement solely
as an electioneering pamphlet, and grow very
eloquent over their "unchristian, indecent, and
shameful" conduct. The truth is simply that
the vestry decline to make any effort whatever
to secure reelection or to influence single
vote. They rest their case entirely upon
the plain statement they have published
over their own signatures, and disdain to enter
into contest with the opposite party. They
nave cleared themselves Oh Jne DIANE JuStly
heaped upon them, and they have confidence
in the good sense of the very few persons who
have right TO vote. If these voters delibe-
rately choose to put themselves in defiant
position towards their bishop by advocating the
advanced views" and by eecting new
vestry pledged to encourage all the vagaries OF
the Brotherhood and all the latest TRADITIONS
>pf the Anglican Church, they do SO upon their
own resporsi5 i5ility; but they should remember
before Iney do so that st. Clements Church
owes its existence to some of the gentlemen they
would eXpel from its councils; that but for theil
ceaseless liberality, the pecuniary liabilities o.
Ibe establishment would have overwhelmed il
.me and again; and that, without their ever
ready purses, even now, the account-book
'A Parishioner" should be permitted to say tht
vestrymen "haye no right to disturb the peace
and happiness of st. Clements Church by
their unseemly clamor," thus giving the i'm
preston that they are to blame for the presen
troubles Is it to be supposed for a momen
that the yestry would wilfully endeavor tt
destroy the harmony or injure the success
of an institution in which they have Away
taken the most active interest On the contrary
they are trying to undo the mischief worked b.
others-an ungrateful task they have been one
before compelled to undertake; and this manl
determiR alton TO do what they conscientious
believe to be right is called by their enemies
characteristic to quarrel with their rectors.
She electioneering business is carried on exclu
siyey by the advanced" party, and any amour
of political dodging has been practised for som
time past under the appropriate Jesuitlca
maxim of ''th0 end sanclifes the means"
These active partsans of the Reformed Cathc
lie Church are anxious to make the world believ
they have gathered a large congregation at 81
Clements; the services are well attended in th
evenings by curious strangers, but the pew rents
~ In mo afaria as ha No QU vi