The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-30

been renewed in it by the case of Henry |
Ward Beecher. In a recent number of |
the st. Louis Republican we lind re-
view of it, which we give, supposing it |
to be accurate and true.
The Republican, in its summary of /
the first of the Onderdonk case, says it |
is mistake to characterize these two |
cases as identical or parallel, the fact |
being that no allegation was ever pre- |
fered against the Bishop-certainly not |
in any official form or from any respon-
sible source-of the crime of adultery. |
Nevertheless the accusations brought |
against this distinguished dignitary,
and the ecclesiastical trial which follow !
ed, produced one of the most profound
sensations that ever agitated the public
mind and it is no exaggeration in say
ing that the House of Bishops, as the
Court of Judicature in this case, com
prised at that time many of the most
eminent prelates that have ever adorned
the Episcopal Church in America-such
men as Chase, Doane, Hopkins, Brown
ell, Delaney, Meade, Kemper, Nell
vaine-while the legal conduct of the
trial before this weighty tribunal, was
in the hands of Ogden, Ketcham and
Graham, comprising an array of pro-
fessional talent and oratory almost in
capable of being surpassed.
venerable, eminent, was widely known
in both hemispheres-a man who for
| many years had been conspicuously
| identified with the interests of theology
and reigion-one who had partaken,
almost without measure, of the respect
| and honors of the community-whoha had
risen to the highest rank in the church
of which, for so many years he had
! been leading minister-whose charac-
ter was regarded as without O stain or
blemish. The exposure, therefore, of
this great prelate's alleged immoral
practices fell like thunderbolt upon
every ear. Unintimidated, the Bishop
met and fought his accusers at every
point, and from first to last, with un-
| yielding combativeness. Though show
ing, in his pulpit ministrations, no ap-
proach to the vehemence and boldness
of the Brooklyn preacher, the Bishop
exhibited in this crisis far more moral
nerve and prowess than have character
lied the course of Mr.. Beecher during
the last three or four months, not to
say years. This courageous grit in
Bishop Onderdonk had a memorable
illustration during the sitting of the
New York Diocesan Convention in 1843,
when he denied the right of any mem
ber of the convention to enter protest
against any portion of the Episcopal
address. He said:
Il sit here in the double right Of President
of the Convention and Bishop of the Diocese.
will never allow a paper of this character to
come before this house, or to go on the jour
nal of its proceedings. l shall be happy to
receive any communication which the clergy
or laity of any diocese may hand to me in my
individual capacity, but cannot allow such a
document as has jus. been read to go upon
the minutes. or be made matter of discus
| sion. The Standing Committee my only
| their /
be happy to receive. In support of this de-
cision throw myself upon this convention
upon both the clergy and laity of the Diocese,
and if they fail to sustain me I throw myself
upon s. Higher Power. and VIII yield the prin-
ciple only with my life
It will readily be supposed that one
capable of these utterances, under the
circumstances and before such an as
sembly, would not tamely submit to
charges of immortality and indecency.
) The remarkable fact appeared, Oh
, the trial of the Bishop, that none but
ministers and communicates in the
Episcopal Church were witnesses
against him, and prominent among
! these was the wife of Rev. Clement
: Butler, and her testimony was perhaps
! the most damaging to the accused O.
, any brought forward, though, as i
: alleged in the Beecher-Tilton trsnsac
: ton, the offense was committed year
previous to the time of its publicity
: The occasion was the ordination of Mr.
: Butler to the priesthood by Bishop
Onderdonk, or rather while the party
> consisting of Mr.. and Mrs. B. and tn
:, Bishop, were being conveyed in a car
L riage on the journey to Syracuse, n
Y, the place of the intended ceremony
t. The statement of the lady is, in suk
< stance, that, as night and darknes
.e came on. che Bishop, with whom sh
's was sitting on the back seat, and who's
At breath she had observed was tainte
n n with spirit, became unusually talkativ
u much of the time, however, so indi
tinct in his speech as scarcely to
w understood. He now put his arm on,
RS and again around her waist, drawn
I'd her toward him. She removed his ha1
himself, owing to his use of wine. II
Or Bishop persisted in putting his ar
K, around her, and raising his hand SO
bit to press her bosom, she rose and wit
at drew the arm from behind her, and, T
moving the hand to his knee, said
f. him in a raised tone of voice-with
O. view of bringing him to himself and
attract Mr.. Buffers attention, who 8
in front
Bishops hands are sacred in my eyes, a
- these are particularly so, because they ha
no been laid upon the heads of many I love
y confirmation. and about to be laid upon
husbands head in ordination"
i'd To this remark, it appears, the Bisht
ed made but slight response, and for
little tiDe let her alone. It was II
long, however, before he suddenly al
I violently brought his hand upon h
bosom, pressing and claspiag it. Hc
ng rified at this, she struck his hand wi
an all her force, which caused him to wit
ng draw it, but he imm ediately grasped b
leg in the most indelicate manner,
he which Mrs. Butler spraRg forward
lis her husband, telling him that she cou
Ter no longer sit with the Bishep. The I
IN mainder of the journey she sat, son
times on her husbands s knee, and son
ng times on carpet bag at his feet I'll
statement of the Bishops conduct
sal ceived corroboration from Mr.. Butt,
M and there appeared to be no doubt Il
,ut Onderdonk was intoxicated at the tin
nd he being accustomed to the freque
ad use of wine and brandy. Mrs. Butle
lot health was seriously affected by t
shock to her mind and feelings p
am duced by such an experience, being su
seGuently confined to her bed for seve
-, weeks.
we Another and very similar instan,
ed as was charged, occurred while Ond
sct donk, the Rev. Mr.. Beare, and you