, 1874-10-27
THE REV. Mr. STOCKINGS SUNDAY BER-
hiON

Yesterdays paper. iB q worry significant produce
plcn for Ritnnlism Mother IL 1t M attack on
Rituns'n. It brea!hos no spirit Of rebellion
against tho Church Of Which tho nov. Mr.. Stock
ing is a member and a clergyman. It Ia not
exactly vindicatlon Of Prof. Seymour against
tho charges Of Ills opponents. It IL protest
against al bitrariuoss in church matters against
tho condemnation Of n respectable clergyman
without trial aud without hearing; against de-
priyiug motnbars Of tho ministry Of those
rights aud privileges which aro tho ncc-
essary safeguards Of thoir reputation. Tho
Episcopal Church IN this country ID
not close corporation. 1ts Conventions are
representative bodies. ThoY represent not only
tho Bishops, but tho humb1ost Clergyman Of the
Church and tho hu,nblest 1aymau. Every mom-
ber Of tho Church las directly or Indirectly
voice In tho ecclesiastical aasomblioa. This is
the philosophy Of It's system OF church and lay
delegates to tho Conventions OF that Church.
And precisely because Episcopal Conventions aro
representative bodies. is 1t necessary that thcy
ahould bo held with opon doors. The peoplo md
clorgy who send representatives to a Convention
Of the Church havo n right to know what their
representatives nro 1oiug In tho Convention. II
the Convention sits in judgment on the clerical
character Of minister Of tho Church, ho cor
tainlv should bo allowed tho right to appear aud
dcfeud himself. Tho public opinion Of the Churcl,
caanot but hava n beneficial effect on tho
courso Of tho Conventions, just as tho
public opinion Of tho country has upon tho Rep
resoutatiycs in Congross, or AZ tho public opin-
ion OF community has on the conduct Of tic
average individual mombor Of the community.
Only on tho supposition that tho general or av-
radically lotorodox or opposed to the bost inter-
oss Of tho Church can its representative body
desire to avold ite influence by carrying on it's
deliberations with closed doors. Tie protest to
the Convention against DR.. Seymours coufrma-
tion Should not hayo boen kept soc1et, as it prac-
tical1y was. As alr. Stocking saya, tho withhold
ing Of that document from tho clergy and laity
WIS severe reflection Oh tho honesty OF
purpose and farueas Of notion Of DR..
seymour's supporters. This was certain
" bad enough. But Wien tho papora
wcro sont to the Convention iu Now York thoy
were carefully kept from the Standing Commit
tee OF tho diocese, from tha delegation in intend
ance, mud from tho supporters OF Dr.. Seymour.
Cloricnl aud Lay Deputies wont into secrot scs-
sion over the confirnlation.-a thing almost
without precedent In tho history Of tho Epiaco-
pa1 Church in this country.
Wo aro not the judges whether or not DR..
Seymour is fit caudidate for Episcopal ]lonors,
but thoro arc certain rnlea Of Justice which are
applicable to tho caso OF all mon aud under all
| circumstances. Among thcse aro tho right of tue
accused 70 hearing before le Is ccustrcd OF
| coudou1ucd, and OF constituency to tho respect
at loaet Of the body to which they arc entitled
| to soud, and do seud, delegates. Thoao ru1oa
| aro applicable not ouly to the man Of the world
aud to secular organizations. but to tho nenabore
Of religious bodios especially whom they live undo,
ment, as is tho case in tho Episcopal Church
| The action OF tAo General Convention Inns beol
sufficiently pronounced Oh tue subject Of Nit'
ualisiln to warrant its members in laying before
the whole Church tho charges preferred against
DR., Seymour. If these charges imputo RitualiH
tic Tendencies md practices to him, aud art
proven to tho satisfaction Of unprojudiced
Judges, then his rejection rs Bishop Of Illinois
will bo acquleaced in by tho great majority oi
| tue membership. Dut In tho present aspect o1
the caso there must and will bo moro or leat
| ggumh!tng.