The New York herald., 1874-09-19
THE CHURCH CONGRESS.
BrOOding Trouble i'm the Pr0tes.
tant Episcopal Camp.
The Bishops Opposed to Any congrsm-Bishop
Potter's 0hjeotions-The Congressionals De-
termined to Carry Out Their Plan
Their Side Of the Argument

vention will be composed OF fifty bishops ana
over three hundred laymen from all parts or the
Union The interest which attaches TO the airalr
not however SO much IN the Con ventlon itself as
in schism in the Episcopal Church which is likely
to ensue from it. This scnsm promise to be or
no small dimensions, as some OF the most eminent
cergymen In the Church are concerned in ir. IL
is, OF course, impossible at present 10 say posi-.
lively tnat any outbreak Will occur. but from ap.
pearances as they are now, and the attitude OF
she two parties to the controversy, both equally
determined, there must be a strong backing out
On one size or the other to insure the peace which
Is deemed 30 desirable In united church.
II appears that some short time since an emf
nent Episcopal divine Rev. DR.. Washburn, paid a
visit TO England. and while there had much oc.
cas!on to study the system OF the Established
church there. When he returned here he wrote 4
pamphlet, IN which he advocated the system OF
church congresses, held In England periodically,
and whereby churchmen were enabled, at stated
periods, to assemble together and arguo secular
matters, which had more or less direct bearing
apon the prosperity o the Church ITSELF DE-.
Washburn considered that such a system intro.
duced here would be extremely beneficial, ana
that
NO TINE SHOULD BE LOST
IN perfecting some organization OF the kind.
pamphlet OF such importance. coming from so
prominent clergyman as DR.. Washburn, excited
great deal OF interest among Episcopalians, and
some short time since q call was issued by O mum.
Der OF clergymen here to meet together Informally
1t New Haven. Conn.,, to discuss the advisablity
N institutlng some such system as the English
shurch congresses In this country. The call met
with unexpected success, and some seventy prom
lnenr Episcopalian dvtnes met at New Haven
The opinion seemed to be unanimous that the time
mad come Tor church congresses to be introduced
nere and the conclusion was come to TO cali the
rof nnn tn
~ the meeting OF the Episcopalan Convention.
The call was Issued. ana he COMMITTEES OF ar.
rangements which had been named at the New
uaVen meeting wrote to several bishops asking
tnem 10 mold certain positions In the Congress-
10 the very great surprise OF the gentleman hav.
ing the matter OF the Congress In hand they
shortly alter received an answer from Bishop
Coke, OIL the Diocese OF Western New York, de.
Ginning to be vice president at the coming Con.
Rress and animadverting very strongly upon the
proposed meeting. lew days alter Bishop Pot.
ter, OF this CITY, wrote to the committee declining
70 serve IN the capacity OF President Of the Con.
gress. Bishop Potter's letter was very lengthy
,h ana; & 10 the course M Of letter In which he denied
Wltnout Ills permission, he says:-
. BISHOP PoTTER's VIEWS.
AS 10 the Dement'S TO be expected from church
congresses 10 thls country, am lree TO say that
an oy no means sanguine The differences be.
tween our circumstances and those OF the Church
u England are great. In England there was
scarcely any sucn thing as q synod, arording op.
IRON any one OF these congresses any new, marked
and permanent impression has been made upon
the me and work OF the Church OF EnVland. With
concur IN the oplnion expressed by one Of our
most venerable, learned and thoughtful bishops.
work. 90 not hesitate TO declare my judgm ent
9ss 9sr pa or ,ney any S set ,snon persons Wnatso
the clergy aud laty to presume In time OF
agitaion and suspense IN the Church IKE the pres.
call together at such crisis such body as this
proposed Church Congress must necessarily be
10 ADVANCE Of the opening OF the Generai Confer.
once-wth no security whatsoever as to the suu-
tney are to oe discussed, body watch must and
WI discuss questions which are Just about to
Qor without such purpose the arst Congress
might as well. and better. be called together
md T placesy; call u1orea toretner o'nes sucn @es
BODY to iorestall the caim Unbiased
lmOspnere Of the the city and The MIND i Of M tine se
church throughout the country with inhamma.
assna S
General Convention cannot In popular disap-
Psntmen and repeat to presume
time and place all engine so capable OF mischief
70 the extent OF It's influence would be an lmpru.
aenee, to use no stronger word, which 40 weigh.
Of character, no amount Of authority would be
adsSuapts Leg psns TO , excuse % or exlenuate.
bis reasons, and intimates that he nas authority
70 prevent such meeting In his diocese.
A reporter called upou DR.. Rylance Of st.
Marks church, one or the prime movers in the
church Congress matter. Ur. Rylance was not IN
the humor 10 mince matters, and SPOKE his views
very straghtorwardly. He said that there was
Caurcn which It was Very hara to eradicate. Il
was the struggle between old logyism on one
There were some who opposed everything that
was new simply because It was new, and pro-
gress 10 the enlightenment OF the age was con.
Church Congress was meant to 20 Just Just
os conet Stns wi; any was the not
OF me rules OF the G CHURCH TO discuss matters
" S AL 1 the
we are making IS hurting our influence and power
as g. Church. Yearly we lose ground, and wnys
Because we DO not keep up TO the times. What
we want 10 interest men IN their daily thoughts.
The subject. Ior instance. which we propose to DIS
cuss Is the proper relation OI labor ana capital.
II one OF high import to all men, and one which
= church IKE ours should take stand upon. AS
oeng an honest and upright man, the Bishop dis. |
aKss M progress % he Is afraid Of innovations on the
antenabie anu am sure be will become convinced
u II before long.
mission :"
VIII do without IT, lie mistakes our position. We |
do not meet as part OF the Episcopai Church. but
cuss matter OF great to Ss ourseves SO
lie can no more prevent our doing that than ne
can !Orold private meeting III our own houses.
We do not hold ourselves amenabe to HIM Tor our !
action, SO far as the Church Congress Is con.
cerned.n
bishop Potter believes that you have chosen
the same time OF meeting as the General Conven.
uoh 90 as TO make q sort OF rivalry between tne
two."
This 10 q great mistake" said DR.. Rylance,
Warmly. 1--WE have no such object In view. our
only reason ;or having appointed the same time
o. meeting as the Genera Convention was that
sa a., great y many prominent people 10 the Churc1
wiil De toRether at the time and as distances and
the cost OF travelling are so grea; IN this country.
we considered that no better period could be
selected. and when we should have the most
genera opinion In the discussions We should hold.
Iuere Is certainly among US no desire 20 hold any
rvalry with the Convention whatever. We simply
action"
"iou are still then determined In Jour In
tention TO hold the Congress ~
"In all human PROBABILITY It viii be held a. an.