New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-02
FIT MEN FOR BISHOPS.

OBSCURE MEN NOT DEsIRABLE-MEN RENOWNED
FOR ABILITY AND LOYALTY TO THE CHURCH
NEEDED
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The General Convention Of the Prot.
estan Episcopal Church has been in session since Oct
T. complaints heard that nothing has been done
Those who say this speak also OF much time wasted 10
the Unprecedented secret session held In connection
with of Dr. Seymour. Bishop elect OF Llinois
But tho time not wasted; for the long and anxious
discussion as to DR.. scymours soundness In the faith
has done much to vndicate the Church's regard for
Protestant truth and ritual conformity. But II the con-
sumption OF much time single case IL thing to
be depored there is but way that We can SOC TO
prevent it, and for doceses TO refr ain from nom
mating or eecng men whose orthodoxy or loyalty to
the Church IL questionable Attention to this rule would
have saved the time spent discussing the qualifications
Of DR.. Seymour; and IL would have saved the Chnreh
from the disgracefu at the Wisconsin ConVen
ton. 1t is little singular that DE- Welles OF Mnhesoa
whose name Bishop elect OF Wisconsin went DeIors
the Con yention with that OF DIR. Seymour should have
passed at once although his papers we're presented oy
Dr. De Koyen This fact certainly shows that Dr. De-
Koyen ia satisfied with the theology OF DIR. Weles. No
man objected to DR.. Welles. Why Was 1t simply DO
cause he WIS unknown except TO his immediate neigh
oT5mpcnce "a the source Of ali the trouble ease
The Church has In at or two Instances OF lac
70 a9n a On b eIs oppe posv5 aacs
iion for the Episcopate But we venture to thnk that
this Is great mistake. Members Of the Church DO not
ike to see 1t announced that r. This CT Mr. That Ut
whom nobody evor heard before has been appointed 10
preside over n missionary jlrisdction or elected 10
diocese Appoint OF this kind are not satisfactory,
though in instances the persons chosen may
prove qualified for their position. The principle Is
very bad one TO 20 on. Other Christian organni,ons
put their best IN the front. and the Protestant
Eplscopal CEurch cannot afford to 90 otherwise.
But we think t Will not pursue policy so dangerous
The strctuess which the Convention has scruiin
izsd Dr. Seymour's record seems to show that tho
Church alive Interest, and that htnccforth
IL will neither appoint ndOrse any man to whom
objection be made, or who has not by ms
learning and ZEAL by active labor In tue ministry.
given evidence his fitness fOr the trust We under.
stand that this there are 10 be SIX or seven
missionary Bishops appointed ard soon after the adj
iournment elections will he held In New-Jersey, Ken.
lucky Ohio, Iowa, and Michigan. Much interest VIII
be felt in connection with all these. The calling OF 80
many In one year out of the ordinary ranks OF the
prize sthood" il very uncommon and not many eceesi-
as,ical bodies could bear such drain or furnish az
once SO many men suited to the higher offices But the
Episcopal Church has abundance of good men AMI
true aud II had another score Of Dioceses TO supply
she could do 10 without taking siGge nau from among
the unknown the unsound the INDECENT OF the super.n-
nuated classes.
Netc York. Oct. 90, 1871.