Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-01-23

And now, in concluding this letter per-
nit me, my dear Bishop, to add, that if
anything in it shall appear to be wanting
in respect to you or your office, [ beg you
to believe it has not, for moment, been
so intended. My respect and admiration
for you as the most faithful preacher of the
pure gospel have ever heard in any branch
of the Church of Christ, my personal obi
cations to you for SO many kindnesses re-
ceived at your hands, and every feeling of
my heart, would forbid anything of the
kind. When [ commenced to write the
letter, | had no idea of the length OF the
range of discussion it would assume. But
as have unused, the fire has burned, my
convictions have come out clear and
strong, and [ have felt that, as q servant
of Christ and iii furtherance OF What [ be-
iieyed to be for His glory, | ought 20 be
neither afraid nor ashamed to utter them.
Ii aught has been written amiss, may He
pardon and overrule tiff aught accord
ing to His will, may He bless and prosper
it.
With sincere veneration and affection,
am, my dear Bishop,
Very truly, yours, &C.,
j. A. LATANE.
To the Rt. Rev. John ,Johns,D D., Bishop
of the Protestant Episcopal church in
the Diocese OF Virginia
THE MAJORITY OF MR.. LATANE'S vEsTRY
IN HIS FAvoR-BIsHoP JOHNS WRIT
ZEN TO.
The Wheeling ''Intelligeucer" says:
The letter of the late rector of st. Mat
theW's was the subject of no little CONVEX
sation throughout the city yesterday. Per-
haps no event in church circles foT many
voc hnc eft
among people generally The officers of
st. Matthew's have as yet taken no action
upon Mr.. Latane's proffered resignation.
The following gentlemen compose the YES
try Of the church, viz: S. 2. Hildreth, L..
S. Delaplin, A. j. Cecil, R. G. Bonham,
J. D. Dubois, Alonzo Loring. O. G. Dewey,
S. Brady, and W. FL. Hennegen. 1t is
said that seven out of the nine vestrymen
entertain views in sympathy with Mr.
Latane, and from what we understand
there is majority of st. Matthew's con-
gregation who likewise sympathise with
his views. The vestry do not for the pres
ent intend to take any action upon the
resignation, but will await counsel from
Bishop Johns, to whom they have written.
The Bishop is understood to be Low
Churchman, but conservative in his views,
and perhaps not so decidedly in sympathy
w I'LL lclOJ III w
ant bishop of the diocese. The whole Viz
ginia and West Virginia Church is Low
Church, with here and there an exception
al congregation. We presume that there
is less division in the diocese on this sub
ject than in any other diocese in the coun-
try. AS matters look at this time, we shall
not be greatly surprised to see MI. Latane
sustained by st. Matthew's congregation,
nor to hear Of sympathetic responses from
other congregations in the diocese. This
we say without pretending to any very re-
liable knowledge of the situation. We un-
derstand that should division of Senti-
ment manifest itself in the congregation
the action of a majority in the one direc-
ton or the other would probably govern
so far as the Church property is concerned,
owing to the fact that it is decided to st.
Matthew's congregation without any res-
ter ofthe services that must take place in
it.
WHAT THE PRESS SAYS,
The Wheeling "Register" which con,
tains the letter says:
No event has occurred for years which
excited so much interest in our. religious
community as the resignation by Rev
Latane of st. Mathews congregation in
this city land his withdrawal from the min
istry Of the Protestant Episcopal church
The reasons which have led MI. Latane
to this step are fully set forth in his letter
to Bishop Johns which we publish this
morning and to which we invite the at
tention of all our readers.
1t would not be proper for us nor is it
our desire to take any part in the contro-
versy which will probably follow this &C
ton of one of the most talented and prom
inent clergymen of the Protestant Epis-
copal church in the diocese Of Virginia.
We must commend, however, the mani
fest sincerity and conscientioness which
mark MI. Litane's conduct in this mat
ter, and which all who know the man will
recognize as ruling traits in his character.
During his residence OF about three years
in this city. he has drawn to himself many
warm personal friends and has impressed
all with whom he came in contact as a
strictly conscientious man and earnestly
devoted to his work as a.Christian minis
ter, Whatever may be the result OF the
important step he has taken, he will still
have the personal sympathy and the pro-
found respect of HIS congregation and of
the community at large. What action the
congregation of st. Matthew's church will
take in relation to the matter is yet to be
determined. We learn that at the meeting
of the vestry last Friday, at which Mr..
Latane first rendered his resignation and
this Letter of Withdrawal was read, a
large majority was found to be opposed to
the acceptance of his resignation, and its
further consideration was postponed until
some day this week, to ALLOW an opportl-
nifty of consulting more fully the views of
the members of the congregation.
The Richmond "Whig" has the follow
ing notice Of MI Latane's letter:
Are we al cropping in the dark ? The
announcement OF the withdrawal OF the
Rev Nj. Latane, fol- many years the rec
tor of the Episcopal CHURCH in staunton
and more recently Of st. Matthew s
church, Wheeling, from the Protestant
Episcopal church, will strike his numer-
Gus friends with profound establishment.
MI. Latane has fo- years been esteemed
one of the ablest divines in the Church,
and none who know him can question the
honesty of his motives OF the struggle
that it must have cost him to sever his
connection with the Church whose faith
full minister he has been for 50 long a Pc
Rod. We will not think less Of mis- piety,
for we know he acts upon eoncientious
conviction Of duty in the step he has talk
en-. Nor will we call him "a fool" as he
suggests some may but we are panied to
believe his remuneration of his Church will
not only be a serious a'oW to it, but to the
cause of religion generally. When eAch
men as Mr.. Latane hesitate, doubt and
change their Church relations, others less
decided in their religious convictions will
lose all faith in any earthly tabernacle Or
communion whatever.
The Richmond ''Dispatch'' says !:
Fhe letter Of Rey. J. A. Latane, Of
Wheeling, to Bishop johns, giving his reae !.
sons for withdrawing from the ministry OF
nearly six COLUMNS Of each of the Wheel.
ing papers, It is an able presentation OF
his side of the question at issue.
ANOTHER CHANGE.
A Washington telegram OF Wednesday
says: