The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-10-29
The Defeat Of Rev. DR.. Seymour.

The General Episcopal Convention, in ses-
sion in New York, has been agitated Tor moro
than week past by a discussion in strictly Sc
cret sections of the case of the Bishop elect
Seymour, of Illinois, and much feeling has been
aroused. The question of the ratification by
tire Convention of his election was brought to
vote late Thursday night, and the vote result
ted in his defeat by a large majority. The II
inois delegates admitted that he could have
never been elected, as he favored the practi-
ces OF confessionals and eucharistical adora-
ton.
Both the clerical vote and the lay vote OF
Virginia were given against the confirmation OF
DIR. Seymour. They were:
Loy.-Messrs. Hugh w. seffey, r. C. L.
Moneure, Richard Parker, Nathaniel Fl. Mas
sic.
Cze,1cal.-Revs. Charles W. Andrews, Geo.
H. Norton, J. S. Hanckel, Charles Minnege-
rode
The general charges preferred against DR..
seymour are as follows:
l. irritability of temper, not BETTING a
bishop and hindering his usefulness in that po-
sition.
2. The teaching and practice of extreme Ri
ttlalistic OF Catholic doctrines, such as the Ado
ration of the real Presence in the Sacramental
communion, private devotion at the Altar as a
token of Eucharistic Alterations the hearing of
Confession from students at the seminary over
which he tpresides, and a view Of the priestly
chara cter which is certainly far removed from
Protestant ideas. Most Of these. accusations
are warmly denied. .e5s.
The New York Tribune OF the 23rd says
hot, crJovyY fop u,
session of the General Convention was
opened, there were manifested among dele
gates and interested attendants strong hopes
that the day might end the long discussion mp
on the confirmation Of the Bishopric of Illi-
nois. But, as many were DESTROYS of speaking,
it was apprehended that decision might be
delayed many days, despite the resolution of
Wednesday ordering a vote at P. NJ. Imrne-
dately upon the close of the religious eXerc-
ses of the House OF Delegates went into secret
and until it was ascertained, about Z. NJ,
that vote was being taken, no Information
could be obtained of what. occurred Outside
there was all unusual large gathering of inter
ested people all day, and at the time the result
was announced there was a small crowd. The
subject of conversation, of course, was the
confirmation of Professor Seymour, and the
general feeling appeared to ae one OF confidence
in a vote favorable to him. AT lunch time,
when the delegates filed the yarti,- they We're
subjected to severe cross-examination in re-
gard to the vague rumors which had been Iii
the air during the forenoon, but their lips were
sealed. 1t was stated that a mass of documents
against Prof. Seymour had been brought i'll,
but that every charge had been refuted, and
hence his ''stock was rising" Another state
ment was that Prof Seymour had demanded
to be heard and that an opportunity had been
refused. One clerical delegate said, while eat
ing his lunch, that so many statements had
been made of asserted facts, only to be contra
dicted, that he had become extremely skepti-
CAL Another said that the partisan feeling
had been very high. A lay delegate was Of
the opinon that a great many, with the true
interest OF the Church at heart felt themselves
obliged to consider the influence of so many
statements, apart from their truth, as interior
ing with his duties. One said that the discuss
ion had been conducted for the sole object of
| reaching the truth, while still another COM
planned that SO much paltry gossip had been in
| PRODUCED as evidence that he was utterly dis
gusted. Nothing could be gathered as to the
! probability of a vote; the delegates all said
they hoped it would be reached.
| These remarks and rulaors lett the question
| in a very perplexing shape, though the supper
| tiers Of Professor Seymour .seemed to gather
| hope from their repeated interviews. Three
o'clock was known to be the hour for the de-
cision, and as it drew near both the crowd and
! the anxiety increased. In view Of tho irnpor-
| lance of the last hours Of debate, special care
had been taken to prevent eavesdroppng, and
| considerable merriment was occasioiied in the
| morning by the thoroughness Of the search SO
there was no hope of obtaining knowledge OF
| the proceedings. Very soon after 3P. 81. the
| door by which the delegates generally enter
\ the body OF the church was locked inside, and
| ingress or egress forbidden for the time This
| led to belief that the discussion had ended
| That a vote was being taken was confirmed by
! the sound of the clear voice of DR.. Perry as he
called the names OF the dioceses. About half
| an hour passed, While the crowd gathered in
| little, impatient knots around the door. Then
the door was opened, and as the first delegate
appeared the Information was spread that the
| election of Professor Seymour had not been
sanctioned. Each delegate IS he left the church
was eagerly questioned as to the result, and
this curiosity was easily gratifed, us most OF
them had kept individual tallies of the VOTE
The majority Of both orders, clerical and lay,
had voted against his confirmation. There was
very little discussion outside, as the delegates
married AWAY, and their aaestioners, too as
soon as they had satisfied their curiosity. Half
an hour later all had gone.
No obstacle was thrown i'll the way of OBJ
tanning the details of the vote, as after it was
all over the injunction Of secrecy was removed
from the entire secret proceedings, upon the
motion of the Rev. Archibald Beatty, OF Kan
sas. After lunch time, when the House again
resumed it's sitting, Judge Lueis B. Otis sum-
med up the arguments in favor of the confr-
nation, and spoke very eloquently in favor OF
Prof. Seymour. AS soon as his plea was fin
ished a prayer was offered by: the President,
and few minutes were spent i'll private devo-
ton by all the members. Then the formal res
olution upon which tthey were acting, that
Prof. Scymoursbe confirmed as Bishop Of Hi
nois, was read. The Rev. DIR. Perry. as Secre-
.tary, then began the calling of the dioceses by
order, first the clerical and then the lay dele
gates. One might have been apprehensive
that after so long discussion on so important
a questions there would be much impotence
during the voting, and excitement when the
result was announced, but there was no dem
onstration and when the meeting was adjourn
ed the delegates quickly and quietly dispersed.
The President announced the result, as fol-
lows:
~. CLERICAL s &c AI! VOTE. LAY VOTE
voting Al ses voting IL
In favor 10 In favor 10
Against 10 Against IS
Divided l2'l Divided 8
Ma;ority against ,3t Majority against IA
It Will be understood that the dioceses which
are divided are counted with those voting in
the negative. In order to confirm the election
concurrence OF both orders would have been
necessary. Even bad one order voted in the
affirmative and the o.ler in the negative the.
result would have been against confirmation;
here both orders concurred in the negative