The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-25
JAMES DekOVEN.

1t is absurQly and extensively stated, that
the Rev. DR.. DeKoven "has tried to be a
bishop" that he has tenaciousy pushed
his claims for office, that he has been "a
candidate for almost every vacancy that
has occurred for several years, and every
time he has failed of an election" Nothing
could be more absurd or untrue. Nothing
but maiguancy could make such charge.
He has never 'iried to he 4 bishop" he
never has pushed his claims : in the Of
fensivo sense, he has never been "a candi-
date" he has not ''cyery tin failed of an
election" 1t is true that his friends and
admirers and few men have more-have
frequently presented his name for the
episcopate it is fact that he has several
times been elected bishop on the part of
the clergy, and once, at least, by both the
clergy aud laity, but never has he sought
the Office or 'pushed his claims" thereto.
He is not made of that stuff. The clergy
have selected him for bishop, not he the
episcopate. lie is the fartherest removed
lAOlli OiiiNS 0tIhNl tuNt IL 10 JOsslDlC iOI
aman to be. His very speech, that caused
the non-confrma,ion of his election, proves
this. Knowing the feeling of The church,
as he does, would sane mainland DR..
Dekoyen Is not insane--havc made the
"bald" utterance he did if he was ''push-
ing his claims or ''trying to he bishop ?"
The very idea is absurd. Few clergymen
of any denomination Of christians can
equal James DcKoven in purity of life,
blamelessness of character, unselflshness
of motive, or in the patient discharge of
duty as he understands duty. If his views
have changed, if his opinions have been
misrepresentcd, is he TO be wantonly
charged with being ''bishopric seeker"
because his friends, not himself, propose
to explain and correct As teacher of
young men his success has been unbound
ed. AS a clergyman, he wins the conf
dence and affection of all who come within
the sphere of his influence-be they men,
bers of his own congregation or not, be
they high or low church, Congregational
lists, Baptsts or Methodists. Few clergy
men can boast of wider or more influen-
tial circle of friends, and he is beloved
the most where he is known the best.
Would that there were more clergymen
like him save in respect TO the particular
'errors in religion" which he is said to
hold, And these "errors," be 1t said, he
never Extensively intrudes ON others, but
contents himself with preaching "Christ
and Him cruci1ed." Gushing his claims"
and trying to be bishop" is he? What
then shall be said of Rev. DR.. Jaggar lie
did write letter, pending his confirmation,
explaining and apologizing for his letter to
Rev. Mr.. Cheney-but that was all right,
no one ever wanted him for bishop be-
fore The several dioceses, through their
standing committees, refused assent to the
conservation of DR.. DeKoven, and we
think their action was exactly right, but
we venture to say that every vote was re-
luctantly cast against him, and that only
the sternest sense Of duty led 10 his rejec-
ton. Each and every of those votes were
given by men who respected James De-
Koyen as man. loyed him as a brother,
and were ready TO fellowship with him as
clergyman-but they could not set him
over the church as one of its heads, they
could not endorse his peculiar doctrines,
and it is well. Because he may be mis-
taken in his religious or doctrinal views, i.
that any reason why he should be bounded
Oh to his death Because his friends and
admirers sought TO make him q bishop, is
he 10 be cast out ? Because the church al
large were not prepared 10 accept him as
one of their chief teachers, has he sunk SC
low that even his friends cannot speak @
good word for him, cannot defend him from
misrepresentation and abuse So II seems