, 1875-03-07
PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF A
BISHOP.

cAS THE CONVENTION oE sTANDE<a COMMITTEES
CONSIDER THEM?
The following IS letter written to layman Of
this Diocese by tho Rev. William Rudder, D. D..
Rector Of St. Stephens Church, PA1ladelphia,
On the legal right Of the General Convention
and Of the several Standing Committees to con-
slider the personal qualifications Of Blsbcp-
elect. and to assent TO- or refuse assent to- his
conservation. Although tho subject haa been
already discussed to some extent, yet tho reco3-
nized ability Of Dr. Rudder warrants the puhli-
cation OF his argument, which is az follows:
PHILADELPHIA, Feb 15.-DEAR SrR: Your letter OF
the 18th inst reached day two ago. In this
used in the lsto Special Convunt1on Of The Diocese Of
illinois, to effect the election OF Dr.: De Koycn Was
thts; that his speech in tho General Convention sat-
In reply, would strnp1y say that WIS not katds-
fed with the sate.nent concerning Eucharist: Doc
tine made by Dr. Dc Koyen IN the @ase General Con-
yeut1on. It was not statement which could ae-
cept. But. as then understood it,-for have not
seen the BttnoRr7phic report OF the deb4tes-t was
Sf 1s bis Tes ~. - r. IN
posed fact WAS glad to recognize and 1t gave no
great pleasure publicly 70 cal attention to H. and 70
In regard to Tho general subject matter Of fyow
letter permit mo to mats the following
The position, assumed BY the majority, OF alleged
majority, Of the Convention OF tte Diocese Of Illinois
vit tho purpose Of adecting ii possible, The czso of
Dr.. Do Kovea, is, in my Judgment
Their Interpretation OF the Churchs Law, md their
denial under that Interpretation, ct the light Of tho
s.adiae o: tho seTersi poeesss % % ca ane
aider the personal qualifications Of Eshop-eleet,
and, should the result Of such consideration b. M
satisfactory, to refuse theT consent to his ousec1
ton, are, u say the least, coetzlnea in tta
Church Our most learned eanoniz.a soon never to
haYe heard of them.
II will not be necessary, in this discussion to fnoure
wh.t ~ tho @ re a. psaeee Of the Early Church In
~ OF to determine the precise weight snd author
t.y Allowed to tho voice Of the lay In Episcopal e;eo
With tho Provincial synod composed Of he Arcib.on
and tho Bishops Of his Province. But 1t seenaa eta
certsin that the power Of tho peops In determining the
choice Of Btsoo was very great 20 great indeed that
it sometimes out into violenrs aud open tumult
They had FSorcr sut1raze" in the election Of the
Btshof .no Vh3teveE might b the power or authory
upon them without their consent Scholars dier Il
true concerning tho Precise extent limitations Of
fact seems to b well settled, "that"-ss Bingham,
with bis usual jndiciousness, has statel it-.theze
times and places shout this matter, hut tho practice
varied according to tre dEe-rt cxgenrea and ctrcun
stances Of The Church" Evtdsny, .hsa. The election
ANAL decision to the Episcopal College Of The PruT1nco
-aro not aach matters OF fundamental principle to
ever thete may be dstetmined to hare bean, binding
upon Ill Churches In al aGos Rather they 70 ba
1eetened @ amonz those thugs ~hieh y T. entirely xh
strange and determine for ITSELF
Now, there hto
which MY be taken OF the General Conyeot1on ia
may regard it ~ the highest Council Of National
Church Of re ny ,egsrd Re- it. Is Provincial synod.
fon as forming Province. This last Il rni,tat.
not, Is tho r!ew taken by Hr. Murray Hoffman In