, 1875-08-22

WHAT IT WILL HAVE TO DO.
To the Editor Of The Chicago 1,1oune:
CHICAGO, Aug, 20.-Cauon Knowles, as Secre-
tary OF the Convention Of Illinois, has issued
his notice for the regular annual meeting Of the
Convention Tuesday, Sept. II. and the election
Of Bishop, or putting the diocese in commits
zion, are some OF the questions which occupy the
minds Of Episcopalians in the diocese, 60 that
it's regular aud legitimate business falls quite
into the background. These questions have
been almost inevitably excited bE the circular il
sued some time ago by Messrs. Judd, Sheldon,
Larrabee, and Page to all the clergy and pa1ish-
es whom they supposed they could influence,
and subsequently published Ia Tnk CHICAGO
TRIBUNE ard Times. They have been intensi-
fed by au interview with Chancellor Judd, re-
ported il TIE TRIBUNE last week, and repeated
with indignation, excited by the cool impudence
OF 3 leading editorial in the Times Of Sunday,
Aug. Is.
All these things suggest to US review OF the
situation Of the Diocese Of Illinois within the
last year since the death Of its late Bishop
Wbitehouse, more particularly With reference to
its fruitless efforts to obtain Bishop, what is
now proposed, and what are the prospects in
that direction. Thesa events have now become
matter OF history. Prof. Seymour, OF the New
York Theological Seminary, was, on the 16th OF
September, 1874 declared to be elected Bishop
by the Convention Of Illinois, then in session.
The legality OF this election has been called in
question, and la very doubtful, the lay vote being
yitiated by the votes OF the Chancellor Of the
Diocese AMI the Chancellor Of the Cathedral, to
both OF which strong objections have been made,
and without which Prof. Seymour did not re-
ceiYe majority Of all the votes cast. NotNith-
ssanuoS tnss tae cteoentals OF f1of. oeJmouE
IS blslop~elect OF Illinois were forwarded to the
General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. convened in the f,tv NJ Nav York in
Octoher 1874 acoo,a;a, - 49, rsn.+;tr+;aa
~ ' Ca .oto4us W tuo oo1'S>ueou 80.
United States, no one can be acknowledged
as the Bishop Of any Diocese in said Church un-
1osa h;s e,ecr;on baa ham ,,,rouoa hr Tho c.,.
a..1 can~sst,o1 ",s. o"e1 aps4osoo ~ 40 o1n
e'0A 1oH oooa "non ~ nesn4ou' " oo1iuS 10
recess by majority OF the Standing Committees
OF lho fully organized Dioceses OF the same. 4
concurrence Of both orders, liberal and lay, is
also required for such action in the General
Convention. After careful examination and
full discussion OF his character aud qualifications
Prof. Seymour failed to obtain the vote neces.
sarJ for his confirmation, and 40 the Diocese OF
Illinois continued without Bishop. To meet
this difficulty Special Convention OF the Diocese
VAS called ana held from the ID 10 the 9th OF
February, 1875.
At this Convention Dr. De Koyen was pro-
posed IS candidate for the vacant Dishopric
To this nomination it Vas objected that he
was obnoxious to the same objections as Prof.
Seymour, and that there vas no probability Of
his being approved By the Staining Committee
Of the Church il rs were elected. That Prof.
Seymour had been rejected BY the General Con
vention on account Of his connection with the
Rituaiistic movement, and that, although Prot.
81 many ardent friends who represented hin |
charges, yet be- could not obtain the vote neces-
eary for his confirmation as Bishop OF Illinois;
but that the position of Tr Ia Koven WA rnch
more objectionable than that Of Prof. seymour,
the Church as the abest leader and rnost |
ingenious defendeS Of Ritualsm. That il /
was in fact bis apeeches, al least "a |
much as anything else, that created the e1- |
citemen., and determined the action Of the |
~ ~.