Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-06-18
The Late Convention Of the Protest.
ant Episcopal Church, held In
Grace Church. Cedar Rap
ids. May Is to 2S,
YmC1usjvn

The Late Convention Of the Protest.
ant Episcopal Church, held in
Grace Church. Cedar Rap
ids. May Is to 2S,
Inclusive.
EDITOR BULLETIN-Permit me "a lit
tic space in your valuable journal, while,
for the benefit of those interested, l en-
deavor to correct some impressions which
not only do injustice to number OF the
clergy In the Diocese, but also to num-
Der of the Lay Delegation in that conven-
| ton
| do not propose TO utter single word
to shield from we'll merlted rebuke those
brethren whose conduct has been so just
ly, but none too severely, criticised, unless,
perhaps, to remark, in passing, that with
two or three exceptions, they were young
in years, and hence, lacking in judgment,
and, as a consequence, their zeal was
not according to knowledge, and, 1t may
be, that in reference to their assistants,
of maturer years, that in their own per-
sons they have, ere this, realized the truth
of the old proverb: "Once a man, but
twice child"
But with these exceptions there was
not single clergyman present in that con-
yention that did not from first to last pre-
serve that demcanor and spirit becoming
the christian gentlemen, and the ambassa-
dor of the meek and lowly One; and what
is true of the clergy is equally true of the
entire lay delegation. And permit me to
say, Mr.. Editor, that this is not only true
of the last convention, but of the twelve
preceding ones.
1t was said in the city of New York by
our late lamented Bishop Lee, when pre-
siding over meeting of the Trustees of
the General Theological Seminary, that a
more intelligent, dignifed body of men
than those composing his own Diocesan
convention, he had never been called to
preside over Hence the humiliation and
sorrow which is ours, when the slightest
ripple appears, even for moment in the
placid stream
Now for the facts in the case; in refer
ence to the matter of election of Bishop
The whole of the clergy have, by reports
in Dubuque and other papers, as we'll as
in published journal of proceedings, from
Journal Office, Anamosa, been accused of
having obtained by an unfair device, the
election of DR.. Eccleston. Now, as one
out Of eleven who did not vote for the
Bishop elect, pronounce that statement
not only incorrect, but false, issue from
where it may. need not say single
word in defense of any one of the number
their record is before the world, and
their position and influence in the Diocese
as workmen that needeth not to be asham-
ed is known and read of all men, and is
the best vidication they can have For
by their fruits shall We know them.
Now, word in regard to the so-called
bartering of votes. Permit me to say that
as soon as the President of Convention
declared Dr. Eccleson elected, (although
not having voted for HIM, I rose and
moved that his election be made unani.
nous, to which the Hon. ]. NJ. Griffith, of
Dubuque, objected, and assigned as his
reason the fact that he had heard that
there had been bartering of votes. After
some little discussion in order to the dis
covery of the truth of the rumor, one of
the lay delegates, the Hon. NJ. T. Will
liams, of Oskaloosa, rose and explained
the whole matter. The facts, as given by
Mr.. W., are as follows: Judge Negus
who claims to have been led astray by his
Bro of the legal fraternity, had been &C.
quainted with him for over thirty years,
and, as consequence, were free to discuss
matters without reserve. Mr.. Williams,
in his own peculiar vein, says: Judge,
this thing is dragging along; guess you
and me had better settle it. Now, you
vote for my man, and l will vote for
yours" The Judge demurs, but said if
he would vote his man straight, he
would vote for his man. Says Mr. W:
81 tell you, Judge, we will give you all
three Of our votes" Now, this looks at
present very like barter; but when it is
known that Mr. Williams had no man,
that he had not cast vote for over three
hours, and also the fact that although each
Parish is entitled TO three lay delegates,
yet it only has one vote, it will be plain
to all unprejudiced minds that Judge Ne
gus, with these facts before him, seeing an
increase of three lay votes for his own
candidate on the next two ballots, out of
the largcness of his heart, voted for the
opposing candidate, on the third ballot
that he did SO without any influence, aside
from the desire to reciprocate the kind
ACSS VI lid IlACAO- LAuO, ultuOuSA VuC
lay vote was increased just that number
of votes, it was was not by the vote of
Mr. Williams or his friend, for he stated
emphatically that he had not voted or Ia
ken any interest in the election for three
hours, and he quite as emphatically dis
claimed any intention of influencing any
mans vote one way or another, SO, it will
be seen, there was no barter, but an at
tempted joke, and it was at the moment,
and is now SO understood by the majority
of the convention. And so satisfied was
some of the most cautious and careful
men in that body with Mr.. Williams ex-
PLANTATION, that the Hon. H. K Love, Esq,
of Dubuque, moved that the election of
DR.. Eccleston be declared unanimous
and l need scarcely add that there was no
evidence before the convention that any
man or men, Lay or Clerical, had made
or thought of making any proposition for
the purpose of affecting the result, aside
from the one recounted, which, for one, /
firmly believe had no such end in view.
And now, word in regard to the Pro
test and the Parishes protesting. Permit
me to say that the eleven Parishes pro-
VCStkuS wv INV, Ala AuAAOCA VI .
or in the amount of material aid and sup
port, constitute large portion of the
wealth Of this Diocese, as was stated in a
postscript to said document, where is is
claimed that they represent at least one
half of the wealth and influence Of the Di-
ocese. Let us give few statistics from
reports of last journal of Convention,
1874.
From report of Treasurer of Bishops
fund and Convention fund, it appears that
So, 290.52 was received on account of the
former, and $516.87 on account of the
latter funds. Total, 2,707 80, of which
amount the protesting parishes paid $685.
%, or a little over one fifth of the
amount.
Next let us turn to the report of
Treasurer of Diocesan Mission. Total
amount received $1,143.59. Total from
protesting Parishes received on account of
same, $62 40, or less than one eighteenth
of the amount; and in the spiritual exhib-
it, the ratio is not as large as in the secu.
lar exhibit
think from this exhibit, the influence
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