Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-07-30
Bishop Whitfinsham's Case.
COMMENCEMENT OF TIE INyEsrIGArGo

COMMENCEMENT OF THE INYESTIG ALTON
In Episcopal Church circles yesterday the
great topic OF conversation was the meeting
of the board of inquiry, appointed BY Presid-
ing Bishop Smith TO Investigate the charges
against Bishop Nottingham. The eminent
standing of the latter in the FpiScoual
Church added 10 the interest taken in The
proceedings of the board. This interest is
rot oaly local, but prevails throughout the
Episcopal Church in this country. The
board of inquiry assembled yesterday morn
ing in the lecture room OF Grace Church
corner Park and Monument streets. of which
Rev. DIR. Leeds Is rector. Thirteen OF the six
teen members OF the bOarU were present
u was almost impossible TO set any informal
ton relative 10 chat tranSpired during the
SesSiO OF the hOard, as ali the members were
extremely TetlC1ut, stating that the cOnSid-
cred themselves interd icted by the canon
from giving the least iukling of their pro-
ceedings. They would not even tell the re-
pOrteFs what officers had been elected on the
pcrlecting Of tie organization.
ON organizing, Kew. Or. Charles Breck, OF
" -IStOrO', Pa. diocese of Central Penn
syiNafia.) was elected chairman. Ii is un-
derStCod that church advocate was ap-
pointed, WHO II was supposed by some wOuil
be selected to fill This position. While the
tOard was organizing, the prosecutors and the
WitI eSSeS were without, and II was fully half
past one in the afternoon before they were
admitted to the lecture room. The case OF
the preSentOrS was submitted by Rev. Dr.
Alfred NJ. Randolph. The dOcUmenta. V evil
aence was very voluminOus, and DIR. Ran
uOlph had not finished his reading at AIS D.
m, when the board adjourned at O'Clock u
IN. Among those present besides those above
named were Rev. George A. Leakin, rector
of Trinity church, Baltimore, and Rev. John
+. Hof, ID. D., rector OF Trinity church, Tow
SCntown.
The board met again promptly at O'Clock
and Rev.DT. Randolph continued the reading
OF the case of the prosecutors. 1t was also un-
derstoOd That one witness was examined
Tie evening Sc sion was not concluded until
II o'clCc-,, when the board adjourned TO meet
again this morning. Rev. DR.. Leeds who II
ii is expected Will be one of the witnesses
was not present at the meeting Yesterday
but will most probably be in attendance be-
fore the final adjournment, as will also Rev
Augustus L. Stryk er, rector of St. Barnaba
church, baltimore, who has been summoned
as witness,
AS the investigation is entirely an ex parte
one, somewhat similar TO an Investigation
by grand jury, Bishop Nottingham will,
OF course, rot be present, either in person or
y counsel, at any stage OF the proceedings.
The board has nothing TO do with the agra
vatiOns or pallatiOnS of the bishops alleged
offence, and will merely determine whether
the facts as presented by the prosecutors are
true, and whether, if such be the case, they
are Of sufficient gravity 10 Justify trial OF
The bishop by q court OF seven bishops, to be
drHwn in the manner laid down in the can
Ons. Should the board come to the cOuclu-
sion that the charges are sustained and that
trlal OF the bishop is necessary, the latter
will take place IN this city. The advocates
OF the bishops course are very confident that
the board of Inquiry will sustain the right
reverend preiate in the position he has as
Sumed, that ii is discretionary with him,
under the canon on the subject, 10 bring an
accused clergyman 10 trial when presented
10 him by standing com mittee.
ore enthusiastic admlrer of the bishop said
he was sure that eleven out of the sixteen
votes, II all the members were present, could
be relied on in favor of the bishop. He based
this calculation on three votes from the do
Cese of Mary land, four votes from the diocese
OF Plttsburg, two votes from the diocese OF
Virginia, and two from the diocese OF central
Pennsylvania. On the other hand, those who
favor the course the prosecutors have pursued
are equally confident that the board of In
CURRY Will decide that the charges against
the bishop of a violation OF canonical law are
fully proven, and that he be tried by court
of his peerS-BGH. american, 30th.