The New York herald., 1876-12-24

ocNutnnS aaIucu AZ sthtc VI snin6ps
dissatisfaction is expressed all Sides and an in-
crcasng Apprehension arising to the consequences
that Inevitably follow this practice A. the last
Convention when the rule of for the election Of
officers reached, suddenly, and to q large number
present unexpectedly, printed tickets were pro-
fus1iy circuiaied which, as the sequel plainly
proved, were gotten up IN secret caucus. print
ed and successfully engineered through by this very
party. IL may possibly be said that others did the
same thing. II so II would be Justification Of the
act Tb whole system carried ON Ia this diocese Is
unjust its members disgrace to the Church and
dishonor God. In the the writer knows Il
DONE II done in the other he Is ignorant OF tne
act could he learn upon the most careful inquiry.
does ne believe that any caucus but that referred
TO- with its lay cooperative branch, wns held BY any
other party in connection with the last Convention
ddrng It's session, or at any other time.
This state Of things blot upon the far tame OF
Church, and insult To the intelligence OF our
aiy many OF whom have been her most liberal bene-
factors, and have grown gray IN her service. inc
writer has been in the active ministry more than
quurter OF century. He has claim taste talent
ambition for any Office In the Church save that oi
rector OF parish But he has rights with every other
clergyman tho diocese, and the aity have rignts
which he and they feel have been grossly violated.
first by few cergymen in the diocese meeting 10.
gether and ransacting the business OF
the Convention unknown to nine-tenths OF ITS mem-
bers; and secondly that these men, by their manpu-
latons In that caucus ID fulfment OF threat pre-
yously made, and against The known wishes OF
the Church at large, alter having nominated
Committee and from the General Convention OF one Of
the abcst and most distinguished aymen In The dio
cesc simply because he declined when a memocr oil
the Standing Committee to concur In the election OF
prominent rituast TO the office of n bishop.
One OF the gentlemen elected by this caucus has con-
demned, and others, II Is believed, Will, when they
learn the facts, most cmphatically condemn the whole
proceeding
tion that attaches TO political e, a few Of the dele
gates chosen should meet together in secret caucus
without The knowledge and TO the exclusion OF the
other delegates, aud nominate themselves for oicc
Just would be aroused against them and
must be thought when such things occur in the
house OF God and by cIcrgymon OF The Protestant
Episcopal church,
Let Us suppose a case. written call for a secret
caucus, signed by clergyman Vi the diocese IS issued
and sent 10 the faithful lew who In s'the ring"
The place ch Tor the caucus IL the rcctory Of an
other clergyman who Is thousands OF miles away from
home at the time and ignorant Of what is going on
The of meeting the evening Of the day preceding
the Convention. Tho is neid and tickets pre-
pared and gwen to Of their number to be printed
The morning following these cergymen arrayed in
their surpces enter the church. pass up the aisle IN
solemn procession go INTO the sanctuary ana there re-
semblcd the ccnsecrated elements OF Chrst's body
and blood. Tho service over aud the con
cregation dismissed for the election OF officers
arrives. Suddenly these printed tickets, prepared IN
this secret caucus actively circulated, with many
whispcrings, all dlrectons the names OF the voters
are quickly called by the secretary; member OF the
Convention quickly proposes that the polis DC closed
and the result by the teers shows that the
cergymcn who called the caucus, got up the tickets
and nominated themselves arc elected us faithful SER
wants discharge the business OF The house OF Cod
and nds currency that one Of them IS soon
to DO candidate for the higher olllce OF assistant
bishop OF the diocese. Is 1t reasonable 10 suppose
that laymen us intelligent those represent the
Church In this will continue to submit 70 tins
state things. Many these gentlemen have given aud
are still giving hbcrally to the support OF tho Church
and her institutions. Whilc they would not consent
to have their claims asserted this ground and have
no for office, they have nevertheless right 10
full, lair and uncontrolled represen ation They are
able to Judge tor themselves. They do not wish and
will have printed tickets, gotten up in secret
caucus by the candidates themselves. put into their
hands to when they come To the Convention. One
OF the oldest and most munlhcent laymen IN the
Church :od the writer that he had 'ccased to take
any Interest In the Convention OF this diocese, as no
iound it TO be u packed body" Another
said:--sIf these men continue 10 mcet in
secret caucus, nominate themselves for Office
and control the eecons will not attend the Conven-
ton nor contribute TO any object in the Church
outside OF my own parish" Others, again. think u
unjust that missionaries, for whose support oil the
parishes in the diocese are expected 70 contribute,
should be placed condition OF dependence upon, and
cons raned TO vote for, those who secure their own
nomination and election by such means, by whom the
missionaries appointed and funds ior their support
disbursed There was time IN the history OF the oid
diocese when tns condition of things now OBJ
jected existing IN the new and under the same
control forced the clergy and aity TO form separate
and distinct missionary organization. That organza
ton was merged into the Diocesan Board of Missions
under the most solemn assurance that the practices
complained OF would be discontinued and the rights of
the clergy and aity throughout the diocese regarded
That compact trustngly entered into and faithfully
kept by the one party. has been violated and dsre
garded by other Is II not time that this system
of caucusng, sel-nomination printed tickets
and controlling votes, with tire long train OF dscredt-
will If continued follow in the future, be discontinued
and forever settled In tLs diocese? II II bc not the
spiritual life OF the Church will wane the channels OF
her revenue become dry and her members sink into
listess apathy and indlnerence or, aroused In her
majesty and strength sense Of her dshonor, she
will bring forth her travail such fruit as will vndl
cate her honor the glory Of her blessed Founder
to the dlsmay and confusion Of those by whom the
wrong perpetrated and upon whom the responsible
ity must rest "
CHURCH ENTERPRISE IN CHICAGO.
Between Twentieth street and Superior street, Chi
cago, distance OF nearly three miles through the
heart OF the city, there has not been Presbyterian
church for several years. Lately, however, the
Presbyt have started ono on State street.
Fourteenth street. iniw known the old Railroad
chapel, one OF the most attractive and convenient
church buildings to be found the city. Tho build
ing has front Of three and mansard roof and
basement. The auditorium s in tho rear, and IS
reached by wide entrance between two stores or
at first designed or stores. One OF these, how
ever II Is intended TO FREQ reading room
and the other as an inquiry aud prayer ROOM
The second door OF the trout building has rooms
suitable for offices and 10 also used Tor
dustriaI school, IN which over 200 young girls
taught sew, and great good is being done there
every Saturday by number OF excellent lacy teach
ers. The third story s used for temperance lodge
rooms The church and school room IN tho is
model The pulpit is opposite the door, and behind It
s the organ twenty feet high. On each side Of the
gan pair OF winding stairs TO the gallery. The
room IS SIXTY by ninety feet and w'li seat 1000
ant lighted in the evening by eight chan
decrs and in the day time by twenty
windows In the side walls and nfty small windows
IN the clcre.story. The roof and galleries sup
ported by sixteen iron columns The seats are Of
white ash and cherry. Every second has
sblc back, Tor Sunday school purposes This building
has been erected, and the financial support OF tho
chapel and the Sunday school s secured by tho First
Presbyterian church The CHAPEL In act, 10 included
In the organization of the church, but the pastoral
charge OF that field is committed by them TO Rev.
Donald Fle cher, member of the Chicago Presbytery
and form " n mn m RI ha
CHURCHLY CHANGES
The Rev. G. A. Koppcrnagel is building ss6, 600
Catholic church, capable of accommodating 5000. for
st. Lawrence parish. Harrisburg Pa His present 30
cicty. however, number only sixty families, but he
hopes to gather In many others besides The People
have planned beyond their ability to pay and now the
pastor appeals 10 the outside world for aid. He pro-
poses to schance' building lot which he owns 81