Daily globe., 1878-04-19

Relative to the Seventy-Four Year Old
,,ishop Who Falls from Grace and is Ex-
posed by His Love Letters--They Were
Shocked by the kilograms in Yesterdays
"Globe"--such Conduct in Such q Man
omprcnensble--There Must be an In
vestisation and No Whitewash.
Ths GLOBE of yesterday, with it's special
te!e gram from Detroit, Mich, giving details
Of most damaging charges against Bishop
Samuel Allen McCoskrey, of the Episcopal
diocese of Michigan for more than forty
years past, created a decided sensation, in
comparison with which the recent develop
ments in the Tilton-Reecher scandal sank
into insignidcance, for the time being, aud
the pros and cons of this latest and most
astounding ministerial fall, was the general
topic of conversation and discussion by the
general public.
Approaching tho interest that would be
felt, especially in church circles, in every
thing calculated to throw light upon the
''true inwardness'' of Bishop McCoslrey,
md these astounding developments, GLOBE
reporter was dispatched upon an interview
ing tour. Naturally the reporter first sought
out the Gignitaries of the church, his first
call being upon Rev. w. P. Ten Brock, rector
of Christ's church, who was found at his
residence, z2l Franklin street. The rever-
end gentleman received the reporter with
his proverbial courtesy and frarkness, and in
answer to tho reporters statement of the object
of his visit, freely and unreseryedly gave bis
views, the interview being of the general
conversational order. No attempt is made
here to give Mr.. Ten Broec&'s exact Ian
guage, but the reporter feels confident that
be has preserved most correctly the views
expressed byhim.
MIR. Ten Broecz said that the first intima-
tlon he had, or lspicion even, of the charges
against Bishop McCoskrsy, Or Of there being
the least ground for such charges, was in the
publication Of thu GLOBE. He did not know
the bishop personally, but his long and
brilliant in:sterial career, his great learn
ing, eminent abilities, and successful labors
had made his name, d household word in
the church. As to the charges, he, or any one
else, could not, or at least ought not, in his
opinion, to pronounce Judgment until the
whole facts had been developed by the
church trial that must necessarily follow the
publication of the charges. The charges
as given in the telegram, were, or appeared
to be, entirely circumstantial, and from s
careful reading, he said they looked to him
TO use slang term, to be ''little thin.'
Against them. in forming an opinion, until
all the facts are brought out, should be plac-
cd the bishops long and successful minis
81 ~ - II, u l
taken into consideration was the age
Of the bishop, TX years, anC
his poor health, compelling him to give uI
his diocesan visitations for the past two o1
three years. For these reasons, Mr. Ter
Broeck thought judgment should be sus
pended, and the accused given the benefit O
doubts for the present.
Continuing the conversation Ia an in
formal way, Mr.. Ten Brock remarked that
taking the ground that the charges had nc
reol foundation upon which to rest, the trap
or false position, into which Bishop Nc
Coskrey found himself, was one into which
it was easy to fall, for a man Of his dispo
si!ion. He is represented as man of . mos
cheerful, sunny disposition, and free, eas,
manners. His long intimacy witt
his flock, his acquaintance with their private
griefs and joys, and tho thousand and one
paternal attentions, SO natural to one in his
position, is very liable to lead to q freedom
Of intercourse, easily distorted into wrong
doing, when the, motives and the acts il
themselves we're the purest aud best.
Take, said MIR. Ten Brock, the case o.
Bishop Orderdonk, of New York, which oc
Cured some 35 years ago. In his case, long
association with the members of his flock
his kindness of heart-and naturally free
and easy manners, resulted in a scanda
similar in many respects to this agains
Bishop McCoskrey, and from which he was
not justified until the death OF two of ths
principal witnesses against hin
who, on their death beds, con
fessea to being parties to the
xnanufactory of the direct charges, color tc
which was given by tho free intercourse Of
the bishop with female members of his con
gregation.
As an incident i'll the warfare upon Bisho,
Olderdonl1 Mr.. TenBreck mentioned tha
on one occasion he was Summoned to visit
party in one of the lower wards OF New
York city. AS usual, the bishop prompt,
responded TO the summons. Going to til.
vicinity Of the place designated, he could nc
ind the particular house, and be stepped il
to drug store to inquire. The clerk CAV,
tho required directions, but being
asked him if he was &C
quainted with the character Of the house
Upon the bishop answering no, the clerk in
formed him that it was a house of prostitu
ton. Another incident mentioned by A1r
len Brock, where a minister's free gocia
Intercourse with his congregation was use<
10 disgrace him,wa that Of Aaron Burr, who
Eeconing angered at certain Philadelphi;
divine, nlred d courtezan to make an ap-
pointment with him, Burr having his spies
in wait to testify against hiro.
The effect of the charges would necessari
ly be thorough investigation by the hous,
Of bishops Under the rules OF the church
neighboring bishops would be compelled to
make preliminary investigation, and ,e
port to the house of bishops, by whom tn,
trial would be had, the bishop not being
amenable to his diocese. There would bt
no delay in the matter, the rules of th,
church being very imperative in such cases
The house Of bishops is already called tc
meet in New York city in June, to consider
Bishop McCoskrey's resignation, rendered
some six weeks since, for the osten
a'ble reason Of failing health, and it wei
probable action on the charges would the1
be had.
The above, in substance, are the views O
Mr.. Ten Broeck, given with perfect freedom
as above stated. To sum up, Mr. Tel
Brock acknowledged t@at Bishop Nc
Coskrey may be guilty of the offences charg
ed, but his high standing in the church
great learning, eminent ability, kindness O
heart, and his long life of earnest goot
works, all opposed such conclusion.
.-r&l - -
Rec, e. &, Thomas