The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1878-05-10
Bishop Clarkson on McCoskry.
From an interview with Bishop Clarksou
published in the Omaha Herald.

From an interview with Bishop Clarksou
published in the Omaha Herald.
'"The papers have made Il mistake
in regard To the estimation in which
Bishop McCOsllry was held in the
church. He was never considered as
profound q thinker, scholar or theO-
logian as Bishop Coke or Hunting
ton, but he was most esteemed for hi-
geniality and warm-heartedness. n"
was educated at West Point, and ad
dignified and commanding air. h
was the finest looking man ON the
Board of Bishops, and they all loved
him like brother on account of his
geniality, generosity and Kindness
al see that there are reports in some
of these papers that he has been ac-
cused of this kind of thing before"
81 never heard Of any such things.
He was universally esteemed and
loved, lie is known in every town in
Michigan. II there had ever been
any such talk certainly would have
heard it,"
"He is very old man"'
'N e.; SeVentY~fuVT years old"
"WhCu | saw him three years ago
he seemed to be rather feeble.n
"Wcll, he is rather well preserved
for a man of such great age. OfcOUTSe,
the weight OF 50 many years tells upon
him. 1t seems impossible that such q
man should f3ii; but | will notsay i'm
possible for you know that even one OF
the apostles fell. 1t may be possible,
but it ought TO be proved before ere
dence should be given to it. / have
seen nothing in The reports that salts
lies me that he has been guilty of
crime. He was a man of full generosi-
ty. He was always helping every
body in every grade ef society, high
and low, who appealed to him. He
always went about doing good, This
has hGen his reputation for years"
,N hen did lie resign his office of
Bishop?n
"Abont four weeks since. 1t was
on the 10Th of March,"
"Have you heard of this befOre?'
81 had heard slight intimations that
there was some trouble, and met tlle
Rev. Mr.. Harris, who is Ola this com
mittee. asked hun if his brother
had written him anything, and he
said, Not a word Now, DIR. Harris
is one OF the committee in whose hands
these letters were placed, and he had
kept it so close that he had Aut even
informed his brother concerning it. So
you see that i Mas impossible for the
rerCIIeG 10 have had access to them"
"Bishop McCOskry's resignation ha4
not boen accepted yet, has it2
18th of June tC Consider the matter"
"TLis whole matter will have to
come up then, will it not?"
"Nes, the law is worry clear on that
point. ! Gays that the Bishops can
reason assigned for the resignation,
but may inquire into any other; and
tilis matter will have to come before
them"
"What is the procedure la such
cases?T
'.in the tirst place there is what you
might ,att q grand jury, who hear the
evidence in the case, and if they find
that there Is sufficient evidence they
bring in verdict. TheU there j. a
jury of eleven Bishops chosen Who
hear the evidence. Roth the church
and the accused have q right to ap-
| pear with counsel, Hud an OppOrtuui-
| ty is given to bring out all the evil
dencC,N
"How many Bishops arc thcre?r
"There are sixty; but three Of them
are Missionary Bishops. One iS in
| China, one in japan and one in Afri-
| ca; 50 oulY uny-seVCn will take part
il inc proceedings.
tWhat effect will this have Oh the
ChWcI?7
"Of course, it is very sad thing.
1t will give men of the world an op-
portunity 10 scoh and smeeF at Chris
| tianity. have felt very badly since
| heard it, The last two days have
J been the saddest days the church has
| ever seen in America, but I do not
think it permanent injury, If Bishop
McCoskry is guilty, it can be proved
without doubt, and he Will not be
permitted to resign. He will be de-
posed from the ministry. And when
the world sees that even the Teputa-
| ton, standing the influence of such "A
man VIII not save him, Aut the
! Church will not cundOne such crimes,
it must command respect. Ii the
Bishop is guilty, nothing can save
! hinl.f