New-York tribune., 1879-11-22
BL1uELESS BISHOP.

The Protestant Episcopal Church OF this diocese
will this day mark proper and pious manner
the twentyffth anniversary Of the conservation OF
ITS present excellent head. and Tuesday next
there will be further observances. The whole COM
munity, without religious distinction, will be in
tercsted IN this recognition of work well done under
circumstances of peculiar delicacy and difficulty.
Bishop Potter has been temperate when rashness
would have been easy, and cOncIlatory when he
might have been offensive Though sometimes sOrely
tried. either by those of his clergy who went too
far OF by those who did nor 30 far enough In their
ideas of priesty duty he has been sparlng and ten
derly paterna in hIs rebukes Patient under occa-
sional provOcation, he has steered his way between
Tractaran and Tepidarean, without scandalous
collision.
Far be 1t from us to intimate that Bishop
Potter has been. in any offensive of the word,
a trimmer The most minute inspection of
his record Will discover great principle
neglected. no true position abandoned 10 rule
of he church conveniently dIsregarded. st the
samo time he has not been q fretful cipinarian
scodlng from the rising Of the sun until the going
down of the same infusing all the affairs of the
diocese with pOemic spirit; eagerly hunting for
eccontrcities OF Irregularities of ritual putting
himself perpetually upon his Episcopal dignity
He has not acted rs if true soldier Of the Cross
must be, like some military martinez monomanIac
upon the subject Of pipe-Jlay and buttons
forever brandishng his crock, as if it were
a drill-sergeant's baton, at tie high who
were too high. at tine broad who were too broad and
az the low who would not come up an inch higher
and who were by no means ayerse to a little com
Portable martyrdom. If he had pleased he might
have made the history of his administration one
long series of Celebrated Cases of the ecclesiastical
sort. He might have rc,oluely refused TO set foot
IN certain sacred editices until there had been
complete Encouragement of their affairs. He
might have abseuted himself until ali the
candles had been extngulshed. the cruci-
fixes taken down. and the vestnents re-
ducod to plain uniformity Of white
and black. He might have denounced an intona-
ton of the service. the employment of incense and
the frequent use OF the sign Of the Cross. Indeed
las might have been afraid If Rome and SO sharp
In the expression of his lear, to senC more than
one Of his churches, rector, wardens, and all, in
that direction. On the other hand, he mi ght have
made matters exceedingly unpleasant for such of
his clergy and OF Their congregations as care for
none OF these things for those who minister wher-
ever they find a chance-ln Methodist
clapcls or IN Baptist C-houses-and who are
ostentatiOusly low as others are ostentatiously
high. Fortunately he has been so uniformly
amiable and has brought to the discharge of his
duties such uncommon common sense, that at the
end of TWENTY-FIVE years remar kable Tor new views
and much religions speculation he does not stand
respons ole for single schism and has had hardly
one important desertion. II there are those who
think that this has been an thing to do it Is
because they know nothing abont the matter.
IL is for his own people to extend Co shop Potter
their particular congratulations bus all who desire
decency and order, who are scandalized by the
spectacle of church quarrels. who love TO see men
consistent in creed and conduct. and who think
peacemakers to be indeed blessed. will also remem
ber in "A kindly spirit this amIaDle prelate. We will
not say that after HIM will come tie deluge but
when at last he Is called to his rewar-distant
be the day I've do think that his place will be
a hard one to refill. He will. however, leave the
legacy of his example. He has shown that to pa
tience to wisdom and to Christian love nothing Is
impossible. Tie has made the way Of his successor
easy. if only that shall find grace 10 fol-
low IL