The New York herald., 1879-11-23
PASTOR AND FLOCK.
Bishop Potter and His People United
in a Service of Praise.
IMPRESSIVE OBSERVANCES AT TRINITY
The Climax of Quarter Centuys
Episcopal Work

Rarely has the cathedral capacity Of old Trinity
appeared better advantage than it did yesterday
when multtudes of this city and vicinity. not only
of Bishop Potter's own diocese and church. but OF
other churches and denominations. focked thither
to do honor to him who has honored and served his
Church in her highest office tor quarter Of CEN
tury. Long before the advertised hour of service
the people began gather from and far that
1T half-past ten O'Clock the sides of the great
church were filed with visitors. The centre aisle
pews reserved for the clergy of the diocese and
others who admitted through the centre door.
Persons not ministers were admitted by the side
doors The music OF Old Trinity. always grand,
surpassed itself yesterday. the two organs and
their trained chors pealed forth anthems Of praise
to God for preserving their Bishop to see such an
hour With measured steps the procession Of choir
boys. cergymen and bishops headed by the sections
of Trinity parish in flowing black robes. emerged
from the vestry and took their places in the
chancel shortly after eleven O'Clock A. M. Bishops
Littlejohn. OF Long Island; Doane Of Albany. and
Scarborough, OF New Jersey assisted the venerable
Bishop of New York in the morning service and after
ward In the administration of Holy Communion.
The clerical members of the committee of reception,
consisting of Rev. Drs. Dix. Morgan. Hitchings,
wildes Eigenbrodt. Weston, Osgood. Eaton. Swope
and j. Cotton Smith. also occupied seats within the
chancel. Among the clergy not robed nor offciating
sat Bishop Clark. of Rhode Island; Bishop Clarkson,
of Nebraska. and Bishop Seymour. of Springfield,
ILL., Seats were reserved in front the centre aisle
for the assistant ministers of Trinity parish and
ministers in charge of mission chapels. The
lay members Of the reception committee were
represented by Messrs. Hamilton Fish. John
Jay, Lloyd W. weles George McC. Miller.
W. b. Astor, j. J. Cisco. J. NJ. Brown. ". G. Lang
q
D. Clarkson. De Lancey Kane, John Carey, Z. I.
Gerry and Pierrepont Morgan. Four pews in front.
on the southern aisle. occupied by the Potter
family including Dr. H. C. Potter. OF Grace Church;
Howard and william A. Potter. Clarkson n Potter.
Mrs. Potter. the aged wife Of the Bishop. and Miss
Annie Potter. the daughter Of the Bishop.
who. q quarter of century ago,
pied the pew to witness her fathers
conservation, and other members of the family.
The clerical committee on arriving at the chancel
gate opened ranks for the bishops to pass through
ana then followed to their own positions The
chancel was devoid of floral other extraneous
decorations two simple bouquets. The reredos
appeared to advantage through the lack Of decora.
tion the vari-colored rays of light, reflected
through the stained glass windows. played upon
it's white surface. Two altar candles stood
lighting either side OF the communion
table. Whfe the choir sang the professional hymn,
"The Strain Upraise." the officiating bishops stood
around holy table with their backs to the audi
ence. After the ''Te Deum Laudamus" had been
sung Bishop Potter read brief morning prayers and
the Ten Commandments. to which the choirs sang
the usual responses. The epistle for the day was
read by Bishop Littlejohn and the Gospel by Bishop
Doane. The "Kyrie" by Gounod was sung and the
ready published was followed strictly. The
osss G % tine the Of New Yos
were apparently quite liberal After the choirs had
sung the aist hymn lhe G9a 9L s Abraham
the laity on the committee. ascended the chancel
steps, whore they were met by Dr. Dix and the cleri-
cal members OF the committee, and thus forming .
semi-circle in front of Bishop Potter who seated
during the time. DR.. Dix read the address OF the
clergy and laity of the diocese to the Bishop.
UNITING IN PRAISE.
Having referred to the occasion which had called
them together Dr. Dix assured his Bishop that those
of his flock who absent, we'll present
sending up prayers to heaven for his health
and prosperity. and that the thought in all their
minds was the event which then being cele-
brated. and for which they rendered thanks to the
Supreme Ruler OF heaven and earth who had per-
hs'eU this fair ' portion 81 Of the Lords heritage
The address then recalled the time. twenty
hye years ago. when Bishop Potter was was
rector which he loved. to assume the burden of the
most weighty office that man can hold in the
continued the address, ..the trials Of that high
vocation during all those years. He came to the ad-
ministration OF the diocese ut time when it pre-
sented a troubled and uneasy scene. and when dark
clouds hung suspended in its ecclesiastical skies
His first task was to efface sad memories to
reconcile differences and to make peace within
the borders OF the diocese To that work
the Bishop brought the qualities which fit men for
delicate and difficult duties and the proof OF his
mplete afforded in the picture presented
by his diocese to-day" The address next referred
to the growth of the diocese during those twenty
hve years, SO that what when Bishop Potter
took charge is now three and the Bishops OF two OF
those dioccses-Lopg Island and Aibany-were
picious event. The address referred also to the
esteem ard honor in which Bishop Potters name
and person are held abroad as well as at home, and
assured him that as loyal sons, his clergy had fol-
lowed him in his voyage over the sea more than
when he had been called to take part in confer
snces with the fathers OF the Anglican Communion
and had admired him for the part he took in those
deliberations.
RELIGION AND LIBERTY HERE,
"Renecting upon the annual addresses OF the
Bishop to the diocesan Conventions" said the ad-
dress 'the clergy have been impressed by the prac-
tical suggestions contained in those addresses,
pecially concerning work among the poor and
needy in this city AMI in mission fields outside the
city, 1t has been Bishop Potter's conviction. the
address says that active and organized benevoence
in the name of Christ and in connection with the
ordinances and institutions of the Church, should
be of the chief aims OF the clergy and laty ut
this day. He has gently admonished them to avoid
of his parish churches. and in this the
greatest city of the Western Continent, the
their respect and Affection There is that in the at.
mosphere of the place which strongly influences the
actions and insensibly affects the Christian life.
federation Is in the very air we breathe. Religious
liberty in any measure and to any extent consistent
with the rights security of the citizen. has been.
from time immemorial, the common law of this
place; nor has any narrow ecclesiastical oligarchy
been able to lord IL the emily htened
of any considerable number of men, to impose on
them the Strengthened bands of an arbitrary rule.
The address complimented the Bishop. who has
shown his clergy how to hold with uncompromising
fidelity the truth as 1t is In Jesus. and at the same
time TO keep the unity OF the spirit in the bond OF
peace. They regretted one thing however. The rapid
Hight OF time admonished them that earthly ties
however strong and precious, must yield to the
Inevitable at OF dissolution But they prayed tha,
the day might bo far of when their beloved Bishop
can do little IL any thing to add to the ,ol
his person and name which has already attained
its highest point Tho address closed with al
earnest petition to the Almighty Disposer OF events
that the number of the Bishops years may equa
those Of the most venerable bishops. his predeces
sors in the Episcopate elsew here, that when thu
work of his great Office shall have been completed.
fulfilled he may receive the crown OF everlasting
glory that fadeth not away.
THE BISHOPS nEsPoNsE.
Bishop Potter, at the close OF the address. arose
snd beckonng the standing to be seated