New-York tribune., 1879-11-24
HONORs TO BISHOP POTTER.

coMMEMoRATIoN SERVICE IN TRINITY ch'Ro"-
ANNIyrEsARY OF THE rRELArEs CONGREGATION
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.
A religious service in oommemoraton OF the
twenty-iifth anniversary of the consecratoh oi
Bishop Potter was held on Saturday mVnihg III
Trinity Church. where the consecration service nau
been performed n quarter of century ago ihc
celebration began at IL. but long before tha' noun
the church was crowded. The seats on the main
aisle were rcseryed for the clergy and prominent
members of the aiy of the diocese. In one seat sat
Clarkson v Potter the Rev. Henry {. Potter, How
ard Potter William {. Potter and Miss Annie Pot
ter. daughter of the Bishop. Near them were John
JAY. Erastus Brooks, Cornelius Vanderbilt John j.
Cisco James NJ. Brown. Woodbury. G. LanGdon,
George McCulloch Miller, William w. Astor. and
other members of the Lay COmmittee of Arrange
ments
Before the service began Bishop Seymour. in be
half of the clergy whom y shop Potter had or
Gained during his long cpscopItc, presented nm
with silver chalcr aud patcn, Olnamcntcd with
raised emblens. and lined with gold Among the
clergy in the bodv Of the church were the foil3w-
ing: the Rev. DIs. Cooke, Weston, B1ckuS: Arihur
Brooks, Mulcahey. Rowland, Wsshburn, shIpman'
and Ever and Bishop-elect Gai'eAcr oi Zion
Church.
were thrown open, and chOristers entered IN pro-
cession. singing The STRAIN Opralse." Atier tHrni
followed the Rev. H. B. Hltehi, e. the KEY kev pny pr'
Dr. q. u. Wildcs The Rev. Dr. " f. Eirrn-
brodt. the Rev. Theodore 4. Eaton; the Rev DIR.
Samuel Osgacd. Bishop Coke. of Western New
York Bishop DOanc, of Albany, Bishop llttielohn.
of L0ug Island. aud last, Bishop Potter himself
After the clergy mad taken Their places IN me cai-
eel IuckcrIuan's Te Deum was sung short SER
wee followed, Bishop Potter reading prayers ana
the Commandments. To the surprise OF many
present he could I've plainly heard throughout the
church. The singing of the hymn, TIE End Of
Abraham Praise" closed this part of the service.
Bishop Potter then, came from behind the
communion rail and advancing toward the congre-
cation took seat prominently in Ms sIgh' III the
chaucel between the choristers' stalls. nc Now
York clergymcn present III the cliancc gathered be-
fore the bishop and JOhn JAY and George McCuli ch
Miller came forward from the congregation a. rep
rcScntatvcs of the laity. Mr.. Jav handed the licv
Dr. Dix scroll of parchment having beautifully
engraved upon il an address TO the Bishop from the
clergy and ai;y OF the iiOceS" The address was VIII
ten bv the Rev. DR.. Samuel Osgood. 1t was read by
the Rev. Dr. Din. II opened with words OF con-
graduation TO the Bishop upon the completion ot
his twenty-five years Of service for the diocese oil
Ncw-YOrk.
Bshop Potter read his reply from the lectcrn Mt
the right side of the chance His voice was strong
and was distinctly audible by all IN the congregd-
ton. He stood firmly, occasionally behdlug ms
white head toward his manuscript and then glaic-
ing inward swiftly. He said that II was NOT an
easy tak 10 reply 10 such an address HIS audience
could far more easily conceive hls feelings lhan he
could find iittng words whoIcwith to express them.
| Their loving words had put him T. thinking OF ms
InpcIicctions and how far he fell below then KIND
! estimate OF his life aud labOrs. Divine Providence
| had melcifuliy guided, sheltered and protected
/ him for many years He had been blessed also
with the hearty cooperation IN his work oi ibe
clergy and the laity. The proceedings of the day
were only public manifestation Of the kind
| feelings on their part which had accom-
| named HIM all ms episcopal life The
! religious service demanded few words They all
| remembered doubtless the legend of St. John the
| Divine: how, Ihen he had reached great age ana
was carried INTO assemblies Of the faithful, II was
his habit 10 constantly repeat the words, Little
children. love one another" The diocese Tor many
years had been happy family, but disturbing
events might occur which would make II neediul 10
remember st. Johns precept
The communion service followed, Bishop Potter
and Bishop LIttlejohn reading the service.