New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-30
bR. DE COSTA ON Mr.. NEWTON.
AyITAL QUESTION FOR THE CHURCH.
NOT AWARE THAT NEW CHARGES ARE TO BE PRE-
cr<rrn


sENTED.
The Rev. Dr. Benjamin +. DE Costa, rector OF the the
Church of st. John the Evangelist. was one ~ Sne
presenters of charges against tne net. Inv
Newton. DIR. De Costa was visited ySsleffuiniS II
TRIBUNE reporter. who obtained inc Iol'o"'"e
interview with him: e.,.o.o..s ooo;,s+
the Rev. Mr. Newton which were made ~ yourSeh
and Messrs. McKim and Buelp wasasked ,..ouro-
q From time 10 time the issue has Deen misrepre,,
sonted grossly said Dr. De Costa. 1t was stated
I'm an editorial in one OF Saturuay;s p apIhis
that the position taken by Mr. Newton IS that tne
Scriptures contain the Word OF COD, Oul are noo
The Word of God in the sense thai every sentence
from Genesis to the Apocalypse is dictated by the
HOLY Spirit and is hence inialllble. peg TO say
that tls statement does not represent the position
of Mr Newton and that that is not the position
sssaiiabIe Bishop IIoratio Potter himself said in
an address 10 the convention that he would not
ordain a candidate who simply held tnat the
has advanced beyond that position, and the pre-
senters are ready to meet him where he actually
stands The issue with Mr.. Newton as respects the
Scriptures is one that has never been 6ro9ga mo tO
an ecclesiastical court. On April 20, 1850 lto
give you history of this NATTER the preseti.eH
was placed the hands of the Bishop as ne Sat III
his armchair in lis library, two OF the pIesenlols
calling in person. He had before HIM variety OF
papers, and he said that he could not attend 70 VIC
ppTaSeniment then intimating that IL would have
his attention. II 1t has had hiS attentIIn t me not
offeIed syllable in reply though on every ground
they are entitled TO one when the Blsh9P hdS lI"uo
up his mind Here the case stahus I; ~ of tbe
no uouo' , ~ can33ot The presenters of Mr. New
ton have not been in consuItatlon loT so iso I'm
and have no programme laid down. Ihe issue IN
thi n Ease is not narrow technical one and is not
confined to question OF the scriptures soely' puV
covers the broad field OF theology ,.u
Assistant Bishop against Mr.. Newton' and if so,
vi" aH % n'' has been done on that head to my
knowledge, though l have seen 1t stated IN t tI
papers that three new men propose 10 Cone 10 tS
front. These with whom have been asSoJ Gi
earnestly desire to avoid embarrassing the admin
istration of the Assistant Bishop, but 10 not know
VIZ, What do You think would be the outcome of
" of e. course | think that the recult would be
beneficial to the Church. The preSentcrs would
not have undertaken it had they supposed other
wise. This is the opinion OF some Oh tDe M mos
eminent BishOps-men whose views are entitled 10
great consideration. Many cleTgymen who thought
Otherwise last spring are Of this opinion now =
@What is your opinion of the recent utterahces OF
Mr. Newton2 and what do you think is the opinion
of the clergy gcncrallyP -. ,oo.,,uos
or whatever he chooses TO call theln-he mas gone
bevond himself. j was assured sometime before ne
began, by one who proes'eG 10 Know, tr rnaH
this season Nj. Newton would give US sohe stIonS
SWbat are your personal feelings toward Mr.
This question should need no answer. Person
ally / have more feeling against Mr. Newton
naycr questioned his Intentions though believe
that he is deccivng himself and putting hnlsei IN
very false position as MINISTER IA tne ch4 4
and in fact, doing much harm. 1 have seldom
heard the oi-Icpeuel charge that he was III scare II
OF notoriety without expressing dissent thOuBh
one of Mr. Ncwtons Broad Church friends has
drnonnced his course as a clergyman IN my hear
ing in terms not often heard by ears polite, except
i'm connection with circumstances OF strong pro-
Xnrat1on Mr. Newton simply believes that lie is
right aud is determined to push his opinions. 90
not uuderate his mental calacly' nor 90 IieI
The damaging excuse for his conduct that mas
been gwen by some of his apOloGlsts and trends.
What do you think in regard to cIergymen
This question | have in a sense already
answered Permit me 20 say here, with reference
10 The expressions used by the Dean OF the Iheoo-
rical Seminary. whose Judgment We all respect.
that in saying 1t is not proper for one minister TO
cTjticise another in the press he seems TO have
condemned himself since he thus publicly in the
press reprehends the very large number OF his
brethren who have spoken in condemnation OF Mr..
Newton's course. think that the Dean is sounder
on this matter of speaking out than lie fancies,
though not more so than his words prove; VI
cOurse he is quite right when he says that TINS Is
not the custom in the Army or in the Navy; but IN
the Army and Navy also 1t is not the custom for
the officers 50 turn the guns upon their own
friends; and If on one OF our national Shls at seq
il should be discovered that an officer was engaged
in boring hole III the ships bottom ms fellow
officers would by no means tlo1Dle themselves
with any criticism They would not even I'M
derrate his capacity for mischief, nor say that ms
auger was a small one, little better than gllnlet,
and with no point at that but they would summon
drum head court martial and hang the cuprlt at
Who Is really to blame for the present state of
this whole question = ,
TO say auything-as told you Yesterday. Still,
since have been connected with the presentment
from the start, and since you seem determined py
your questions to cover as much ground as pOsslDie
will give some reply III addition TO that conveyed
in a previous answer. | have already indicated
that so far us see, the Senior Bishop is master
of the situation. lie was master OF IT at the
beginning | do not think that the Assistant
Bishop has had fair play from his critics, nor 40
believe that the real strength OF his acton III
stopping Mr.. Newton has been appreciated DR..
UourhtOn has truly sand that there never should
have been a pIcscntment in this case. II the
Assistant Bishop had been in the chair on St Mark
day last it is safe to say that there would have
been none made. The prcScnters had no desire to
made verbally, carly in March, year ago, TO drop
the matter on very simple condition, the reason
present Assistant Bishop, then rector OF Grace
thurch. The offer rcaliirmed IN writing by
myself the same day and copy OF the letter Is OF
file Other ways were tried to AVOID action, but
all attempts failed. / had no personal cOnlmunlca
tion with the Bishop on tins point however nor did
eitneT of those associated with me. Finally it was
said that considerations that had been presented
with reference to staying action were OF nc
account An authoritative voice SAID 60 on. We
went on, and here we are TO-DAY. Inc senior 10
Bishop may speak, or pass over the papers to III,
Assistant. A few words might help matters, but
perhaps We shall never get them and we go on
drifting until the Church loses her reckoning and
stranded. THIS is no question OF the 'CQmpTe
hensive Church'-it is the question whether We
shall have any church at all, whether the Catholic
Vcrites with orders and sacraments shall stand OF
fall 1t remains toT the ecclesiastical authority u
say"
VIEWING THE BODY OF JOHN B. WOOD.
The body of John b. Wood was removed yes
terday from the undertaking shop OF Charles A
Benedict TO the paTlOr of the Press Club The
coffin was covered with black cloth and velvet, tho
silver plate bearing the inscription, " lr. John IS
Wood, born December Z, 1877; dled January -
1884," The floral tributes included large pillar
of white roses suTmOunted by dove, bearing N
its beak sprig of lilies -the-vallcy, the pillar
resting on pillow of purple flowers with 1.-The
doctor wrought in white flowers. This was sent
by his former associates on The sun: A wreath OF