The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-20
A PRINCE OF THE EpIsooPALIANs.
The Home OF Bishop Potter and some
thing About the Man Himself.

From the New York Graphic.
In the old days when Methodist con-
ference gathered together the good house
wives who belonged to that denomination
in the town where the meeting assembled
were taxed to furnish accommodation for
the preachers; The spare bedrooms and
the sitting-rooms were utilized, and tho
pioneers OF Methodism made as comiorta-
bic as the sometimes cramped quarters
would allow. Every family had ITS quota
Of guests to feed and shelter. Other times
have brought other manners-and better
ones. OF the 1000 and odd delegates and
officers OF the great church who have been
in this city for the past two weeks not one
Of them has been quartcred in the old way
upon any Methodist family, whether
willing to extend them hospitality or not.
The hotels arc doing duty to the church
men Just as they serve for any other guest,
and the preachers will pay their bills like
the ordinary transients and 90 homo con-
tented. small thing this change in the
social surroundings OF Methodist confer
encc, and yet n no less noteworthy mark
Of the undermining process that ia going on
among the striclest men who cling 10 John
Wosley's doctrines.
Perhaps IN time some of these stern
faced and full eyed men who NJ now will
ing to pass aweek or two in NJ of uriirst-
class hotels may realize in their way that
the beauty of this world is not ut all
between the closed backs OF u prayer and
hymn book, but ought 70 and does radato
around the pleasant homes that oven
preachers and bishops ought TO build for
themselves.
II any OF the visiting bishops or breth-
rens wish 10 see how nicely q churchman
may be houspd--and ut the same timo be
true churchman In every sense oi the
word-.let him go up TO the corner Of Fifth
avenue and Filty-ninth street where the
re. Rev Henry q. Potter, bishop OF the
Episcopal churches OF tho city diocese,
dwells. IL will be q revelation TO some OF
the backwoods preachers who believe that
poverty aud godliness are interchangeable
terms. In one OF the loitiest aud most
massive flats OF the ncighborhood, half
way between the ground floor and tho sky
story, the great prclato has his home. II
caller appears liycried iootman, erect,
quiet and respectful in manner, opens the
outer door of the big building and points
TO the softly running elevator where AM
other uniformed attendant awaits the
orders to ascend. Up In the fifth story u
servant will take the visitors card, aud he
will have time to stand and look around
nj the wealth OF decorative beauty that has
. been spread over the broad yestibulc and
the doors and stairways OF the building
When the door opens aud he walks into
the bishops apartments lac will see some
things that might have struck the hearts
Of some Of the older and stencr lived
! churchmcn Of long ago. The rooms are
= large, light and airy, and filed with iurni.
| turc Of the costlitst, most comfortable and
most luxurious style. A full.sizcd Raphael
looks down from one OF the walls OF the
reception.room, and is the only suggestion
OF religious character that one meets in the
; apartments. Indeed, the signs OF great
! love for the rich and beautiful things OF
life are at every turn in the rooms Brio.
! a.brac, statucttcs, groups in marble, bronze
, and clay bright and new pictures full Of
! suggestions OF the loyclncss OF the great
world, books, flowers and pretty tapestries
all combine 10 lill up the episcopal home
, with chccriulncss and beauty that one
4 cannot soon forget. Standing at his win.
= dows the bishop can overlook the eastern
strawberries Of Central park and watch th,
:, dashing equipagcs Of the rich ones Of hi
= flock as they take their daily drives durin
4 tho season. TO the stranger tho bright
= beautiful home would seem the abode Of
: | wealthy, life enjoying society man. sur
rounding himself with all the lovely thing
Of earth, and seeking 10 gather out Of the
, highways aud byways OF the world what
! ever OF comfort, Of happiness and OF CON
!, tent the passing years could give.
J The right reverend prclatc IL not famed
, for luxurious living, nor has any ono do
scribcd him "a an ascctic. lilo II striking
i contrast In appearance 90 the brnwny,
, quck-tongucd men who have made the
= opcra-house ring with their cloquencc
/, during the last two weeks. lie Is born
!, American, and he Is American 10 the core
Z Of his heart. but he would pass In face and
= figure for a typical Englishman. Perhaps
4 the conventional British cut that he has
: given 10 his whisken and the ruddy fine
face of the man 90 good deal toward the
completion Of hir English make up. lie
4 has princcly income, and those who
: know him say he lives up 20 Il very closely
. and takes the sunny side ollie as lac siroll'
! along through tho world. lie Is straight
= "a an arrow, In the prime OF middle life
= with the silver whitening the hair ON hi
! massive head, and II ho walked down th,
= center aisle Of the Metropolitan opera
= house in the midst Of session Of the con
! ference, every man In the audience woult
recognize him at once ~ q fitting repre-
!. sentative Of the great and aristocmtic clurcl
n which numbers among It's devoted follow
: ems 80 many Of tho wealthy, cultured ant
!, society people Of Manhattan Island.