Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-06-18
RECTOR LIsHrNE Err .lroyrs


He is Humiliated to IeuIize Uo,,. M.
the Flesh Must Be--sequel Of ~, q
Brooks Protest Controversy. 'f
On Saturday last the Rev p n
Lightner sent letter 10 two Wiln,ispn'
ton papers lin one of which il NY
printedl scoring savagely the clerqvrna,o'
who at the animal diocesan conyent;on
in Milford few days ago. signnJ u
| public protest against the conGtn,a,io.'
of the Rev. Phillips Brooks 10 ~
bishopric of Massachusetts,. This seyar .o
, letter was written as reioinder IN NJ
protesting" rectors who have renliaJ
to DR.. Lightner's first open letter several
days ago. Among the sharp passages in
The letter given ont on Saturday MI
Lightner writes;
A review shows that the returns ava
from the ''Latter-day Protestnntan ~
from no one else. OF the eight clergy ona
was commonly reported as having IA 1o
ter taken to the stool provided for tLr 49,,
trite heart; -four have spoken (theyonn,,as,
in residence, twice. three have nainiainaS
discreet silence, OF the four lav,na,
one, Dr. Fowler, has very promptly hibn,
with Il very learned and skilifuilv cf',,e
triyed rope, let himself down. and in -
parting with his temporary friends ranIs
hem some very suggestive lessons unnn
the propreties of life generally. ami in
this matter particularly One kccps shady.
and the other two are doubtless lost n
their original obscurity.
one other voice there was. Whother
PROTESTANT or not can only be iuterred
as il was anonymous. This indiyidnaI
however, deserves compassion to the az,
tent at least Of appearing TO be blind for
he. confesses that The cannot See. -
The protest itself is of less than
insignificant Importance. II is hut n IN.
face indication of n situation and n sririt
which, unrebuked, is big with untold nil.
chief, '''
Liberty is the watchword of the diocesan
life, but every one is accountable for tho
use he makes of his liberty. And every
attempt 10 coerce ar misreprpsent ia
diocese, or Interfere with rightful iudi.
vldual action, is pretty sure, IN this dio
cese, sooner or later, to he very heavily
sat down upon, or am more mistaken than
have ever been, and have more egregi.
olisly failed to understand the people IF
the diocese than can believe possible
If any one chooses 10 believe that tbe
phenomenal action of the II brethren did
not involve consequences most serious and
most unjustiilable, he is blind, too. and
have no issue with him. except 10 rcalIirm
that this, and this alone, was the object of
my former writing. / there said that ina
very worst mistake of all on the part of
these brethren was their resorting 10 the
secular press, and So besides exposing the
church to tie reproach Of such publicity.
giving no choice but either to follow or
swallow the consequences. But worse BY
far had it been supinely to have suffered
the wrong 70 have gone unchallenged upon
It's fateiul and pOrtentlOus mission
ask no quarter. No one shares my re.
sponsibility Whether approved or moi |
stand ftT the church, the diocese and their
peace
The New Castle rector was evidently
displeased and grieved at his own
actions, and in letter written for the
newspapers on saturday, over his own
signature, says;
| am aghaSt at myself. The air Of
severity IN my letter of this date is only
realized as ! read the cold type II is not
intended, and | cannot hesitate to atone
for il. If tho mild answer seems to have
been overlooked il is not because 1t was
not sought after; and If the spirit was
truly willing to do and say nothing I'M
gentleness and kindness, ] am humiliated
10 realize how very weak that flesh Aas
proven to be ! hope the brethren con.
cerned and everyone will allow ME 10
Justify myself from a construction which
J could never Intentionally invite and
from which hasten 10 seek RELIEF. Eyi
IDENTIFY the sway Of the matter at issue
over my Judgment and expression has
been greater than | was conscious of, and
can only wish | had been better adyo.
cate.