Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-06-11
TILE RRooKs, pRo1Esr.


self Upon the Action of 1.-THE Novices."
Editor Gazette d; Jotrndl: In last weeks |
edition of The GAZETTE place Is found |
for communication signed by eight
clergymen and four laymen Of the diocese
of Delaware.
The publication is in every aspect to be
seriously regretted, and considering the
Inconsistencies Of, presumably, the
greater number of these brethren of the
seriousness of their mistake it might be
overlooked.
As related however, to everything pecu-
liarly precious TO the interests and sturdy
intelligence of this diocese the mistake inn
parts too much to be allowed to go I'M
challenged.
On my own responsibility ] am con-
strained TO present the following matter,
under the light of which alone can the
action referred to be properly understood,
and disarmed of its capacity for far-reach-
ing, and most to be ieplored, evil.
Although speaking purely on my own
responsibility, ! still, let it be understood,
do so under the possession of peculiar
facilities for knowing that of which |
speak and under the conviction that what
is thus said individually will be found to
fairly represent the common and pro-
nounced mind of the diocese at large.
The communication referred to is pro-
nunciamento upon the matter of the
Brooks Election and Confirmation. !
engage attention merely upon relevant
considerations
The signers are absolutely welcome to
| their opinions and all that goes with them.
The signers themselves is matter Of
| emphatic Importance, and the method of
| their proceeding OF even more. As to
! themselves: OF the clerical signers they
are all Of them absolute novices in the
| diocese as respects the term of their resi-
dence and experience of diocesan life,
!
/ decidedly the younger men among body
| Of clergy, conspicuously in the very ma
turity Of their powers. Of these brethren,
| the longest in residence is the Rev. A. /.
du p. Coleman, dating from December
9TH, 1883 All the others date subsequent
to January 18th, 1889. and of two of them,
| it is to be noted that one has been but
three weeks or so in residence. and the
other has been practically for no longer
season among us and as to his work, is
merely doing temporary duty.
AS respects the four lay signers Two of
them are members of st. Michaels Mis-
sion in Wilmington, and the other two are
| gentlemen Of long and familiar residence
in the diocese who have evidently allowed
themselves the enjoyments of being over
persuaded with the privilege Of repenting
/ at leisure. Comment it seems is unneces-
sary-if the inquiry is forced, whether di-
| yided eounsels or volcanic upheaval is
indicated by this high flying straw?
Per contra The solidarity of the diocese
is most remarkable one in everything
| pertaining to peace, good will, quietness,
| and strength. When it is said, that every
element of the diocese available that
probably cares to assert its interest in the
brooks matter"-now that action has
been taken-is apparently upon the docu-
ment referred to, the logic OF the case is
( quite evident.
Indeed, the happy status of the diocese
is so phenomenal that the church and
public at large, whilst in closest observa-
ton of it, is almost iinpotent to explain it.
For myself | am always, when at a dis
tance, called upon to do this, and, in the
doing Of it, minister the keenest satisfac-
| ton to every lover of the church and her
peace, and every follower after righteous
ness.
1t is untimely to recite causes leading up
to this tlattering situation. Let it be
enough to say, without fear of contradic-
ton that in every essential Of the church's
life the diocese of Delaware throughout
stands upon most decided ground. That
in every non-essential she has acquired the
all-too rare distinction of grasping the
liberties of both the church and of her
people individually.
Partisanslip has absolutely no place
among us, and, am firmly persuaded, the
diocese is determined 1t never shall.
| i ne 1TuttTHal anu Ttully dutCtlOHule anu
mutually-respecti?g life of the clergy levi
dent exceptions, i may be, allowed) is
beautiful, and to tS,se Of us, who live in
it, most enjoyable.
To any one who understands the import
Of these brief statements it is evident that
the atmosphere of the diocese is strikingly
pure and healthy. and so it need be no
surprise that fearlessly and in the greate.t
contentment the church here is meeting
the questions of the day and happily NOV
/ ing, whithersoever the Master Himself de
signs her missions to be.
To illustrate At the convention at Mil
ford, Wednesday, the service of the Holy
Communion was what is ordinarily called
"ltigh Celebration" accompanied with
every circumstance oH elaborate ritual, &c.
Among those, in the best of form, partici-
pating in the service was conspicuously
| number of ,he clergy, who like not these
things and who elsewhere commonly
know nothing of them. And yet, | sup
suppose, there was not the slightest idea of
| protest. or displeasure in connection with
an occasion which was in every respect
sui generis, and to one side Of parochial
| customs and preferences. This is proud
| thing to be able to say of the brethren and
the diocese; and alas too commonly i'm
| possible to be said elsewhere. The diocese
| truly Catholic in the very best sense of
that much misunderstood word. Its Cath
| olicty is both of the most kindly and
| charitable sort and also dstinetively Eng
| lish, or as 1t is called Anglican
| Most emphatically it is not Roman.
| That under such circumstances a gross
misrepresentation of the diocese should
| have been made is truly lamentable and
while regretting the mistake of those re-
| sponsible and wnp seem incapable of
estimating a situation SO happily novel,
for one connot allow the fair reputation of
the diocese and its irreproachable life to
experience the likely consequences of the
differences to be drawn from this pronun-
| ciamento.
/ The Philadelphia Press says this morn
ing, through its own correspondence from
| Milford that the signers of this paper
were afraid TO present it To the conven-
ton This am in the way OF knowing
| is about the truth. For, had this been
done, unqnestionably there had been ex-
perienced such an overwhelming realiza-
| tion of what has here been said, that the
resistance now challenged by the most I'M
fortunate step of all, wiz Alresort to the
secular press) would have been expert
enced, in its educating and warning effects,
in n more retired corner of observation
than the columns of EVERY EVENING arein
comparison with the floor of the conven-
ton. p. b. LIGHTNER.
THE REcToRY, NEW CASTLE, June 9Th
1891.
Death of james Al. Phillips.
james NJ. Phillips, a well-known citizen
Of kennett township, Chester county, Pa,