New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-17
INDIGNANT AT REBUKE.
DEAN HOFFMAN TO BISHOP POTTER.
THE GRIEVANCE OF THE LATTER NOT DUE TO
ANY FAULT OF THE FORMER.

AS3 FAULT VI
When Bishop Potter publicly rebuked certain Of his
clergy for having sent to the newspapers the re-
monstrance against the action Of the Rev. Dr. Rains
ford and the Rev. DR.. X. Heber Newton in Inviting
Dr. Lyman Abbott, DR.. coyer and others. not Of the
Episcopal communion preach in their pulpits, and
for not sending 1t to him at all, the one hundred
and sixteen Of his clergy who had signed that re-
monstranee were indignant The document had been
ntrusted TO Dean Hoffman, Of the most influential
clergy Of Bishop Poters diocese and 1t was thought
impossible that the Dean could have taken any other
course than such as would suggest itself TO gentle
man and Christian Of the Deans standing. II now
appears that copy Of the remonstrance was sent by
Dean Hoffman to Bishop Potter's home, No. 100 West
Fifty ninth-st, the evening before IT was published IN
The Tribune, and that 1t sent to the press win
the express intention OF making known the fact that
1t an "open remonstrsnce' and not q connoenuai
communication to the Bishop Of the Diocese
Dean Hoffman has now addressed the following ietter
to Bishop Potter which letter sent yesterday to
the II6 clergy who signed the remonstrance, and II
was marked private but number Of the clergy
who were publicly rebuked by their bishop DO not
desire Dean Homans letter TO remain private or even
confidential, as Dean H0nmans word Is a sumceht
guarantee that the document was actually delivered
at the bishops private residence, and they ieeI haV
some public notice OF tie remonstance should be taken
by Bishop Potter This IS Dean Hofman's letter;
nv Dear Bishop Owing 70 urgent duties which kept me
at the seminary deprived Of the pleasure OF listening
to your charge to the clergy on wednesday aSt ou'
nv attention been called to the following extract
from 1t:
c.r,an remembrance signed by Of the clergy OF this
diocese last spring simply because the history OF he whoe
business makes IL impossible am not tnlnK IL wiz oe
owned stekler for Official prerogstves ana fancy 'ee
are very few persons Episcopal Office who are accu
toned to treat questions with more profound olne
ence-an indifference which have lately had occasion %
apprehend led persons to suppose that they
not consider ordinary and nvariaoe requirements VI
either personal or ocia intercourse II Is the Hrt e
apprehend in the history Of this church that sshop
has come TO know Of the contents Of communication
addressed exclusively 10 himself By nnolnF 10 IN VI.
columns OF q newspaper, and IL VIII De he only lime.
hope a bishops only knowledge Of sueh comm III -
ton addressed 70 bishop In his ocial capacity shsn Oe
made known to him in such way Indeed eanno'
suppose that any clergyman, or body Of eTgymen 0'
imagine that bishop could consent 70 taKe ho1'e Vi
communication authenticated to him. not Ohv " AN
,esponsibe Signature but by no signature rhateVof'
prasurninr that this extract Is correctly gwen you
will allow me- In justice the signers OF the remonsusnce
alluded TO- TO state facts Of the case which "'
think show that sgners cannot Be properly enafseo
with any dscourtesy to your person or onice.
When the (Which was not "ritoeh' a. na
h..n asserted by any one connected with the seminary
was signed clergyman who had IL IN eharse' oehs
Unexpectedly compelled to leave the city placed N my
hands an authentic copy be sent 70 you the Gay oeo
Il
a,. this copv bv messenger 10 your residence in Fifty
nintht the day before IL by anybody but The
sicn.rs Why IL failed 10 reach you cannot understand
am also Informed that another copy was sent TO you on
the day by mall. 90
II you had would have seen that ala no
call for any response your part but was an open roon
which your presbyters, without oer
nr 20 set on foot another ecclesiastical t-al felt e
duty 70 make against what seemed TO them to be ncreas
ing acts disobedience 70 the csnons Of the Chufch anu
| disloyalty 10 It's orders.
Permit me TO express my regret that remonstrsnce
which was prepared in hope that It would sustain
the order and discipline Of the Church, and which wa
voluntarily signed by 116 Of your clergy and about hsn
Is many laymen including every clerical member OF INT
Standing Committee Of the diocese, the dean ana pro
lessor, Of the General Theological Seminary all th'
clergy Of Trinity parish and the recors OF number OF ou
largest city churches should have failed TO meet with
| ysur approval -
| win only add that you are AZ liberty to make u.s.
~ this letter in any it, 20 correct the eroneou
impression that may been given BY your charge
| - taI,htrI1v vours Z. A. HOFFMAN.
| me Rs. Rev. C.. POTTER d D.. IL D.