Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-03-24
Scored by Bishop White.

| r.. Rev. Frsucls M. White, bishop of The
Pro esisDt Episcopal Church in Virginia
has jus made visit to the Episcopal
churches on the Eastern Shore of Virginia
The bishop, after preaching an excellent aar'
mon in Onancock and confirming three per-
sons, proceeded to deliver scorching Iec'
ture TO the congregation. For some time
past the relations between the vestry OF the
church at Ooanc, ck and Rev. ] ohm McNabb
| for tho past elk years rector OF the PARISH
| have been unpleasant. Theee troubles cut
minated in she resignation of Mr.. McNabb
| TO lake elect on March Is h. II is said that
the Rev. Mr.. Men abh had refused to epeak
to certain members of the vestry, while to
others his recognition was one of scant conr-
| tesy When the bishop came to Onsncock
and stopped at the reotor's house, the vestry
addressed him polite note, explaining why
they could not call on him 10 body where
he was stopping. ard asking him to name
place where they could meet him without
forcing them TO do violence to their man.
hood end self-respect To this letter the
bishop made no reply, but after he had hn-
ished his sermon aud before he had dismiss
ed she congregation. he proceeded to deliver
what was evidently intended as severe re-
buke 10 the ves:ry and other male members
| OF the congregation, not one of whom, ne
complained had called on him during bis
visit to Oaancock. He epoke reproachfuly
| of the fact that the parish liz again without a
minister, and said that from what he could
| learn there WINS no daily qualified vestry In
| the parish. He referred TO the fact that ne
| he d received sometime ago petition from
| certain gentlemen of the congregation,
! signing themselves trustees, and claiming to
l. inn n
secration of the church in o ancock for GER
| tain reasons, end said that he ives not intiu-
enced by the petition, and that he would
have conseorated the church If he had had
| the time. and had not been too fstigued by
! bis long journey.
The bishop frankly stated that be had
heard but one side of the case, and that If
he made any misstatements or wounded any
body's feelings, 1t must be attributed to that
! fact. The bishops remarks caused much
sorrow TO the congregation, and an invtsi-
CATION into the facts of the case shows that
bis structures on the ves,ry and copgrega-
ton were urjust and undeserved. the re-
cords OF the parish show that there are at
least ten duly qualified vestrymen, and the
yestry of the church there wrote the bishop,
as has been stated, a letter explaining to
him why they could not call on him at the
retiring rector's house, end assuring him
that 10 declining to do go they meant no
discourtesg to him.
The Accomac Democrat. published there,
concludes its account of the incident In
the following words "There is genuine re-
greet among all Chsistien people here that
| the bishop should have been Influenced by
| Interested ex-parte statements to make IN
| ust and undeeervsd structures on the men,
bers of tbs congre CATION and to spoil the ef-
iects of fiue sermon by an ill-natured talk,
| which, while 1t may have pleased few,
! caused much sorrow, and, In come instances
mrss have stirred up much bad feeling
Certain it is that the bishops last visit TO
Onsr cock made him no new friends. spd we
fesr he will never again he SO highly regard
ed here He he hiss been 10 the past"
Il is understood that the vestry Ia pre-
pairing q paper, in which they propose to
lev before the bishop the true state OF az
fairs in the church there. and if blame ST.
taches to any body, to place it where 1t be-
lupp5