New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-15
THE EPISCOPAL REMONSTRANCE.

The remonstrance of Episcopal clergymen and
laymen against the action OF certain clergymeh
in inviting non Episcopal divlnes TO preach Ill
their churches Is a surprisingly weak document.
of the 357 clergymen in the diocese OF New
York. according Ito Whittaker's Almanac, only
100. or less than one-third, signed it. In fact,
large number of the most prominent and lnfu-
entaJ clergymen of the diocese, including many
of the city rectOrs and the live archdeacons Vi
the diocese, either were not asked or refused 10
SIGN it, At any rate, their names do not ap-
near. Of the laity SO signed, plti1uhy
small number, when it is remembered that there
are 1870 organized parishes and 26 missions IN
the diocese. In Newly York City alone there are
thousands of Episcopal laymen, many OF whom
arc men of National reputation, and all OF whom
would add strength and dignity to any move
ment to which they gave their support RE
sumably, these men were asked ITO sign the re-
monstrance, but, with few exceptions laIeu
N do 30. Whatever may be the reason for the
small number OF lay signatures the fact deprves
the remonstrance of any significance as pop
ular movement of the diocese.
What the signers of the protest expect to
accomplish beyond freeing their own minds Is
not clear. If the clergymen of whom they COM
plain have broken any law OF the Church, III IS
the duty of Bishop Potter to act in the matter
and il for any reason he does not act, 1t becomes
the duty of the clergymen who believe that
law is being violated to present the onendlng
clergyman for trial according 10 the canonlcal
requirements of the diocese That method would
have brought the matter to speedy issue by
setting the machinery of the law in motion.
WHY was il not employed? The remonstrance,
ON the other hand, will do nothing of the kind.
Though addressed to Bishop Potter, it does not
compel him to take any action and though not
80 intended, it will seem to many Eplscopailans
To be- under the circumstances, simply piece
Of officious intermeddling For it implies that
the Bishop needs to be urgedlto do his duty ana
thus puts him in false position.
Another unfortunate circumstance is the fact
that the four clerical members of the Standing
Committee of the diocese have signed the re-
monstrance. As the members of the Standing
Committee would be the Bishops advisers in
case he contemplated any action in the matter, it
is difficult to see how these gentlemen could
with propriety act judicially in case where they
had already appeared as plaintiffs. But 1t Is
| possible that they did not expect that the matter
would ever reach q stage where they would
have to exercise their judicial functions The
| statement has been frequently made, and never
officially contradicted, that last year Bishop
Potter formally approved of DR.. Rainsfords act
ii inviting Episcopal cersymen to preach
in his church. II that be so, of course he will
do nothing in regard to the present remonstrance
except courtcously to acknowledge its receipt
| And the only practical result of the movement
will be to show to the world how many prom
inent Episcopalians of the diocese refuse to take
| cart in it.