New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-30
BISHOP POTTER'S ADDRESS.
PLAIN WORDS TO TIE CONVENTION.
HE REBUKEs THE cLERGYMEN WHO TAKE
LIBERTiE5 WITH THE MTUtL-THE
NEW CATHEDRAL.

NV 'AIuIfDhNi'
There were no honcyed phrases IN Bishop Pottcr's
annual address Yesterday TO the Convention OF che
Diocese OF New-York which finished It's session In
the Church OF the Hcly Trinity. Forty-sccond s. ana
! Madson-ave. The tendency Of certain clereymsn 10
take liberties with the ritual OF the Protestant Fps
copal Church sernly rebuked. and the members
| Of the convention urged to b. more careful In
the performance Of their duties. especially in recon-
mendlng candidates for the ministry without n
| thorough investigation.
The work Of the last day Of the convention began
| at 10 q. IN. yesterday with the holy communion,
celebrated bs Bishop Potter. assisted by the Rev.
Drs. f. walpole Warren. George f. Van de- Water.
| Thomas II. Harris and l.. Luquer. AZ the clos" OF
the services Edward Townsend Churton. Lord Elshop
OF Nassau. Canon Cmrton, of Kings College. Cam
bridge England and Bishop :peldng. OF Colorado,
presented 10 the convention and made brief
speeches. Bishop Potter then made one OF the most
vigorous and pointed addresses ever spoken to the
members Of diocesan convention.
"There are OF every diocese and parish he said
"as OF every individual SOUL two histories only one
OF which be recorded here. We are not called
upon TO dsparage those evidences OF life and GROWTH
which afforded by ecclesiastical statistics. and
so long as we are stewards Of material - well
spiritual things. OF bodies well rs OF souls any
attitude Of that sort must he only silly ahec'a'lon
The past year has been remarkable year In the
here to day with out remembering that never during
Its history OF 10s years has this diocese In any of
those years, or indeed, In any five OF them. addrd
to its catalogue so many and sucn worthy buildings
| as during the year which ends today
He then gve statement OF the work Of the diocese.
The number OF persons confirmed 4,2O9 lie
reported that twelve dOceses were candidates for
priest orders that there thirty nine candidates
for deacOn's and priests order, and that six persons
were candidates fJr deacon's orders only. There
were twentyseven postIlants sixteen candidates had
been ordained TO the deaconate. and thirteen to the
priesthood. Nine churches and buildings had been
consecracd and dedicated. and four cornerstoncS Ind
been laid. The number Of ay-rcaders commissioned
was 1O5 One priest had been dcposed from TIE
Presbytery.
In submitting to you the list of candidates for
holy ORDERS" continued the Bishop. Il have asked
your especial attention to the conditions under which
persons are admitted TO such standing in the 1locc>"
and must again invoke yonr careful and lmpari al
vigilance. Is II necessary for me TO say thai to
become candidate for holy orders Is taken by IL
SELF no evidence OF n wOrthness to be admitted t.
such standing Is II necessary for me To remind
Intelligent men, whether Of the clergy or lniy. that
they cannot read their correspondence or go about
their daily business without being constantly aud
painfully reminded OF the large and steadily ncrcas
ing class OF persons In holy orders who have. only
plainly gravely Inexperienced both the nature
OF ministerial qualifications Ms this church insists
upon or the conditions under which. ordinarily. the
ministry Is 10 be exercised In these United states
Is It necessary that should further remind those TO
whom speak that II man IS fool or kavc the
gift OF holy orders viii work no such
miracle upon him as will make him a scholar a
saint. There Is. II must be owned a good deal OF
unrealIty IN many Of the arguments which excuse the
admission Of incompetent men into Holy Orders on the
ground OF the sacrifices and self denlas 10 which they
pledge themselves. Those who compare II with other
callings deny that the ministry IL any longer as
rule calling Of exceptional hardship and self denial
There Is absolutely other whose material rewards
they tell Us are. the whole so considerable so
early and as a rule so constant. There are doubt
less mon In the ministry whose earnings would be
greater in other callIngs but they are not many ana
over against such fact Is TO be set the more or less
adequate provision for old age. which In great many
calllngs does not exist AT all
alt Is not my custom TO discuss Contemplated action
by the General Convention, nor to take advantage OF
an approaching meeting OF that body TO create sen
timent for or against particular measures: bnt M
within week another convention VIII b" asseinbieH
and as il Is likely that such action viii be taken as
shall release the Prayer Book from It's fluid STATE and
fix It's various formuaries. hope for a long time
to come. II Is duty Ia remind yon that with such
action a considerable license which has obtained among
us may wisely and appropriately end. Much greater
freedom I'm the Of the Prayer Book than existed ~
od-cnrchments and authorizations OF services ana the
lke-all these are only some Of the advantages which
have been secured. There may have been times when
some OF these were excusable. or at least tolcrabe
but II So such times are not these times In nm
age impatient OF restraint and eager In the assertion
OF individual license the church will greatly Increase
Its attracvcncss by presenting the spectacle OF rev
erent uniformity.
Il am very sure that Sou Will not deny TO me co
operation and l am no less persuaded that You Will
spare me the painful necessity Of taking such action In
cac NJ be disregard
my Office make obligatory.
During the last nine years have not in any
sng instance referred TO te matter te 81 Dr., me me For
the costly but noble site satisfactory provision mas
been 50 far " in' s IN poon nE to- lay the
cornerstone. cheelfnly recognize the fact that
Of them, tho latter must take second place Bnt
] hope that you viii be willing TO give 10 me
cathedral at least that second place. and to help me
Bishop Potter then spoke Of the minor affairs OF
the diocese requiring the attention on the convention
At the afternoon session resolution was introduced
providing for an effort 10 have the civil courts
issue marriage licenses without which no minister
II was carried over until the next meeting the
convention The convention appointed Tl.,GSo T.?
meet the expenses ~ home mission work outside Ol
New-YorlS city. The shortage IN the episcopal fnnd
was made mp by an assessment. -, .,
the Fcderato Council we've the Rev. Drs. Eackns Thco
dore A. Eaton Thomas GalIa,de lanes Mncsa ,a,
and Charlie, r. Canedy: lay delegates Delano g.
calvin. J. NJ. Miller. Thomas Egeslon Henry Lewis
BeaI and Douglas Merritt. The following coTmIitce
was appointed Diocesan standing Comniltcr,rhc Rev
d. Morgan Dix. the Rev. Dr.. William J. seabnrv. tho
Rev. DR. II. Y. sattcrlee, the Rev. DR.. THONGS NJ
Peters, stephen p. Nash: George Maccullocl Miller
pvo for a m ions ws elected The Rev D
r. W. Peters, Octavius Applepate. J. seden Spencer.
Robert r. Criry and II. y sa,iclce: the lay member
Dudley and james PCtt.
The convention then adjourned