New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-20
BISHOP POTTEK'S SIDE.
THERE WAS A NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
AN EXPLANATION OF TIE TROUBLE IN BUFFALO
,rO1-T HIS SPEAKING THERE.

ABOUT HIS SPEAKING Tll.Rt'
The history of the religious trouble which has
broken out in Buffalo between the Liberal Oluo
and Laynen'S League, of that city, and involving
two bishops, is peculiar one, and from the mcSe'
in which much i. involved its origin gimmers
dimly through cloud Of words In letter from
that city. published yesterday, giving a history
Of the affair. the Rev. Thomas Sliccr writes an
extremely caustic explanation OF its origin. Ac-
cordinn TO Mr. Sliccr who is the chairman OF the
tonic committee OF the Liberal Club the club Is
composed of men Of almost every belief, p1lltlcalN
and spiritually and lis principal affairs are
monthly dinners, 10 which are invited some we'll
known men 10 act as speakers OF the OCCASION
addressing the club or some subject, religious
potical or scientific, in a liberal strain III
accordance with their custom, an invitation was
sent to Bishop Potter 10 speak on one oi these
occasions Tho invitation he accepted, with ,he
understanding, as the writer has peeh assure" on
the highest authority, that the matter met with
the approval of the Bishop Of Western Ncw-iorN'
At this point the trouble began
| The question was referred 20 Bishop CoNe, nn'
met his disapproval on tho plea that the time was
set for day in Lent and as the occasion was
dinner he deemed it improper for Bishop Potter
IN attend. Bishop Potter, the writer is assured
was not aware that such was the object OF 'he
| Gathering il not having been intimated IN 'ho
| invitaton sent to him. At this point, members
4! OF the Liberal Club fearing that they were 10
he deprived of the pleasure of having tho Bisnop
Of New-Yorl< as their guest, through the nis-
approval of Bishop Coke, began TO intercede WIN
| the latter and in time overcame ms scrupes- but
he. instead of sanctioning Bishop Potters visit
70 the city as the guest Of the Liberal Club, sent
him an invitation 10 speak before the laymen
League with which he is connected, and which Is
n rival Of she Liberal Club, and adding that he
| would be pleased 10 have him as his own guest
while in the city. Between these two clubs there
has been considerable i-will growing out OF
opinions concerning their founding. II would
seem according to the writer's informant, that
Bishop Coke was not willing that Bishop Potter
| should visit Buffalo guest Of the one clup III
disp3ra cement TO the other, TO which ne belonged
AS he could not refuse 10 sanction his WISH, 'hcIe
fore he invited him to his own club. The whole
affair" said the informant, is much like man
inviting You to take dinner with him, but stating
.hat as his son has the smallpox he Will 'ak'
dinner on the roof; in other words, you NAV come
if YOU wish TO, but he would rather have you stay
| away"
As Mr. Spraguc president Of the Liberal Clup'
with the assistance Of its members, had succeedeo
in removing the scruples from the mind oil BisIioP
| CoNe by assuring him that the occasion was hoo
a dinner nor was the club a band of spiritual
gucrillas thrstng for each others plooo' "'
again urged upon Bishop Potter an acceptance
of the invitation with the assurance that all han
been settled satisfactorily with the Bishops col
leagues He accordingly accepted the invita-
ton, and his coming formally announced 10
the club at its meeting of month ago. Shortly
after this Bishop Potter received from Bishop
! Coke a letter asking that he should not come
70 Buffalo in Lent, many or the lal men ol Una,
city had expressed their disapproNal OF II, an ,
| had asked this lin behalf Of the good morals OF
| Bulalo and the sanctty Of Lent. MS paper
ar petition, Bishop Potter was informed ny BishoP
| (oye had been mislaid and could not DC l9uhu
| shortly after this the Bishop was assured Dy !"
| friend of his in Buffalo that such "a paper en-
| isted as he had seen it, and had eAamined many
| of the names which had been attached 10 IL, anu
| ,hat among them the most prominent were thoc
| ~ many of the members of the laymcn League.
In tbis assurance Bishop Potter Withdrew ms
| accontance of the invitation given TO MN Dy tne
| iberaI Club and with this withdrawal Ol the
! p,sbop's acceptance all the troubles ol the ri'a'
clubs have come TO llght. -. ,;,I had
C"nrcrninp the statement that dispatch had
boon received at Buffalo denying that Bishop
pnttor over received formal invitation from ,lc
! ibcraI Club the writer has been assured uiao
| there is absolutely foundation Tor snch s.a,c ~,
inert Such dispatch has never peTI - .ch' r1: ~
| him nor does he know ANYTHING apout H. in ny
JJshcp feels much mortified az the iuIn u, W m''iV H.;
| .Tairs have taken: not that lie thlni>s uiaI MS
own dionitv has been invaded, but tlIat IL may
lead to the discussion in public OF questions WHICH
| NOV, nrovc source of clla2rln 10 anO'ner-'o oe
| ,vhG Is far advanced in years ana Wiose "hi'o
| hair should cntitle him to pro'ectioh'