New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-09
WHO ARE THE CLERGYMENi
A CHARGE OF NOTORIOUS IMMORTALITY
PREFERRED

Mr. VAN DE WATER AND DR.. DAVENPORT OUT
SPOKEN ON THE QUESTION NO EccLEsI-
AsTTcAL ACTION TAKEN YET
Through the medium Of a leading church Jour
csl the Rev Dr. George R Van De Water the rec
cor Of st. Andrews Church. observation-disclosures
.wenty-seventh-st. and Fifth-ave.. has brought
some serious charges against certain Episcopal
olergymen in this city. With one exception. Dr.
Van De Water refuses yet TO disclose the names
of those against whom he directs his accusations
He asserts. however. unreservedly and distinctly
that there are regularly ordained ministers in
New-York who are VIGOROUSLY immoral and
drunken. and as such are unfit to preach from any
pulpit TO have their names retained on the
clergy list
The Rev. DR.. James r. Davenport, retired
clergyman living at No. PIP East Six,eenth-st has
also contributed TO the same church organ some
communications on the subject. In Of his
letters. after urging thai something should be
done 10 relieve the good name Of the Church from
such overwhelming disgrace. he continues: II
know very we'll the difficulty OF conducting
cesastical trials COR immortality. but surely they
who are notorousN immoral should be dealt with
by the Bishops without serious dficulty. Is it
possible that our Bishops are becoming insens.ble
10 the evil Of VIGOROUSLY immoral clergymen?'
Dr. Van De Water at his church yes
terday afternoon by Tribune reporter. and while
deprecating the odor of sensatonalisrr that was
apparently being infused into the affair, he said
that he had well-substantiated grounds for his
charges, and II necessary could easily prove them
lie continued:
Il made the charges with due elaboration. and
am prepared 10 prove in every detail the col
lective charges I have brought forward l say
truthfully and with emphasis that there are Or
dained clergymen in this city who are immoral
VIGOROUSLY immoral-who drink and who are
often heard telling vulgar stories, and say that
is a disgrace that such characters should be
retained on the clergy list.
Now you and l want 10 be clearly under
stood upon this point. l am not referring IN my
charges to any benefited clergy in this city. In
some quarters sensa tionalism has been imported
into the matter by the insinuation that am
aiming against some ocular ministers Il en- -rcAes
In New-YOrk But that is untrue. ne men
whom l accuse are what may be called non
parOchial But they still Cergymen ana II Is
8 blot on the Church that they should be allowed
70 continue on it's list of ministers. Some OF these
men devote themselves "a worldly pursuits ana
become so ,ularized and immoral that they are
unat to preach Yet occasionally We see them
Occupying a pulpit on Sunday. The Rev. James
O. Bache is one OF the men Of whom | speak
SIX days In the week he worked as a He lhsur-
ance agent This man fled 10 AFRICA with
another woman and left his wife destitute IN
New York. l had TO take care Of her ana send
her 10 California, where she mas relatives. let
he IS still on the cleI 81 list. Bache ts not alone,
however. and there others whom can name
a. the proper moment. | do not for one instant
mean 10 say that all cergymen who have secular
pursuits during the week are morally deficient or
should be debarred from the ministry.
Il reflect in no way upon Bishop Potter Inc
canOns Of the Church say that BISHOP can oilS
adiudicate upon a charge of immortality Wnen
the accused man is presented by three clergy
men The Bishop therefore. is helpless unless
this formality y adhered to. Nevertheless. say
strongly that II the canOns prevent acton on the
Bishops part the canons should be altered. II IS
a disgrace that such men as have spoken OF
should continue the clergy list. Personally l
feel ashamed u have my name alongslde tnelrs
They deserve 70 be stricken from the nst n
stantly and the Bishop should have the neces-
Ga power 70 do so.
NO. I am not instit Iting any regular crusade
am sorry that the affair has become 50 puohc.
!, IS purely a Church matter do not intend 10
urge personally tn removal Of these men from
the list but II l am asked am prepared at any
moment fully 10 prove my charges
Dr. Davenport. who was also seen sald mat
he believed there good grounds for the
charges that had been made by Dr. Van De Water
'sThere are however, he added. $50 many difh-
culties 10 he encountered in our present system
Of ecclesiastical trials that X is very hard mat
Ter 70 convict any cl .rgymen OF our Churcn OF
immortality The Roman Catholic Church, on the
other hand gives its Bishops the power 10 take
immediate and single action with one or us
priests. - am
No I do not care TO particularize the DIM
outjes I refe~ 10. II might lead 20 a contro-
yArsal discussion upon the shortcomings OF our
church system and I have no desire TO have my
name mixed up any further in the matter
Bishop Potter was out Of town yesterday.