The San Francisco call., 1896-01-02
THE PLACERVILLE INCIDENT.
BISHOP WINGFIELD DISCUSSES IT
INA VIGOROUS MANNER.


INA VIGOROUS MANNER.
BEriIcIA,: Cal, Jan 1. 1896.
Editor Of the San Francisco Cdil-DEAR SIR:
Allow me brief reply to your kilograms from
Placerville.
The Church of the Savior at Placerville is
not union church, as some may be led to
suppose, but is the property OF the Protestant
Episcopal church, and was built by the Epis-
copalians of the town, assisted by friends of
the church outside the congregation, on d lot
presented by the late Charles Mclean, for
many years resident OF the place and the
agent for Wells, Fargo Express Company. 1t
was paid for in full and consecrated By the late
Kew. DR.. Kip, S is testified 10 by Mrs. Fowler.
VINO was confirmed on the OCCASION ,::s
The present vestry do not know in whom
the church property is vested, but think it was
decided to trustees" which is not at aIllikely,
lnasmuch as the property OF the church is
usually vested in the name OF the vesfry, or
the Bishop and his SUCCESSORS in Office, or in
al Incorporated vestry. Therefore the asser-
tion OF the sender of the telegram that the yes
try contracted with Mr.. Peiree for his services
10 De gwen gratuitously for life" is not only
ABSURD. but is far from. credftable to the So
called vestry
The fact is that Bishop. Kip sent Mr.. Peirce
as missionary to PlacerVille and in that ca
pacltE he has acted ever since. Bishop Kip told
me many years ago that he had given him q
great deal of trouble in consequence of his in
dependent and defiant spirit, and that he had
cohc[uded two or three times to remove him,
Whlch ne could not have done had he been
rector of parish. 1t is simply ridiculous to
say that Mr. Peirce $50 arranged at the time of
the building OF the church to prevent it becom-
ing part OF the diocese and under the con-
troll OF the Bishop, and thereby subjecting him
lifetime"
Theological Seminary of New York he is no
credit to the pulpit, for hfS average congrega-
tlon is about six women and one or two men.
Nor does he conform strictly to the letter of
the Protestant Episcopal ritual" His popu-
!arlty is not due to his devotion to the min
lstry, but to the fact OF his being deyotee to
secret fraternities and to his presents to the
chldren. He told me many years ago that he
had spent $4,000 in distributing picture-cards
and little books to the young.
Your correspondent charges me with .'taking
exception to Mr.. PeirceSs devotion and time
given to the different lodges and assaulting
and insulting him, striking him g cowardly
oIow like living bruiser, and eXpostulatihg
with him against his connection with the. Ma
sonic society, which detracted so much from
the church" All of which will briefly dis
pose OF by saying there is not single word OF
truth IN II, or II strong expression viii dis
pose OF it better, at is a lie out OF the whole
cloth" -.
. Your correspondent, TO make the situation
more sensational, SAYS, 1.-THE woman screamed '
"the Bishop entered into discussion with two
men, both OF which statements are in oppOsi-
ton to the facts
rs IoI lne elVendaDCe OF a deputy 0RerlH, L
do not believe il, as / saw but two men present
ana know that neither was g public officer.
Ihen as for the prepared affidavit read by Mr..
Pelrce, standing not in the chancel nor in the
pulpit, but like myself ON the floor of the aisle OF
the church after. morning service had been
read-in which he affirms that l said: ''Ahi
mat is what keeps men ont of the church !;
they are here, when they ought to be in
church. that said: " Hey, my boy, not here
but in the church, sir; :'.that l then struck
with clinched fist, violent blow on his affirm
anti and followed it with the words "Not
here but in the church, my boy" in which he
reatlrms that he heard these threatentngs
and felt the beating of the fist, under the
earthly and eternal penalties of perjury
all this is simply as false as can be. ] again
af1rmatlons. however soIemnly they were
made. repeat ''they are lies manufactured
out OF the whole cloth"
Finally, 1t is stated by your correspondent
that ''apoloGiZed for the impulsive language
/ used" This is another miss tatemento of fact
/ nave been laugh to call spadef'a spade; ;
and when Istignatize fnischood as "a lie''
DO not use such a term under impulse or tad
feeling, but simply with a view OF calling
things by their right and proper names, let the
consequences be what they may. | viii go SO
far aas TO say that / do not believe Mt. Peirce
intended TO state untruths because do not
think him responsible for what he affrrns.
This is the most charitable construction I
can put on his strange unbretheTly treatment
10 brother clergyman, and especially to- his
Northern California and therefore his su-
perior in the church. l entertain toward him
no i'll will but pray for him that he may
abandon his wild atfirmations and soon be re-
stored TO his right mind and heart with an
earnest determination to devote hinlself TO the
iuinLlment OF the solemn VOWS OF his ordina-
ton. J. II. D. WINGFIELD
Bishop of Northern California,