The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-13
a WARM CHURCH FUSS.
1t Is Splitting Grace Cathedral
Into Factions.
Dean BOdIey's Resignation Ac.
cepted and He Will Leave.
It All Arose Over Too Much sHigh
Church"-what the Members Say.

! Saturday evening the Vestry of Grace
| Cathedral accepted the resignation of
| Dean Bodley and he will soon leave
Topeka for the east where he says that
| he has business interests that require
his attention.
A meeting of the church was called
| for Friday evening to discuss the res
| ignation rendered by Dean Bodley some
! time ago. The meeting was called by
| the official board of the church. When
| Bishop Millspaugh heard of it he was
| much surprised, for he knew that no
! Official action on Dean Bodley'S resig
nation could be taken by the church
| body.
He stated this and said that the
meeting was irregular and could do
| nothing.
The history of the difference which
has sprung up in Grace Cathedral is as
follows: Dean Bodley is high
| churchman." AS such he refused to
assist in the funeral services of Miss
| Isabelle Thompson who died here sew
eral months ago on the ground that
another minister who was not qualified
| was to take part. This brought forth
| the friction Bishop Mlllspaugh is said
| to have been responsible for the Selec
| ton of Dean Bodley.
One faction supported the bishop in
| his opinions while another favored Dean
Bodley. 1t is said that most of the
men of the church were on the side of
| the bishop, while majority of the wo-
| men sympathize with Dean Bodley and
have been striving to resist the at
tempt to accept the resignation offer
ed.
The bone of contention has been
about the canon of the church which
prescribeS that the church in Topeka
shall be under the charge of the bish-
op. Rev. Mr.. Bodley has been dean of
the church, while Bishop Millspaugh is
a S1Iao ha hn II
control of the liturgy.
Prominent members who have sup
ported the bishop in his position are
| William Henderson and D. w. Nellis-
| The leaders of the opposition are Ben
| nett r. Wheeler and c. j. Brown. This
| opposition which has favored Dean
BOdley also made vigorous attempt to
| have the canon changed so that the
| dean of the church shall also be the
| rector, thus taking the control out of
| the bishops hands but they failed in
| their attempt. At the meeting Friday
| evening resolutions were introduced
| and passed asking of the diocesan con-
vention which is to meet at Junction
| City September 16 and IL to change
! the canon, or law, of the church SO that
| the bishop shall not have full control
| of the local church matters. This it is
| said will be resisted by the supporters
| of the bishop. Mr.. D. w. Nellis, Mr.. c..
| J. Brown and Mr.. George b. Palmer
| were appointed a committee to attend
| the diocesan convention.
! A prominent member of the church
| said today:
AN effort will be made to separate
| the church from the cathedral in gov
| eminent The bishop TOW has control
| as rector while the dean has but little
! to say. I have heard some of the
, ladies of the church say that they
| wanted their names taken off the sub
/ scription list. 1t will take the church
| year to get over this. Mr.. Bodley is
! very anxious to go. The meeting Fri
| day night was composed almost wholly
| of women. You know how that would
| be. They sat there and folded their
! hands and sympathized with Dean
| Bodley. The meeting was irregular and
| nothing could be done. OF course, they
! passed some resolutions to be presented
| to the diocesan convention"
| A lady member of the church said:
81 am so sorry it all happened. Dean
| Bodley was liked so we'll Bishop Mills
| paugh used to be a close friend of Mr..
| Bodley but he has turned about COM
! pletely and now he is bitter against
| him"
Dean Bodley rendered his resignation
| soon after the trouble arose about the
| participation in the funeral service. As
| a minister Dean Bodley has been gen
i orally appreciated. One member of
| the church spoke of him thus: Dean
| Bodley is a brilliant man and so many
| liked him, but he lacks tact. That is
his trouble"