The Hawaiian gazette., 1898-12-30
Rev Nj. IJsbOrlG Make Plain
Bishops Authority
VIVA, Conservation Confers-when
There ~ no shadow OF v sht-Can-
not Cosros-At Washington.

EDITOR y G. AT Was with much
pain that ! read an article in ne
saturday Issue Of your paper. rela-
tive OF myself and church matters,
| am quite sure that you do not mean
to misrepresent me, but you have done
so nevertheless, and beg you will |
kindly permit me through your col |
umns, to correct you on two points:
You failed TO grasp my views of the
Bishops position in this diocese. The
very last thing ] wish to convey was,
that I held the view that the Bishop
had no color Of authority for ruling
the Church In Hawaii" lie has the
spiritual rule OF this diocese. The
Bishop in every diocese Is the spirit
ual ruler and head OF the church. and
the very act of conservation confers
upon him certain sacred powers and
prerogative which give him spiritual
jurisdiction in the diocese to which he
may be appointed. The Episcopal
Church IL founded on the principle of
the Bishops authority in spiritual mat
aters. as a monarchy is. on the prin-
ciple OF government by a monarch. in
temporal matters. What | wished you
to understand was that the Bishop had
no coerciye authority whatever confer
red on him either by the English
Church or English crown, or by virtue
OF his Office, to discipline either the
clergy or the laity. or to interfere in
any way with the rights or liberties
of any man In this country; and that
when he undertakes to do so. he does
so, ultra wires and entirely on his own
responsibility. without shadow or
authority, and by English Ecclesiasti-
cal law only those persons in the
church who choose to acknowledge his
temporal supremacy are bound by II.
The Bishop is quite clear on this point
himself, when he states in the April
issue OF his Diocesan Magazine that
the Anglican Church in Hawaii Is a
voluntary Association" This Is quit.
true, and he. by virtue OF his ONCE f.
president OF the association. The pre-
sident OF any association enjoys GER
tain powers and privileges attached to
his office. as does the Bishop. but thes.
powers are limited. and he may not
go beyond them, without the conseni
OF the members OF the association. and
IL he does. his action Is not lawful.
In England and in the United States,
Bishops have coercive authority con.
ferred upon them by the church. with
the consent OF their respective govern
ments. very right and necessary In the
interests OF good government, but here
no such power has been conferred.
which makes all the difference and il
Is the coercive ruling OF his diocese
that ] say the Bishop exercises with
out authority.
All good churchmen hold the Office OF
the episcopate in the deepest venera-
ton and respect. and when 1t is I'M
worthily represented, IL Is the greatest
calamity that could befall a church.
With regard to my visit to Washing
ton to attend the general convention
of the American Church. you infer that
was received there with marked at
tention, which was not the case. ! was
received with the courtesy that any
clergyman from foreign diocese,
might expect at such a convention,
from such body of men, with per
haps a tinge OF extra interest, coming
from the Sandwich Islands, and new
possession. In a few cases the cour-
tesy extended to me by Bishops was
noticably scant, but the instances
were few. The House OF Deputies po-
litely gave me seat on the floor OF
their House, by which had access, TO
members of committees, but not TO the
committees In session. as your paper
would intimate. The House OF Bishops
sits In council alone, and the public
are excluded, the House OF Deputies is
comprised OF the clerical and lay dele
gates, and II Is this House that sX-
tend welcome to such visitors as
was.
! have to say that did use every
endeayor to put the members of this
convention in full possession of the
facts, ard the true condition and state
OF our church, In order that they might
legislate the more intelligently in the
matter Of this new possession. This
was the purpose OF my going to the
convention ] presume. After three
weeks session I left Washington, feel
ing that We had the sincere sympathy
OF very great proportion of that Con-
gress, and that We might rely upon
the American Church for assistance in
the satisfactory settlement OF our diff
ficulties, IL our cause be right, and the
movement general. The joint commit
tee on the Increased responsibilities
OF the church" in that part OF its re-
port which refers to this diocese, dis
tinctly expresses its opinion, that ia
such case as ours, the church Is
charged with obligations OF duty to ex-
tend help"
! am very truly yours,
JOIIN IrSpopNE