The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-15
ORDAINED.
Famous Hereto Is
Invested With
Orders.
POTTER'S LETTER,
Bishop Tells Reasons for
Admitting Dissenter
To Fold.

New York, May 14.-In the small
though pretty pro-cathedral on STAN
ton street in the downtown district,
this morning, Rev. DR.. Charles A.
Briggs, who was found guilty of hersey
by the Presbyterian assembly, was or
dained priest of the Episcopal church.
He was ordained together with the
Rev. Charles A. Snedeker, and the or
dination ceremonies were conducted by
Bishop Potter.
The little church was crowded with
people and the ceremonies were notable
for the quietness that prevailed. Those
who expected from the great cutlery OF
the past three or four weeks some SEN
sational features were disappointed
There was no scene, no excitement and
no protest was filed, either beginning,
during or at the close of the ordination.
One would imagine that it was the or
dination of two average priests. There
was nothing notable in the sermon by
Rev. DR.. George William Douglass
The most radical statements in the
whole sermon were mild, such as In
tellectual paralysis is not an attribute
of the church of God, but intellectual
faith is"
mencing at 1890 o'clock and continuing
until late in the afternoon. If anything
the services were hurried little, and
the general communion which followed
the communion of the postularlts or
candidates tended to extend the time.
There was a large crowd about the
little pro-cathedral church as early as
$50 o'clock. This increased as the time
for the ordination ceremonies began.
Ap.1a. n. j.. L..
charge of the church, was a very busy
man. After the Sunday school had fin
ished its exercises Rev. DR.. Paddock
was approached by Inspector Cross of
the police, who held a conversation
with him. Several policemen were out
side the church and some in the church.
The church does not seat more
than 500 people, and there was about
twice that number sitting and standing.
Bishop Potter drove to the church with
the candidates for admission Rev DR..
Charles A. Briggs and Rev. DR.. Chas.
A. Snedeker. The Rev. DIR. Cornelius 3.
Smith, who was to present DR.. Briggs,
and who is emeritus rector of st.
James church, and the Rev. DR.. Geo.
p. Nelson, who was to present Rev. DR..
Snedeker, and who is one Of the assist
ant attorneys of the diocese, arrived
later together. With them was Rev.
DR.. Osborne of Trinity church. All of
these went to the office of the vicar
Bishop Potter was asked what he had
to say preliminary to the ceremonies.
He said he had no notice of protest.
DR.. Potter said he had received a let
ter from a layman protesting against
the ordination of DR.. Briggs, and AS
this letter was written under a mis-
apprehension of the facts and law,
he had answered it. He did not desire to
give the name of the layman. The let
ter is in part as follows:
Diocesan House, Lafayette Place:
New York, May 10-My Dear Sir
Your letter of the 5th inst. is before me
and 1 have given the matter TO which
it refers my best consideration. You
exaggerate, however, my powers, and
are In regard to them, under consider
able apprehension. In asking me to
refuse to ordain the Rev. DR.. Briggs
to take the responsibility of acting,
in the case, as it demands" and to
have the courage" of my "convic-
tons" you are apparently under the
impression that my action in the mat
ter is wholly within my own discretion.
Such is not the case. A bishops pow
ers are constitutional, not absolute. In
the matter of ordination he can only
act when certain preliminary action
by others has been had, but when this
IS the case ana a cdnOlQdte LOf OruefS
stands at the threshold of the ministry
the canons of ordination declare that
the bishop shall" not may then
proceed to take order for the ordination
of the person who has met the prelimi-
nary tests in the premises.
l note the prediction with which you
concluded that DR.. Briggs advance
ment to the higher ministry for which
he has been raised, will precipitate de-
partures to the Church of Rome. This
would indeed be unfortunate, for the
author of THE Introduction to the
Study of the Holy Scripture" holds let
tiers from eminent Roman Catholic
scholars of foremost rank in institu-
tions of learning of foremost dignity,
expressing appreciation of his contribu-
button to the study of the Bible, and in
timating their purpose to make use
of it in their class rooms. Here, again,
it would seem that a somewhat larger
knowledge would be the safest guide
to wise action. l am, dear sir,
Sincerely yours, H. c. Potter.