The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-15


A. Briggs. who was found guilty OF
i. heresy by the Presbyterian assembly.
was ordained priest OF the Episcopal
church. He was ordained together with
Rev. Charles A. Snedeker, and the or
dination ceremonies were conducted by
Bishop Potter.
Those who expected from the great
outcry OF the past three 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 IL was the ordin-
alton OF two average priests.
There was nothing notable I'm the SER
mon preached by Rev. DIR. George Doug
lass TO attract attention. The most
radical statement in the whole sermon
was mild. such as intellectual paralysis
Is not an attribute of the church of God,
but intellectual faith is
Rev. DR. Douglass discoursed on "Au-
thority." taking his text from the 21st
chapter of St Matthew, % verse. His
line of thought was that one in order TO
be an authority must live up TO the
word of'God as well as to preachit.
The ceremonies were very long. com"
mencing AT 1890 O'clock and continuing
until late in the afternoon. If anything
the services were hurried a little. and
the general communion which followed
the communion of the postulants or can
dIdates tended to extend the time. rhe
church cannot seat more than 500 people,
and there was about twice that number
sitting and standing.
Bishop PO ter was asked what he ha d
to say preliminary to the ceremonies. He
said he had no notice OF protest and had
received no protest. He smiled at the
thought OF any OF the objectng clergy
men appearing in the church and maxi
ing scene. He. however. said that he
had received a letter from laymah pro-
testing against the ordination OF DIR.
Briggs, and as this letter was written
under a apprehension of the facts
ana law. he had answered. He did not
dessre TO give the name of the layman
who. he said, was high up in the councils
of the church. Inasmuch as the letter
he himself had written in answer to II
was general in its nature. and set forth
his position. he had no objection TO max
Ing IL public.
Rev. DR.. Briggs was somewhat nerv-
Gus, though he did not betray IL in the
church during the ceremonies. There
was a semblance Of nervousness in all
the celebrants. There seemed to be a
tendency TO hurry through the cere-
monies. The church was not decorated.
Only "A few potted plants and few lilies
We're in the chaacel
Precisely at 1880 the organist began
an organ voluntary. He had scarcely
finished IT when the opening strains OF
the professional were heard. The usual
order was observed In the professional.
After the choir came the vicar, Rev. DR..
Paddock, then the candidates. Rev. Drs.
Briggs and Snedeker, their sponsors,
Rev Drs. Smith and Nelson and Osborne
and lastly the bishop Rev. DIR. Briggs
wore the stole of academical decree, as
also did Rev. DR.. Snedeker Bishop
Potter wore his usual vestments.
The congregation stood as the process
sional was being gone through with. The
candidates and their sponsors took seats
which had been placed I'm row in front
of the chancel. Bishop Potter took "A
seat near thei holy table and Rev. DIR.
George William Dougless. who was 10
deliver the ordination sermon. Rev. DIR.
Osborne and the presbyters took seats
on either side of the chancel. Rev. DR..
Douglass is an occasional preacher in
Grace church. which was offered by the
Rev Dr. Huntington for the ordination.
lie lives In Tuxedo Park. N. j.
A simple service, according TO the
Episcopal church, was gone through and
then the rites of ordna ton in accordance
with "the form and manner OF ordering
priests was begun.
After a prayer and singing Rev, DIR.
Douglass delivered his sermon. In his
charge to the candidates DIR. Douglass
spoke slowly and impressively. At the
conclusion OF the sermon of ordination
Rev. Or. Osborne read the lltany. Then
the most impressive moment arrived.
The sponsors went forward and pre-
eentsd the candidates TO the bishop. The
candidates stood together with their
sponsors. before the bishop. After the
postuants had been presented 20 the
bishop and after those presenting them
lad given the usual assurance that they
had been examined and found worthy,
the bishop rose from his chair and pro-
claimed a general invitation TO any per-
sons knowing amy impediment or no
table crime" in the candidates to come
forward and declare.
Then followed profound silence.
People turned about as IL fexpectlng some
one TO rise up and make protest. No
one arose There was no protest handed
10 the bishop. and the crucial moment
was over Then the regular formula Of
ordination was gone through with more
deliberation.
Then followed the laying on of the
hands OF the bishop and the presbyters
During the entire communion service the
candidates remained kneelins I'm front OF
the holy table before the bishop. The
presentation OK tlte Bible was gone
through with. Many OF the congrega-
ton participated IN tho communion.