The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-15
BRIGGS WAS ORDAINED.
Contrary to Expectation No Objection Was
Made by Any One.
REV. c. A. SNEDFKER ALSO ORDAINED
Says DR.. Briggs Book Is Not
Properly Understood.


the Presbyterian Assembly. was ordained
a priest of the Episcopal church today. He
was ordained together with the Rev, Chas.
A. snedeker. and the ordination ceremonies
were conducted by representative OIL
Bishop Potter, The little church was
crowded with people and the ceremonies
were notable for the quietness that pre-
vailed.
Those who expected from the great out
cry of the past three or four weeks some
sensational features were dislpao.alei,l
There was no scene and no protest wssl
Med OF the beginning, during or az thel
close of the ordination.
Tier was nothing notable In the SER
m "a preached by Rev. DR.. Will.A'n Georgel
D0apioss
Bishop Potter drove to the church with
the candidates Tor admission, Rev. Dr.l
Charles A. Briggs and Rev. Or. Charles
\. Snedefer.
Bishop Potter was asked what he had toI
sag preliminary TO the ceremonjus. He
/ said he had no notice % prota aud had
rtetNed 40 protest he smilei ~ tnel
thorght of any Directing Gle. syman ap
pei Is at the church and making n scenc.
He. however, said that he had re 's,vci a.
letter from layman protesting against
the ordination OF Dr. Briggs aud as tits
letter was written under IN; iappcenen-
sion OF the facts and law he h,l answered
/ II. he did not dare 20 give he name 81
the leyman, who he said. was high W In
/ the c2,rcils OF the church, iaasnsrch as
the letter he had received was Eenera IN
It's nature. He answered to this letter
as f llStws:
! r'cttsan House. Lafayette Place Nav
/ York. May 10, 1S99--Aty Dear sf; Your
! Of. nj hn "a hnF "a
| h'Sn given the matter to wh'tn II refers
~ lost consideration.
You exaggerate, however. my powers
| AMI are, In regard TO them, 1uier cous'd =
e:aA" nisapprehension. In askiag ,,e to
refuse to ordain Rev. Dir. Briggs ITO take
The responsibility Of acting In the case
as IT d. hands and to have the courage OF
my convictions you are apparently under
too impression that my power N he ria, =
ter is wholly within my discretion. Such Is
not the case. bishops powers are con
stitutional, not absolute In the matter
of ordination he can only act when GER
tain preliminary action by others has been
had; but when this is the case, and "a can
didate for ordination stands at the thrcsh-
old of the ministry. the canons of ordina-
tion declare that the bishop shall-not may
then proceed to take order for the ord-
nation Of the person who has met the
preliminary tests In the premises All
these tests have been applied IN he case
of the person to whom your letter refers
and have a certificate TO that effect from
the standing committee of the diocese.
Under these circumstances. and unless
some charge affecting the character or
: teaching Of Rev. DR.. Briggs which was moi
covered by the testimonial had beAn pre-
: scented to me- should not consider myself
as having discretion to disregard the plain
duty 81 canon.
! ~ tha i
duced The book the teachings of which
have lately been challenged. has been
for some time before the public and thu
standing committee of the diocese hai
been convened since recent and particular
attntion has been called to 1t. 1t was IN
my judgment, competent to that body
If that body had seen ut TO do so. to re-
call the certificate originally forwarded tc
me on the ground that II had been signed
under a misapprehenson or with Insult
Y fcient knowledge, but this It has not seer
At to do, | must therefore accept tina
e certificate as final, and shall do so.
II beg however, that you will not sup
= rose that | am seeking TO escape from my
personal responsibility in the matter q
the ordination az DR.. Briggs, by ratlrinl
{ behind the action Of my constitutional
advisers. | have not the slightest desire
:, to do so. The cutlery against the autho
d of The Introduction OF the Study OF HOLY
l. Scripture is chiefly to be depored, because
il betrays such a lamentable ignorance
f, of the progress OF sound ietrning anc
the Judgment Of the best Christian schol
/ FRS One of these, a bishop. writes 'Yoi
may be interested to see that the old stal'
Christian knowledge Society repuhlishe'
nv little phamphet on the bible, whicl
Is sontslns the same principles that ar
elaborated in your treatise | am indtg
o. nant at the misrepresentation, or we VII
a. hope the misunderstandings, of some q
your critics Have they, for the mrs
or time come across the Interpretation G
l. the speaking with tongues which har
n onize that book of the epistle TO tn
u; Corinthians? Have they never read Dea
go Plumpters article on the subject !
Smiths Dictionary of the Blblef
k I'm word, the author OF the lntroduc
an ticn to the study OF the Holy Scripture ha
IN. simply stated conclusions which the bes
learning and the most devcut minds hav
accepted before him
Dis II do not myself accept all OF them, BIT
It. that any Of them denies or impugnS an
Fundamental doctrine Of the faith can onl
II, he shown by mutations or perversnr
Gu CT what the author has said, which are
,e malignant as they are INSCRIPTIONS,
nd ~ note the prediction with which "a
r. conclude-.hat Or. Briggs advancement
The higher ministry for which he has bee
al commended has precipitated departures
sss the church OF Rome This would indee
hp unfortunate Tor the dutnor OF the II
no PRODUCTION to .he Study of the Holy Sc.il
re ture' holds letters from eminent Roma
~ Catholic scholars of foremost rank in il
stitutions OF learning, OF foremost dlgni-
expressing warmest appreciation OF h
contribution TO the study of the Bibl
ng and intimating their purpose to make u
of il in their class rooms Here again
tat would seem that larger knowledge wou
Of be the safest guide to wise action.
sc. Il need hardly add, after what I hn'
wa written, that It is my intention to proce
IA at the time appointed to Dr. Briggs o
"a dination.
re- II remain, dear sir, sincerely yours,
,sv Bishop Potter"
u Rev DR.. Briggs was somewhat nervo'
though he did not betray IL in the chur
'od during the services. There was a sci
iNl blance OF nervousness in all the Gel
W: Precisely at 1890 the organist beg
es- an organ voluntary. He had scarcely f
ca ished IL when the opening strains OF
professional we're heard. The usual ore
mis- was observed in the professional, AZ
a.. the choir came the vicar, Rev. DR.. Pa
~ dock, then the candidates. Rev. Drs. Brit
ner and snedeker, their speakers, Rev. l
his smith. Nelson and Osborne and lastly
bishop. The candidates and their spt
soTs took seats which had been piae
in a row at the front of the chancel'