New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-05
TWO CHURCHES OFFERED.
DR.. BRIGGS MAY BE ORDAINED IN ST.
BARTHoLoMEw's OR ST. ANDREWS.
PRESSURE BROUGHT TO BEAR UPON THE
BISHOP TO ADVANCE HIM TO THE
PRIEsTHooD-THERE NAY BE
A HERESY TRIAL

A HERESY TRIAL
AS was stated in yesterdays Tribune strong
pressure has been brought to bear upon Bishop
Potter by prominent Broad Churchmen to in
duce him TO insist upon ordanng Dr. Briggs
This pressure assumed more definite form yes
terday when two prominent rectors offered
their churches for the ceremony. This increases
the probability Of DR.. Briggs being ordained
before he sails for Europe May Is. but it by
no means makes IL certain
A prominent laymar who Is in a position to
estimate the situation with some degree of ac
curacy said yesterday that 1t was his opinion
that The Tribune quite right In saying yes
terday morning that DR.. Briggs's ordination
might be postponed indefinitely. He believed
that both Bishop Potter and the candidate were
Inclined 10 let the matter rest, at least until
DR. Briggs returns to America in the fall, neither
OF them counting the contest which Is sure to
result II the ordination is insisted upon. but sew
eral Broad Church rectors. he said, were most
determined that the ordination should take
place and were doing everything in their power
10 compel the Bishop to confer the order OF
priesthood upon DR.. Briggs, in vindcation OF,
their own oft-expressed concurrence in his
teachings.
DR.. BRIGGS HAS NOT WITHDRAWN.
AS May IA. the date which Bishop Potter had
set for the ordination, draws nearer, the curl
osity 10 the settlement Of the controversy In
creases and this is due largely to the fact that
Dr. Briggs sails for Europe May Is, and will
not return until next fall 1t is thought that the
matter must be decided in way the other
before Dr. Briggs's departure. although some
have intimated that the Bishop would like to
defer the ordination until next fall and give the
trouble time TO blow over There is much specu-
lation therefore as TO the next action on the
part Of Bishop Potter. The latter has preserved
absolute silence since his note TO the Rev. F. NJ.
Clendenin. Of st. Peters Church. West Chester.
Withdrawing the ordination from that church
in consequence Of Dr. Clendenin's vigorous pro-
test and his other note 10 the Rev. Dr. William
Reed Huntington. refusing the offer of Grace
Church for the ordination made by DR.. Hunting
ton
The first story that arose yesterday was to
the effect that Bishop Potter had decided to
avoid any further controversy by requesting
DR.. Briggs 10 give up all idea Of being ordained
TO the priesthood at all. 1t was said that the
Bishop had made this request Of Dr. Briggs. and
that the latter had acceded TO 1t. This story
was found to be absolutely false. and it was
ascertained from an authoritative source that
no such note had been written request made.
1t was further learned that DR.. Briggs had
intention of abandoning his desire to be
dained TO the priesthood and that he had never
contemplated withdrawal. II is possible that
Bishop Potter would welcome such withdraw
al, but he has given no evidence of such
opinion.
WAITING FOR THE BISHOP
The opponents Of Dr. Briggs are still waiting
for the Bishop TO name the place of ordination.
It is not believed that there will be any action
taken against Dr. Briggs prior 10 the time of
the ordination and the fact that a formal pro-
test will be made then has led TO the belief that
Bishop Potter is keeping the name of the
church secret for the special purpose Of pre-
venting such a sensational scene. This idea is
based upon the report which came out yester-
day that soon after DR.. Briggss book was is
sued two months ago, a priest OF the diocese,
upon learning the nature of the book wrote TO
the Bishops secretary asking whether Dr.
Briggs was to be advanced to the priesthood,
and II So when and where 1t is said that he
received no reply to his inquiry and that he
was kept in the dark about the matter until the
announcement appeared that St PETERS, west
Chester, had been chosen
There was a rumor yesterday that DR.. Hunt
ingtons church would be used for the ceremony
after all, but DR.. Huntington said he knew noth-
ing of such decision.
Il was learned Yesterday, also, that two we'll
known rectors have followed DR.. Huntingdon
course and offered the use Of their churches 10
men are the Rev. DR.. David II. Greer, rector OF
St Bartholomew's Church. in Forty-fourth-sI
and Madison-ave. and the Rev DIT George II
Van De Water rector OF ST. Andrews CnuIch
One-hundred and twenty -seventh-st. and Flfth-
ave. and chaplain Of the list Regiment, n. U.
~ Y during the Santiago campaign
Neither Of these men could be seen YESTERDAY
and II is not known that they have written let
tiers containing extended reasons for their sup
port Of DR.. Briggs. nor is it known whether
either Of these offers has as yet peeh dcSeP'eu
A HEREsY TRIAL LIKELY.
II was generally believed yesterday by those
who are opposing DR. Briggss ordination that
those who have taken up the professors cause
will succeed in forcing the issue which VIII be
met by formal protest when the Bishop. In
carving out the provisions of the Prayer BOOK,
asks whether any one knows any impeachment 10
the ordination of the candidate 1t is contended
that the Bishop will be compelled TO suspend
the ceremony and have the objections fornany
considered and passed upon oeIore ne can " :.
dain Dr. Briggs. On the other nano. II IL
pointed out that years ago such case occurred
in this diocese when a young canolcate TOT 'ne
priesthood was accused by Low Cnutcn l p,shon
holding Romish doctrine and that then bishop
Onderdonk refused to heed the objection ana
proceeded with the ordination IL is peneNeu
cnsrse 0'S IN which case the opponents of DR.:
Briggs would straightway present MIN TOT TRIAL
on charges Of heresy. ,, ~, .o,,,,
DR. Briggs will sail for Europe with his FANNY
on Nav Is He will spend his summer IN tne
South of England resting, and will resume IN ms
work AT Union Theological Seminary In the rali'
A R1yMoR ABOUT UNION SEMINARY DENIED
The statement was made yesterday that the
trouble over the ordination had anected the
Union Theological Seminary. in which Ut,
Briggs is professor of Biblical theology and mao
lessened the demand for its graduates 1t was
said that calls which had been extended 10 the
embryo ministers had been Withdrawn on &C.
count Of the published criticisms OF 1T, 30 The
teacbinas until at present only two OF tie
graduating class had calls. 40, Radiant n,
DR. Charles Cuthbert Hall me e., pr s,ory was
the seminary. when informed % ''"'