Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-06
HIS ORDINATION POSTPONED
DR.. Briggs Will Not Be Ordained in Imme-
date Future.
Question Of His Admission to EpiscO.
pal Church Still Causes Much
Controversy.

The New York Herald today says: That
DR.. Briggs ordination will not take place
in the Immediate future. II at all, Is a con-
viction that is gaining ground among the
clergy of the Episcopal Church. The silence
of Bishop Potter is accepted an indica-
ton that even if he has not postponed the
ordination he is deferring action with the
expectation that DR.. Briggs will withdraw
his application or postpone it until after his
return from Europe.
A postponement is desired by both fac
tons in the church. which want more time
for the consideration of the matter. 1t is
expected that public protest against the
ordination will be made in church whenever
DIR. Briggs presents himself. Such action
would be almost unprecedented and it is
admitted that it would not necessarily act
as stay of proceedings. 1t would be mere
ly formal declaration of war, and would
be followed by the formal presentation of
charges of heresy and demand that DR..
Briggs be placed on trial.
DIR. Briggs to Stand His Ground.
Friends of DR.. Briggs declare that he will
not retreat, matter what the conse-
quences may be. In fact DR.. Briggs has
said much himself. He appears to have
no doubt that his ordination will take
place before his departure for Europe
The Rev. H. David M. Greer, rector of st.
Bartholomew who offered his church for
the joint ordination of his assistant, the
Rev Charles H. Snedeker. and DR.. Briggs,
said that the offer had not yet been accept
ed by the bishop. When Mr. Snedeker call
ed on the bishop to ask whether a time
and place had been fixed for his ordination
and to tender the use of st. Bartholomew
he was told that he would receive due
notice when to present himself. Further
than this the bishop would say nothing, ex-
cept to tender his thanks to DR.. Greer for
the offer of his church.
DR.. Greer said he thought the possibility
OF the ordination taking place in st. Bar
tholomeWs was very remote. as 1t was
probable the bishop had made other ar
rangements. He declined to enter into any
discussion of the charges against DR..
Briggs, but said he was heartily in favor
of his admission into the priesthood of
the Episcopal Church Neither would he
discuss the attack made on the bishop by
DR.. De Costa.
DIR. De Costa Confident.
DR.. De Costa said yesterday:
Il am convinced that DIR. Briggs will not
be ordained. 1 say this because 1 believe
Bishop Potter is too wise a man to pro-
coed with the ordination, knowing the storm
that such action would provoke. All he has
to do is to suspend action. The rector of
the church in which the ordination was ar
ranged to take place has interpOsed his OBJ
lection, and there is no reason why the
bishop should feel compelled to select
another church. He can simply let the
matter rest.
80 far as DIR. Briggs is concerned there
is no reason why he should insist upon or
dinatiou except that he is looking for what
he considers Vindicatiou. There is no rea-
son why he should be INDICATED at the ex-
pense of the church. l hold, too, that his
ordination in the Episcopal Church, taken,
as it would be, in the light of vindication,
would be species of insult to the Presby
terrain Church, with which we should de-
sire to maintain friendly relations.
Bishop Potter can, of course, proceed
with the ordination at any time and place
he sees fit. In view, however. of existing
conditions regard for propriety should die
tate that due notice be given, so that those
opposed to Dr. Briggs may prepare and
present their protest. l am informed that
assurances have been given by representa-
tive of the bishop that such notification will
be given, but were 1T given today the notice
would be scant If 1t is still proposed to per-
form the ordination the 18th instant.
This is another reason l have for believ
ing that it will not take place on that
date"
Rev. George F. Nelson, one of the as
sistant secretaries to the bishop, yesterday
assured a clergyman who opposes DR..
Briggs that public notice would be duly
given when the date and place of the or
dination had been determined.