The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-15
He Is Now Priest of the
Episcopal Church.
NO PROTEST RECEIVED
The Expected Scene Was Not Precipi-
tated-Ceremony Rurried-Bishop
Potter States His Position
to a Laynan.

for heresy by the Presbyterian assem-
bly,. was ordained a priest of the Epis-
copal church He was ordained to-
gether with the Rev. Charles A. Sned-
aker and the ordination ceremonies
were conducted by Bishop Potter. The
little church was crowded with peo-
pie and the ceremonies We're notable for
the auietness that prevailed.
Those who expected, FROM the great
cutlery of the past three or four weeks,
something sensa tional We're disap-
pointed. There was no scene, no eX-
element and no protest at the begin
ming. during or at the end of the cere-
monies. There was nothing notable in
the sermon preached by Rev. George
William Douglass. The services were
very long, commencing a 1890 and
continuing until late in the afternoon
If anything the services We're hurried
little, and the general communion
which followed the communion of the
postulants or candidates tended to eA-
tend the time
There was a large crowd about the
little proca thedral church as early as
$50 o'clock. This increased as the time
for the ordination ceremonies approach
ed.
After the Sunday school had finish
ed it's exercises The vicar. Rev. DIR.
Paddock, was approached by Inspector
Cross Of the police, who held a con-
versation with him. Several policemen
were out on the porch and some IN
the church. The church does not at
more than 500 people. and there was
about twice that number sitting ana
standing. Bishop Potter drove 10 the
church with the candidates for admts-
sion, Rev. Dr. Charles A. Briggs and
Rev. DR.. Charles A. Snedaker
Rev. Dr. Cornelius s. Smith, who
was to present Dr. Briggs and who is
emeritus rector of St. James church.
and Dr. George P. Nelson. who was
to present Rev. Dr. Snedaker and VINO
is one of the assistant secretaries, OF
the diocese. arrived later together.
With them was Rev. Dr.. Osborne of
Trinity church. Trenton, N. ]. Ar 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.
and had received no protest Eie smil-
ed at the thought of any of the 90
jecting clergymen appearing in the
church and making a scene, He. how
ever, said that he had received a let
ter from layman protesting against
the ordination of DR.. Briggs. and as
this letter was written under a msap-
prehension of the facts and the law lie
had answered 1t. He did not desire
to give the name of the iayman. who
ne said. was high up in the councils of
the church. Tnasmuch as the letter
he himself had written in answer 20
It. was general in its nature and set
forth his position. he had no objection
to making it public The letter Is as
follows:
Diocesan House. Lafayette Place,
N Y, May H. 1899-Mv Dear Sir:
YOnr 1e.t Tor IF he inc M hatn
me and l have given the matter 10
which you refer my best consideration.
You exaggerate. however. my pow
ers. In asking me to refuse to or
dain Rev. DR.. BrigSs'-to take the re-
sponsibility of acting in the case as
it demands. and to have the COURAGE
of my convictions,' you are apparent
ly under the impression that my power
in the matter is wholly within my dis
erection. Such is not the case. A bish
ops powers are constitutional, not alb
solute. In the matter of ordination
he can only act when certain prel,m-
mary action by others has been held.
but when this Is the case and a can
didate for orders stands at the thresh-
hold of the ministry, the canons of
shall not may, then proceed and
take the order of the ordination Of the
person who has met the preliminary
tests in the premises.
'All these tests have been applied in
the case of the person to whom your
letter refers and l have received q
certificate 10 that effect from the
standing committee Of the diocese.
Under these circumstances and un-
less some charge affecting the char
acter or teachings of Rev. Dr. Briggs
which was not covered by the testi-
mony has been presented to me | should
not consider myself as having reason
to disregard the plain imperative of the
canon. But nothing of the sort has
been adduced. The book the teach
ings of which have lately been chal-
lenged, has been for some time before
The public and the standing committee
of the diocese, has been convened since
recent and particular attention has
been called to it. 1t was, in my iudS-
ment, competent to that end if it had
seen fit to do so. to recall the certifi
cate originally forwarded to me, on
the ground that it had been signed
under misrepresentation or with in
sufficient knowledge. but this It has
not seen fit to do. l must. therefore
accept that certificate as final and +
shall do SO.
Il beg, however, that you will not
suppose that / am seeking to escape
from my personal responsibility in the
matter of the ordination of DR.. Briggs
by retiring behind the action Ct my
constitutional advisers I have not the
slightest desire to do so. The cutlery
against the author of The Introduc-
tion to the Study of Holy Scripture is
chiefly to be deplored because it be.
trays such a lamentable ignorance OF
the progress of sound learning and the
judgment of the best Christian schol
ars.
"In word, the author of The Intro
duction to the Study of the Holy Scrip.
lures has simply stated conclusions
which the best learning and the most
devout minds have accepted before him
II do not myself accept all of them
but that any of them denies or Tepu-
dates any of the Fundamental doctrine
of the faith can only be shown by mu,
citations or pfrversions of what the au.
thor has said. which are as malignant
as they are unScrupulous
Il note the prediction if you include
that Briggs advancement to the higher
ministry for which he has been recon.