New-York tribune., 1899-07-12
BISHOP SEYMOUR PROTESTS
.,,rrTIoNs TO CONSIDERATION OF THE
REV J. B. FUNSTEN AS
BISHOP OF BOISE

follONlHe
=. p,shop Seymour OF Springfield. ILL.,. regard
nending Church controversy
=, "a, there should be in some minds misap-
,snsion as to our action In the proposed
',sacration OF the Rev. ]. B. Funsten as the
.u.ged Bishop OF Boise, desire to say in the
st nlace that our action is based entirely
or our affection for him and our love for the
rnurch. and in justification of this claim we
.s,re 10 say that we voted twice during our
,s, general convention 10 make the Rev Mr..
runsten the missionary Bshop-elect of Boise:
s,d we also submit the following copy Of pr-
cate letter which addressed TO the Rev. Mr..
tpnsten as soon as we learned OF his proposed
conservation on the 18th OF July
Springfield, II: Bishops House, July 6 1899
SIn 30 far your conservation is concerned,
heartily congratulate you, and shall welcome you
snlty was and is legal and canonical one
you declined. and your letter so declining was
with other official papers TO our present venerable
Presiding Bishop. He acted upon this official
h1STSGss ss ass Is Is las as can '0' the mouse BISHOPS
6 51 On go4f qus as m e
monial OF gratitude 10 you for declining 10 leave
I'm view Of the established fact that you did de-
cline. the contention is that you cannot res resume me
consent Of the other parties economically involved
IN the transaction ,.,,,
out intention Of course. badly advised In this
matter and may experience in consequence serious
assured Of my most sincere regard for ~ you
were OF dear Bishop Burton whom truly love
Hoping that you may be rightly guided; and
praying that God may bless you now an6 always
yours GEORGE F. SEYMOUR.
iFor the Rev. j B. Funsten, Rector. etc. Ports
With this preliminary statement we submit
the following brief the lawyers would call
It Of the Rev. Mr. Funsten's with our pro-
test against his conservation:
THE POINTS IN RE THE REV. MR. FUNsTEN.
'T-nder date Of March s. 1899 the Presiding Bishop
called meeting Of the House of Bishops at New
d) To elect suitable persons TO be Bishops Of the
Church, etc; in the missionary jqrisdicttons
ton Of the Bishoreect. and the other by the fail-
'' Sog1 Under date Of April 4 1899 the Presiding
I am glad 10 accompany. this notice with the
asked permission 10 withdraw his dec9a2He IN Rose
have accepted the withdrawal Of the deei-
nature and am proceeding to take order for his
~ Under date Of April II. 1899 the Presiding
Bishop tn the % sT M FDnse5 DI and
states that Bishop Williams had never ackn9wl- 9,.
edged the letter OF decnation sent 6y 5ae eIsr Eev
accented the declination. That by failing TO take
a1HTs5lction, amy Bishop Williams had virtually treated
The Jurisdiction as stu vacant its condltlon not
being affected by Mr Funsten's election or decnna-
ton'
"It is 70 be observed that no acceptance Of the
dAclination in such case as the above is required
rrbA only point TO be made sure is the receipt
nv the proper officer OF the declination. OF this
receipt we are assured. over and over again, by
the statements Of Bishop Clark that he knew
oFcally that the Rev Mr.. Funsten had de-
cined. Nothing more whatsoever is necessary
80 far as the completion OF the act Of declining
Is concerned.
Ut is also TO be particularly noted that Bishop
Williams at the time Of the receipt OF Mt
Funsten's declination. was In dying condition.
and dd die few days afterward. on the 1th
Of February 1890 He was. therefore. unable
10 take any action whatsoever in the premises
Having recited these facts. We submit that
The case is summed up under the following
heads
..First-The House Of Bishops and the House
of Deputles on last October. who have the Gus
tody of Boise as a ward under their guardian
ship. asked the Rev. Mr.. Funsten 10 marry her
spiritually her Bishop
"second-After due deliberaton. the Rev. Mr..
Eunsten declined to contract the spiritual mar
riage by conservation. and thereby broke the
engagement And this declinatlon on his part
was oficially acknowledged and acted upon by
The present venerable Presiding Bishop
''Third-Now, the question is. Can the ReV'
Mr. Funsten renew this engagement Of his own
zoliton, and accept his spiritual bride Dy con-
secration without the consent or bosses guaIa-
ians who have her under their legaI ana cdhoHl- m
oal care? I answer without hesitation 40
And ali to whom I have stated the case give
the same answer. ,,
There can be no doubt that the Rev: Mr.
Funsten did decline. Does he wish and the
Bisbops who act with him wish, 10 escape zoe
erect of the declination by techncalities OF the
most inadequate character? One cannot LOT
moment believe that such is the case
I'VE would not spend any time in discussing
the case. did II not involve legal consequences
which may be Of very serious ana uIstIeesiii. ~ !,
establishes as We humDy submit very Ill
satisfactory precedent. .,o.h,
"The art Of conservation will simply clotht
The Rsv Mr. Funsten with the office OF Blsh
op in the Church Of God. 1t does not ana il
cannot give him jurisdiction. When ne ls con
secrated therefore our dear orotner VIII De
Bishop, but he will not be- as many Ia"yers oT
NJ course we and the legal authorities WhoT
we have consulted may be wrong, out IL Is .hi tn'
voice OF prudence ~nlcn auNlsee' 49, r 80,
legal question before you place our orother ahC ahC
thA Church in a possible condition or extrem'
swkwardness by hasty ordination and consecra
ton. . ,.as g., ,,-
tue of his conservation TO be the missionar!
Bishop OF Boise, suppose clergyman ulsput
his what 90 the CdhO4S 'Ns :
twb,ect3 sunpose he as the alleged Blshop o
Bose nresumes to act in legal capacity as
trustee or corporator and the iawyers u1spT rs ~
his title as such an officer in the eyes OF W tn
80, iarr. hat 40 our statutes and jurists sa
upon the subject? We deplore for our des "a
trothers sake and the sake OF the peace nd 81 "a n
Church vvhet seems 10 us 20 be nasty anu y
sS,,.sad sction ON the part Of the authorize
Who have practical control in the premises an an
we repeat our solemn and well consuereo PaC
test against this consecratIo.n oTscbief and in
jury 10 the Church - cu,vNEOTrR
'et1tehon Of Sprin gield."