The times., 1899-09-07
THE BRIGGS CONTROVERSY.
Famous Church Case to he Reopened
at Next Diocesan Convention.

af Next Diocesan Convention.
NEW YORK. Sept. 6.-The opponents
Of the Rev Charles A. Briggs have decided
to force the old fight again. If the latest
reports in the Protestant Episcopal Church
circles are true. II is said that those who
were bitterly opposed to his ordination
have again joined forces and will make
their fight at the next diocesan eonven-
tion. Their opposition. II is understood.
will take the form of a vigorous protest
against the Episeopalian policy which per-
mitted DR.. Briggs ordination. and the
strength of the Broad Church and the High
Church factions will probably be developed
in the election OF the standing COMMITTEES
of the diocese.
The standing committee was the one
upon which the responsibility for Dr.
Briggs ordination was officially placed
and its secretary, the Rev. Dr. Thomas R.
Harris. is man Of much authority in the
board OF examining chaplains. The board
prevented the ordination in this diocese
OF John Tilley. jr., the protege OF the Rev.
DR.. Frank NJ Clendenin. Tilley was
obliged TO go to the Springfield diocese for
his orders. The High Church faction ia
opposed 10 the reelection OF the present
standing committee, which ranks second in
the diocese TO the Bishop, and in certain
cases. can order the Bishop 70 take action
In the event OF vacancy in the Episco-
pate, or II its incumbent is disabled to
such an extent as to be unable 10 discharge
its duties, the standing committee has su-
pTeme authority in matters CT discipline
except where that authority has been sps-
eiaily delegated upon the clerical members
of the committee.
At each convention the standing commit
tee is selected by ballot and it is made I'd
of four eiergymen and the same number OF
laymen. It's vacancies are filed by the con-
current vote OF all members OF the con-
Vention. The opposition to the present
committee is directed chiefly against its
clerical members The jurisdiction over
all questions relating to theological mat
ters or affairs concerning the clergy is BIZ
a common understanding delegated to the
clerical members. and consequently the
Briggs and the Tilley cases and others OF
a controversial nature were referred to
them The members Of the standing COM
mittee are: Clerical members-The Rev.
DR. Morgan Dix, of Trinity Parish; the
Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Harris, Of ST. Mzry's.
Scarborough the Rev. DR.. Octavius Apple
gate. of st. Georges Newburg; the Rev
DR.. Jacob S. Shipman. of Christ Church
New York. Lay msmbers-G MaccuIIoen
Miller, of st. Thomas New York: s. Nich-
olson Kane, Of St James. Hyde Park;
George Zabriskie, of the Church OF tie In
earnation. New York. and Herman c. Won
Post, of St Mary's. NanhattanvilIe.
The High Church faction propose. so it
is asserted by welI-informed iaymen. % re-
move from the committee all the clerical
members except DIR. Dix, who is the only
member of the committee who is a pro-
nounced High ChuTehman. Whether an at
tempt viii be made by the High Church
faction to displace certain OF the lay mem
bers and I'LL their places with High
Churehmen is not known. It is rumored
that Prof. Van Anringe. CT Columbia Uni
versity. has been asked TO consent 10 an
election to the standing committee Thf
High Churchmen at any rate assert thsE
their strength Will be sufficient to elef
from one to three of their candidates as
clerical members OF the COMMITTEES. Lasf
year the candidates were unanimousLl
elected. The coming convention is to b
held On September Z.