New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-29
MAY PREVENT ORDINATION.
EFFORTS TO BE MADE TO EXCLUDE DR..
BRIGGS FROM THE PRIESTHOOD.
BISHOP POTTER wITHDRAwS THE CERE-
MoNY FROM ST. PETERS. WEST CHEs-
TER. AND DECLINES DIR. HUNT
INGTON'S INVITATION

MONY FROM ST PETERS WEST CHES-
TER. AND DECLINES DIR. HUNT
INGTON's INVITATION
The issue raised by the Rev. DR.. F. NJ. Glen
DENNIS letter to Bishop Potter, in which he
strongly objected to the ordination OF the Rev.
Dr. Charles A. Briggs as a priest in the Episco-
pal Church taking place in ST. Peters Church.
West Chester Of which DR.. Clendenin is rector,
may assume a graver form. 1t was learned yes
terday that II is almost certain that steps will be
taken to prevent the ordination altogether either
by preferring charges against DR.. Briggs, who. as
deacon of the Episcopal Church, is subject to
discipline II his teachings are shown to be at
variance with the authoritative standards of
the Church. or by a formal protest at the time
IL the Bishop attempts TO ordain him.
Both the clergy and the lal.y Of the Episcopal
Church much interested in the affair." and
there was no little discussion over 1t yesterday.
The incident has brought up again the whole
question Of DR.. Briggs's teachings and. while
there are many who stouty uphold him ana
see no reason why he should not be admitted to
the Episcopal priesthood, there are many
others who just as stoutly assert that his
views Of the Bible are in direct conflict with the
standards Of the Episcopal Church. and that
I
one whit since the time when they resulted in
his expulsion from the Presbyterian Church.
These latter further declare that DIR. Briggs's
teachings are opposed not to any particular ar
tice Of the creed, but that they are against all
truth and Christianity Even those who are
prone to shut their eyes TO all theological dis
putes. for the sake Of preserving harmony In
the Church. recognize the latent difference OF
opinion over Dr. Briggs's admission to the Eps-
copal priesthood which DR.. Clendenins letter
has famed into fame and they are bestlrrng
themselves to ward off anything in the Epsco-
pal Church in the nature of Briggs trial.
There were some, however, who expressed the
| opinion yesterday that the incident would blow
over and that DR.. Briggs would be admitted
| without any trouble.
NEITHER IN ST. PETERS NOR IN GRACE
CHURCH.
AS 10 the church in which the ordination OF
DR.. Briggs. II he is ordained, will take place.
the public Is still in the dark. There are two
! churches however. in when the ordination will
certainly not take place. The first is St Peters
| Church in West Chester. DIR. Clendenin received
a. note from Bishop Potter yesterday morning
! in which the Bishop said that he would with
draw the ordination from ST. Peters Church
This in the opinion Of the congregation of ST.
Peters has prevented much trouble. They are
! almost unanimous in praising their rector for
the stand he took and they intimate that II the
Bishop had pressed the matter they would have
| held a large mass-meeting in protest.
The other church in which the ordination Will
| not take place is Grace Church, In this city. IL
will be remembered that the Rev. DR.. william
Reed Huntington. rector Of Grace Church, wrote
a letter to Bishop Potter after reading Dr. Glen
| DENNIS letter. offering Grace Church for the
| ordination He received an answer yesterday
morning In which the Bishop thanked him for
his offer. but said that ne had made other ar
rangements.
What these other arrangements are has not
vet been revealed to the public Bishop Potter
will not discuss the subject in any OF its phases
DIR. CLENDENIN's REPLY.
DR. Huntingtons letter in support OF Dr.
Briggs and in answer to that Of Or. Clendenn
which WAS published in Yesterdays Tribune, has
received an answer from DR.. Clendenin as iol-
lows:
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: beg TO call attention to the fact tnat
the hook of DR.. Briggs against Whlch nave
protested is not the old volume condemned oy
the Presbyterian clergy. but a new ana en-
larged volume bearing date In its preface OF
January 1890 and therefore written un the
form now published) while DR.. Briggs was
deacon in our communion. In this preface Dr.
Briggs says, THE material in the ola Dooh ,as
become the nucleus of new materlal, SO l.iaC
this volume has grown TO be fully tWlce tIle
size of the original work." and In my opinion
fully twice as clear and 1ecided IN It's attack
upon the faith of the whole Church. esPe-
cially commend to the attention or any one III
terested 10 two new chapters upon the Creol.
hiItv and Truthfuness of Holy Scripture: IL
the teaching of these chapters leaves anythihg
NJ truth or Christianity worth having idii
to see it, We all must admire the courage anu
honesty OF DR.. Briggs in putting forth ms oooh
ar such time. Such act is chaHenge TO
the Anglican Church in this land TO speak o,
else hereafter on this subject TO forever hoiu
,,s v,se naane" F. NJ. CLENDENIN.
West chester, n. Y, April u, 1893
The hook TO which Dr. Clendenin refers, as
was stated in The Tribune yesterday, Is the
ninth edition of Dr. Briggs's original work The
hook was published on the twenty-hfth ami
versarv Of Dr. Briggss attainment OF profes-
sorship and is much thought OF by him. IL Is an
enlargement of the work which resulted IN tne
condemnation OF DR.. Briggs's teachings py the
PRESBYTERIAN Church, and contains huHipei
of additional features ~, -.
DR. Briggs, in adherence to MS practIce ol
giving out nothing on controversies over ms
teachings would not talk about the analr y, yes
tardav He said that he had received no Woru
fron1 Rishop Potter as to which church MS
ordination would take place in, and ne hearu
from the reporters for the first time the news
that he would be ordained neither in ST. Peter
Church nor in Grace Church.
TO ADD TO THE WALDORF.