The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-05-15
REV. DIR. BRIGGS
is ORDAINED
AS a Priest in the Episcopal
Clurcl,...Entirc Absence OF
Sensational Features.
NO PROTEST WAS ENTERED.
The Ceremonies We're Impressive
and Notable for the Quictness
That Prevailed.

NEW YORK. May 1i.-1n the pro-
cathedral, on Stanton street, Rev. DR.
Charles a. Briggs, who was suspended
for hercsy by the Presbyterian assem-
bly,, was ordained priest of the Epis-
copal church. He was ordained to-
gether with the Rev. Charles A. Snc-
| deker, and the ordination ceremonies
were conducted by Bishop Potter. The
! little church was crowded with people
and the ceremonies We're notable for the
quietness that prevailed.
| Those who expected, from the great
outcry Of the past three or four weeks,
some sensational features. were disap-
| pointed. There was no scene, no eX-
| element and no protest was filed at
the beginning, during or at the close Of
the ordination.
There was nothing notable in the SER
| mon preached by Rev. DR.. George VIII
lam Douglass.
The ceremonies were very long, COM
mcncing at 1890 o'clock 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 extend the time.
Large Crowd Present.
There was n large crowd about the
little pro-cathedral church as early as
$50 o'clock. This increased as the time
| for the ordination ceremonies ap-
preached.
After the Sunday school had finished
| its exercises the vicar. Rev. DR.. Had
| dock. was approached by Inspector
| Cross. Of the police, who held n CONVEX
sation with him. Several policemen
were outside the church and some in
the church.
The church does not seat more than
500 people, and there was about twice
that number sitting and standing.
Bishop Potter drove to the church
with the candidates for admission. The
bishop was asked what he had to say
preliminary to the cerem enies. He said
he had no notice of protest and had
received no protest. He smiled at the
thought OF any OF the objecting clergy
men appearing in the church and max
ing scene: He. however. said thatRe
had received, a letter from a layman
protesting against the ordination OF Dr.
Briggs. and this letter was written
under n misapprehension Of the facts
and law he had answered. He did not
desire to give the name of the laymar,
who. he said. was high up in the coun-
ellis OF the church.
All We're Nervous.
Rev. DR.. Briggs was somewhat nerv-
Gus. though he did not betrny it In the
church during the ceremonies. There
was sem5lance OF nervousness in all
the ce!cbrants. There seemed to be Il
tendency to hurry through the ceremon-
les. The church was not decorated.
Only 4 few potted piantE and n few H.
les were In the chance!.
\ simple service according to the
Episcopal church was gone through,
and then the rites OF ordination in ac-
cordancc with 'the form and manner
OF ordaining priests" were begun. After
Il prayer and singing Rev. DR.. Douglass
delivered his sermon. In his charge to
the candidates Dr. Douglass spoke slow
ly and impressivcly. At the conclusion
Of the sermon OF ordination Rev. DR.,
Osborne read the lltany. Then the most
impressive moment arrived. The spon-
sors went forward and presented tho
candidates to the bishop. The candi-
dates stood together with their sponsors
before the bishop. After the postulants
had been presented to the bishop and
after those presenting them had given
the usual assurance that they had pcen
examined and found worthy the bishop
rose from his chair and proclaimed n
general Invitation to any persons know
ing "any impcdInent or notable crime"
in the candidates TO come forward and
declare.
There Was No Protest.
Then followed q profound silence.
People turned about as II expecting 10
see some one rise up and make n pro-
test. No one arose There was no pro-
test handed to the bishop and the cruc-
ial moment was over. Then the regular
formula OF ordination was gone through
with more deliberatlon.
Then followed the laying on of the
hands by the bishop and the presbytcrs
md the participation in the communion.
During the entire communion service
the candidates remained kneelIng in
front Of the holy table before The bish-
op. The presentation of the Bible was
gone through with. Many of the con-
grcgatIon participated in the commu-
nion. During this Rev. DR.. Briggs took
scat In the Chanccl choir and sat for
the first time facing the congrcgatlo
who surveyed him with Interest. The
reading OF the Nlccnc creed, an Offer
atory and the reccssional concluded the
ceremonies.
Rev. DR.. Briggs was seen after the
ceremony. lie said he had nothing to
say concerning the criticism raised by
his ordination. lie said he was going
To tnkc rest. a close friend of Dr..
Briggs snld that he would 30 to Europe
and in the fall would labor In the pro-
cathedral church. Rev. DIR. Paddock
said that 1t seemed strange That II man
OF DIR. Briggs learning should take 40