The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-30
"Ths Coming Conflict In the Episcopal
Church,


To TIRE EDIroR OF The SUS-Sir: Your
editorial Of Nov. % gives tho Impression that
we are on the eve OF rupture In the Episcopal
Church. and consequently I trust you will
allow me to correct this impression. as I am
rather intimately associated with what is
known as the anti-rationalistic movement in
the Church.
With reference to holy matrimonv We are
legitimatcly divided into two parties. namely.
those who consider II lifelong binding
contract. and those who consider that Jesus
Christ sanctioned remarriage OF the innocent
party TO divorce. Bishop Potter has
strenuously opposed what has been called
the High Church view Of this question. but
at tho last Diocesan Convention. to the
great surprise OF his clergy. he has come
to tho conclusion that the only solution Of
the difficulty Ia to be found In the Episco-
pal Church not allowing it's order for the
determination OF matrimony" to be used
for divorced party under any circumstances.
This will compel what you call the society
OF fashion" to avail themselves either OF tho
OWL law or Of those ministers OF Protestant
denominations who allow divorce under
certain circumstances
At the same time II 10 probable that at the
next General Convention OF 1901 the question
OF decentralization OF divorced persons will
priest will be at liberty to exercise his right OF
binding and loosing according to his own
judgment. This Is the truly Protestant posi-
tion as distinguished from that OF Rome. and
ono which is not always Ineligible to the lay
mind Only priest and Pope enjoy the privi-
lege OF binding and loosng. and as we have no
Pope II must restwith the priest in our Church
For let IL be- understood that a Bishop does
not possess any power OF binding and loos.
Ing " on moral questions which In not posse ssed
by the priest. nor would n General Conven-
ton OF the Protestant Episcopal Church dare
TO legislate on a standard OF morality For
example. we could not pass a canon to define
what We understand by either murder or
stealing. nor can We have a canon defining
what We understand by adultery. But the
Church has perfect right to pass canon
with regard to tho use OF It's services. This
Is evident In the rubric OF the order for tho
Burial Of the Dead" which enIoins that IL
shall not be used for any unbaptized adults.
any who die exconmunicate. or who have
laid violent hands upon themselves"
Then. as to what is called the Briggs oontro-
versy." An effort is being maze by Bishop
Seymour OF Springfield. H.. supported by a
very large number Of the Bishops and clergy.
to prevent the ordination OF men holding views
such as those which are held ny the Rev. Mr.
Diocese of Massachusetts, and not TO that OF
New York. Those who have read 'Rcnasccnt
Christianity" will have no doubt that Mr.
Schermerhorn IL n Unitarian. yet he has de-
clared that he holds precisely the same views
now which he held in the year 1893. when
he was ordained deacon by Bishop Potter. But
there Ia no open conflict" regarding this
question. There arc at least $50 clergy
out ~ 3SS In tho Diocese OF New
York who hold very decided views on
this subject. and Bishop Potter at the last con-
vention. when no read out tho names OF the
candidates for holy orders. intimated that the
responsibility OF their ordination rested with
the clergy and we may be quite sure that both
the Standing Committee OF the Diocese and the
clergy at large will In future do all they can to
assist Bishop Potter TO decide who are mt per
sons for the ministry" But there is no con-
nict, There Is no feeling OF disloy atty to Bishop
Potter. Nor IL there any likelihood OF a rupt-
ure. Dr. De Costa's action in leaving the
Church simply implies nothing. as overy clergy
man knows full we'll
The reason why this controversy centres In
ccse of New York that the largest number Of
men are presented for ordination. Moreover,
the diocese Is ruled by a man OF eminence who
Ia never afraid either to speak his mind or even
to change It; one who has the courage NJ his
can assure you that there IL no coming con-
nict.' The I, ~ clergy in the United States
are more united body han that Of any other
Christian community. the Presbyterians. for
example. and few exceptions do not make the
rule. OSE OF THE ANTI-BRIGus PARTY.
NEW YORK, Nov. 10.