The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-01
THE 1yr1-BRrses MOVEMENT.
One Of Tts Leaders Explains the Significance
of ThuradaI'A Vote.

To THE EDITOR OF The SuN-Sir: So much
has been written regarding the action OF at
least ffty Of the CLERGY OF the Diocese OF New
York who on Thursday last expressed their
Vows by recording vote against the Standing
Committee which passed DR.. Briggs's papers
for priests orders. that 1t seems necessary Tor
the public to be placed In possession OF the
exact facts.
For instance. the meeting held In the house OF
the rector Of st. Clements on the Tuesday be-
fore convention was reported In Sensational
journal as An Anti-Potter Meeting" and It
was stated that certain structures regarding
Bishop Potter's administration OF the diocese
were made at that meeting. l was present
during lts entire session. and can assure you
that Bishop Pottsr's administration OF the
diocese was not discussed, nor did any OF the
clergy present indulge In personalities OF any
kind 1t was felt that some steps should be
taken to record the feel ngs Of large number
OF the clergy regarding the ordination OF DR..
Briggs. and 1t was also felt that the most
emphatic way Of presenting to the public the
views OF what may be called the anti Briggs
party would be to advise tho election OF q new
Standing Committee. At the same time mono
OF us expected that our men would be elected.
In fact. we are surprised to ind that our can
didates received 90 large a number OF votes.
The members Of the present Standing Com
| mittse. and especially the clerical members.
are perhaps among the most popular men In
the diocese. and consequently q great many
OF the clergy voted for them on personal
grounds. I am able to state that at the very
least eighty or ninety Of the clerical members
| OF tho convention belong to what may be called
the antiBrlges party That 10. they are OF
opinion that candidate holding those very
! advanced views on the higher criticism which
n hald nv nr Rriuua ahnuld bA 0rdni N M
| to the priesthood OF our church.
There 10 nothing personal In this opposition
| to DR.. Briggs, although 1t must be admitted
| that the professor OF Union Seminary has not
| extended any mercy or consideration to those
| who differ from him. He fought to the very
| last to hold his position as a presbyter OF the
| Presbyterian body. the views Of which ara dia-
metrically opposed on so many subjects. to
those OF our Episcopal Church. Whom he
| found he had to leave tho Presbyterian body
| he took refuge In our church. and among the
! first 10 welcome him was DR.. Clendenin. the
| esteemed rector OF st. Peters. West Chester.
But after DR.. Briggs had been admitted as q
deacon OF our church he published his book
entitled "A General Introduction to the Study
| OF Holy Scripture" and however broad we N ay
| be In our conception Of things 1t must DO ad-
mitted that DR.. Briggs uses In that book
! language which is not consistent with his POSI-
| ton either as a teacher in a Presbyterian col
lege or as an ordained presbyter Of tho Episco-
pal Church. A careful reading OF DR.. Brggss
book will demonstrate this.
Consequently no party spirit animated tho
men who followed the leadership OF DR.. Glen
denim in their vote on Thursday. Among the
fifty or sixty votes recorded there were almost
as many low ohurchmen as high churchmen.
but there were great number OF men present
who had been led land wrongly sol by the Sec
ular press to regard the attitude OF the opposi-
ton as a 10 owe N ent opposed to Bishop Potter.
and CONSEQUENTLY they would not vote the
| anti-BriRRs ticket.
Let me say that what was done on Thursday
morning. when 80 many votes were recorded
practically against the views Of DIR. Briggs.
was pree mnently success. 1t has now been
recorded for the inform alton Of those religious
bodies who do not conform to the Protestant
Episcopal Church that there may be found
within the Diocese OF New York a very strong
party OF men who stand for Catholic truth and
the integrity OF the Holy Scripture.
A MEMBER OF THE ANTI BRIaos PARTY
NEW YORK. Sept 80