Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-15
ORDAINED A PRIEST.
Notable Ceremonies in the Stanton
Street, N. Y, Cathedral, Yesterday,
WHEN REV. DIR. CHARLES A.
BRIGGS, SUSPENDED FOR HEPE-
sly BY THE PRESBYTERIAN
ASSEMBLY, WAS ORDAINED A
PRIEST OF THE EPISCOPAL
CHURCH BY BISHOP POTTER.

ant Cathedral on Stanton street, Rev.
DR.. Charles A. Briggs, who was sus-
pended for heresy by the Presbyterian
assembly, was to-day ordained a priest
of the Episcopal church He was or
dained together with the Rev. Charles
A. Snedeker, and the ordination cere-
monies were conducted by Bishop Pot
ter. The little church was crowded
with people and the ceremonies were
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
sermon preached by Rev. DIR. George
William Douglass.
The ceremonies were very long, com
mencing at 1890 O'Clock and continu-
ing until late in the afternoon. If
anything the services were
HURRIED A LITTLE,
and the general communion, which fol-
lowed the communion of the postulants
or candidates, tended to extend the
time. There was large crowd about
the little proCathedral church as ear
ly as $3.50 O'Clock. This increased as
the time for the ordination ceremonies
approached.
After the Sunday school had finished
its exercises, the vicar, Rev. DR.. Had
dock, was approached by Inspector
Cross, of the police, who held con-
versation with him. Several police
men 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.
Bishop Potter was asked what he had
to say preliminary to the ceremonies.
He said he had no notice of protest, and
had received no protest. He smiled at
the thought of any of the Directing
clergymen appearing in the church and
making a scene. He, however. said
that he had received letter from a
layman protesting against the ordina-
tion of DR.. Briggs, and as this letter
was written under a misapprehen-
sion of
THE FACTS AND LAW.
he had answered. He did not desire to
give the name Of the layman, who, he
said, was high up in the councils of
the church.
Rev. DR.. Briggs was somewhat ner-
vous, though he did not betray it in
the church during the ceremonies.
There was a semblance of nervousness
in all the celebrants. There seemed to
be tendency to hL<<y through the GER
emonies. The church was not decora-
ted. Only few potted plants and few
lilies were in the chancel.
simple service according to the
Episcopal Church was gone through and
then the rights of ordination in ac-
cordance with 1.-The form and manner of
ordaining priests were begun. After a
prayer and singing Rev. Dr.
Douglass delivered his sermon. In his
charge to the candidates DIR. Douglass
spoke
SLOWLY AND INTERESTINGLY.
At the conclusion of the sermon of or
dination Rev. DR.. Osborne read the Lit
any. Then the most impressive mo-
ment arrived. The sponsors went for
ward and presented the candidates TO
the Bishop. The candidates stood to-
gether 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 been examined
and found worthy, the Bishop rose from
his chair and proclaimed a general in
yitation to any persons knowing ANY
impeachment or notable crime" in the
candidates to come forward and de-
clare.
Then followed a profound silence
People turned about as if expecting
some one to rise up and make pro-
test. No one arose. There was no
protest handed to the Bishop and the
crucial moment was over. Then the
regular formula of ordination was
gone through with more deliberation.
Then followed the laying on of the
hands by the Bishop and the Presby-
tiers and the participation in the COM
munion During the entire communion
service the
CANDIDATES REMAINED KNEEL-
ING
in front of the holy table before the
Bishop. The presentation of the Bible
was gone through with. Many of the
congregation participated in the COM
munion. During this Rev. Dr. Briggs
took a seat in the chancel choir and
sat for the first time facing the con-
gregation. who surveyed him with in
terest. The reading of the Nicene
creed, an offertory and the occasional
concluded the ceremonies.
Rev. DR.. Briggs was seen after the
ceremony. He said he had nothing to
say concerning the criticism raised by
his ordination. He said he was going
to take a rest A close friend OF DIR.
Rr-fvpp said that he would OF m Ez,