New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-25
I'D IN LINE FOR CHURCH FIGHT.
BISHOP POTTER TO MEET THE OPPOSI-
TON WITH A COUNTER ATTACK
THE Effort TO DIsPLACE SOME OF THE MEM
BERs OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE

THE EFFORT TO DIsPLAcE SOME OF THE MEM
BERs OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE
The opposition 10 Bishop Potter and the Standing
Committee Of the Diocese Of New-York. tho out
OF the ordination Of Dr Briggs has as
sumed new phase. The concerted action of
some churchmen Gust five members of tho
Standing Committee at the convention this week
and the vigorous attack made in church Defence
have attracted attention. and it has been con-
hdently asserted by Dr. Briggs opponents that
formidable opposition to the Broad church party
will be developed by tho time the convention meets
on Wednesday, Much hinges upon tho Bish-
ops course and what this is likely to be
was indicated Saturday i'm letter Of his when
was made public. which Is taken 10 indicate mat
be will not remain silent or the defensive. but
that he will seek 10 concentrate attention upon
a new proposition. calling upon the convention ID
memorlalze the General Convention in favor OF an
entire reconstruction Of the canont governing the
qualifications ~ candidates for ordination 10 The
ministry The Bishops plan will he 10 establish
central examining body for the church ID the
United States which shall formulate its own re-
qurements. and thus eliminate the difhcul'ies me-
with at present owing 70 the different standards
adopted by the bishops of the several diocoS'S an"
their boards Of examining chaplains
In letter just made public the Bishop says.
A large part Of tho present evil resides IN ihe
present conditions Of the canOns. which pid'''aIS
ARDS for admission to the ministry. That is TO say
in every individual bishop there IS vested so ARG
time and G Of scholastic requirements as to make
! It extremely easy 70 open the gates 10 "'s' I'LL"
Add to this the fact that candidate for holy or
dor having failed 70 pass his examination in one
diocese may on one pretext or another be trans
ferred 10 another diocese where II Is knoMn t i
m r1fiieb sf'o 20" nave ''''" '''' ''' ' '
For IFS consequences are not only intellectual
lP minister.
savory record doubtful sOundness IN the fath Is
tempted by such condition II things to turn from
+ other cominunions to the Church. short cut 10
the honors and emoluments Of calling Tor "hlch
There is but remedy for such state Of
things. and that is the West POINT rule; no man
gets commission in the Regular Army because ne
/ has passed an examination IN Alaska or Nf"
| examiners. and one set OF STANDARDS. ours snouia
be- Ike II. The examiners should he elected iioi9
tried and competent men Of universally recognized
capabilIty by tho General Convention. Their eX
penses should be assessed upon the dioceses. ana
venience the pecuniary expenditures the delays
that such a method would cost would be repaid by
/ military academy have their rank by sheer
/ merit. and whose diplomas have been given them
without fear favor or affection"
LIKELY TO PROVOKE A HOT FIGHT.
This. some If the anti-B Briggs mon say. is an Of
fort 10 transfer attention from tho Briggs 'ordina
ton 10 that Of the Rev John Tilley. jr.. proteg4
/ Of Or Clendenn After he had understood
/ that he had passed the canOncal eXamina
/ ton. his ordination held up on the
ground that he was lacking in some particulars.
and after some controversy Bishop Potter trans
ferred him 10 the Jurisdiction Of Bishop Seymour.
| by whom he was ordained n was charged. on
/ one hand. that the diocesan authorities had made
difficulties for Mr. Tilley because DR. Clendenin. his
! sponsor had so vigorously opposed the ordination
| ~ Dr Briggs and II was asserted on the other
| hand that Mr. Tilley was deficient in scholastic
| requirements though I'm denial of this he pointed
! in he Theological
| Seminary which IS quite strict in its requirements.
\ ayman who IS I'm close touch with church
! affairs said to Tribune reporter yesterday that
the Bishops proposition would occasion heated
| controversy which would probably serve to divert
attention to some extent from the Briggs case.
| "The Bishop" he said has shown that ceverness
! which makes his opponents admire him. He has
taken his stand upon principle which all admit,
! but he has suggested remedy which would esta0-
| sh an oligarchy within the Church that would
! work confusion II the control Of such a general
| board or examiners fell into the hands OF the
rituasts they could exclude from ordination every
| Broad Churchm or Low Churchman and there
| would be appeal II. however. the Board was
made up Of Broad Churchmen. might easily
| happen. no High Churchman would thereafter re-
| ceiye orders in the Episcopal Church. Thus the
| whole future Of the Church would be at the mercy
Of this oigarchy The particular grievance which
Bishop Potter seems to have, that candidate re-
iected in one diocese can obtain orders i'm another.
IS more apparent than real. because no Bishop can
receive such candidate without the permission or
| the Rishop I'm whose diocese he rejected And.
| hy the way Or Briggs was practically rejected
by Bishop Coke. then Bishop Of Western New
York before his application 10 Bishop Potter
INTEREST IN THE ELECTION
Notwithstanding this issue interest centres
| In tho election Of the Standing Committee. The
! ticket announced in The Tribune last June and re-
/ printed on Wednesday will receive the support OF
| those who were opposed tn the ordination OF DR..
, Briggs and TO the Broad Church principles
for which he and his supporters stand. II was
/ ascertained yesterday that great deal OF quiet
work is being done in behalf Of this opposition
ticket and that its supporters hope to show con-
idera bic strength in the diocesan convention. not
withstanding the manifest power of Broad Church.
: manship in New-York city.
Interest I'm the controversy which IS waging
I in the Episcopal Church has been stirred lately
/ by the publication Of now church magazine.
! "Church Defence" which has already been no
ticed hy The Tribune II is issued by the oppo-
nents Of Dr. Briggs. It quotes from pastoral let
ter issued by the American Bishops in 1894. reces
the controversy over Or. Briggs ordination calls
/ f. sacrlege. and says editorally:
This sacrilege was not committed thoughtlessly
! or unadyiSedly but In the face or serious ana
! earnest protests H. was not an erratic incident.
| but a. was concerted assault upon the citadel or
An era Of good feeling" Of those seasons
! when a dangerous lassitude overcomes the faith
mi has prevailed I'm the American Church for sew
beiiite} has infrcncheG Itself in the city OF God
II is not that enemies without the battlements
SOCK 10 take tho city but they are within. endeav-
orng 70 betray tho fortress Of salvation.
Under the caption. The Crisis I'm Great Mans
Life" Church Defence" addresses itself directly
20 Bishop Potter and calls upon him 10 break
away from the evil forces closing about his life