New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-04
DIR. DE COSTA'S NEW FAITH.
FORMER EPISCOPAL PRIEST GOES INTO
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
RECEIVED INTO THE COMMUNION AT A PRI-
VATE CEREMONY IN THE CHAPEL
OF THE ACADEMY OF THE
SACRED HEART.
SACRED HEART.

The Rev DR.. Benjamin F. De Costa late rec
tor OF the Church OF st. John the Evangelist
Waverey Place and Eleventh-st.. who recently
left the Episcopal Church on account Of the
victory OF the Broad Church faction In the con-
vention OF the diocese OF New-York after the
controversy over DR.. Briggss ordination, was
yesterday received into the Roman Catholic
Church.
The ceremony took place privately in the
chapel Of the Academy Of the Sacred Heart, In
West Seventeenth-st There were about fifteen
persons present. An effort was made last night
to obtain some details of the ceremony, but
nothing about 1t could be learned. The priests
Of the Church OF ST. Francis Xavier and the
Sisters connected with the Academy of the
Sacred Heart would say nothing. and DR.. De
Costa was not at his home
DIR. De Costa's break with the Episcopal
Church was due to his opposition to the ordna-
ton of the Rev. DIR. Charles A. Briggs. whose
liberal views on the inspiration Of the Scriptures
started the recent controversy in the Episcopal
body
In a statement issued for DR.. De Costa yester
day the following appears
No should be surprised by his decision as
Church standard. by which he s. now violently
stand on the Episcopal platform he would go to
Rome" He has kept his word. lie came AT last
TO regard the platform as destroyed by the Broad
Church victory, and saw no good in prolonginB the
struggle
Since his resignation from the Episcopal Church.
according what Is said by those I'm close touch
with him, DR. De Costa has had invitations TO join
many denominations. including the Retormed
Episcopal, the Catholic and Apostolic, and the Ola
class that his trouble lay with the Scripture ques-
ton solely, but, as is now the case with many
cleTgymen OF the Episcopal Church. 1t STANDS re-
lated 10 the whole system
The late Bishop Williams predicted departures 70
Rome this account. and Or. De Costa Is aireauy
those who kept back In the Episcopal Church
simply by their inability otherwise to provlde LOT
! their families. The Roman Church can hold out no
financial prospect TO converts; and the unnarrled
who Join them in the priesthood can look forward
TO only $500 a year the stipend of the best parish
priest In New-York.
Dr. De Costa is married and not eligible to
the Roman Catholic priesthood. He has no
ecclesiastical prospects. He has declared his
intention to return to literature, which long oc-
curied his attention and devote himself 10 writ
ing and lecturing, for which purposes he has
made ample preparation by study and travel In
foreign lands.
He has prepared for publication a statement
in justification OF his course in which he holds
| that the Roman Catholic Church is the true
| Bible Church, and alone capable of protecting
and teaching the Scriptures in their entirety and
! integrity
Dr. De Costa received his preparation for the
! Roman Catholic faith at the Church OF St
| Francis Xavier in West Sixteenth-st.