The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-05-16

NEW YORK, May 15.--In the pro-ca-
thedral on Stanton street, Rev. DR..
Charles A. Briggs, who was suspended
for heresy by the Presbyterian assembly,
was ordained priest of the Episcopal
church. He was ordained together with
the Rev. Charles A Snedeker, and the
ordination ceremonies were conducted
by Bishop Potter. The little church
was crowded with people, and the cere-
that prevailed.
There was no public protest.
The sermon was preached by Rev. DIR.
George William Dou ylass.
Rev. DIR. 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 rest. A close friend of DIR.
Briggs said that he would go to Europe
and in the fall would labor in the pro-
cathedral church. Rev. DIR. Paddock
said that it seemed strange that man
of DIR. Briggs learning should take 81
much pleasure in laboring among the
poor of the East Side, but this was his
wish. He said that Rev. DIR. Briggs
would not give up his position as pro
fessor in Union Theological seminary.
Bishop Potter allowed to be published
letter which he recently wrote in
answer to one from layman, whom he
said was prominent in the church. The
bishop wrote the following:
DIOCESAN HOUSE, LAFAYETTE PLACE, J
NEW YORK. May 10, 1899.
"My Dear Sir:-Your letter of the 9Th
instant is before me, and have given
the matter to which 1t refers my best
consideration.
"You exaggerate, however, my pow
ers, and are, in regard to them, under
considerable misapprehension In ask
ing me to refuse to ordain Rev. DIR.
Criggs,' to take the responsibility of
acting in the case as it demands, and
to have the courage of my 'convic-
tions, you are apparently under the i'm
preston that my action in the matter is
wholly within my discretion. Such is
not the case. A bishops powers are
constitutional, not absolute. In the
matter of ordination he can only act
when certain preliminary action by
others has been had, but when this is
the case, and q candidate for orders
stands at the threshold of the ministry,
the canons of the ordination declare that
the bishop shall, not may then pro-
ceed to take order for the ordination of
the person who has met the preliminary
tests in the premises.
"All these tests have been applied, in
the case of the person to whom your
letter refers and l have received a cer-
tifcate to that effect from the standing
committee of the diocese.
''Under these circumstances, and un-
less some charge affecting the character
or teaching of Rev. DIR. Briggs which
was not covered by the testimonial had
been presented to me, should not con-
slider myself as having discretion to dis
regard the plain imperative of the
canon.
"But nothing of the sort has been
adduced. The book, the teachings of
which have lately been challenged, has
been for some time before the public
and the standing committee of the dio-
cese has been convened since recent and
particular attention has been called to
it. 1t was, in my Judgment, competent
to that body, if it had seen fit to do so,
to recall the certificate originally for
warded to me, on the ground that it
had been signed under O misapprehen-
sion or with insufficient knowledge, but
this it has not seen fit to do. must
therefore accept that certificate as final,
and shall do so.
~ beg, however, that you will not
suppose that am seeking to escape
from my personal responsibility in the
matter of the ordination of DIR. Briggs
by retiring behind the action of my con-
stitutional advisers. l have not the slight
est desire to do so. The outcry against
the author of The Introduction to the
Study OF Holy Scriptures is chiefly
to be deplored because it betrays such a
lamentable ignorance of the progress of
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