The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-30
TROUBLES OF CHURCHES
DELAY IN CONSIDERATION OF 4 PROT
EsTANT EPISCOPAL BISHOP.
"Cafholfc- Party Versus Virginia
s.Type of Churchmen"-Dr. Briggs to
Enter Episcopal Priesthood May IA.



who lead the Catholic" party. so called
have succeeded in having the conservation of
the Rev. J. b. Funston. of Portsmouth. Va.
IS Protestant Episcopal bishop of Boise in
definitely postponed. The ceremony was TO
have taken place last Thursday. and the
complication grew out of the action of the
Portsmouth divine in refusing his election
and afterward recoasidering and accepting
1t. The secret of the sudden opposition was
the position assumed by Bishop McLaren OF
Chicago, Bishop Grafton of Fond du Lac,
Bishop Nicholson OF Milwaukee and Bishop
Seymour OF Springfield, all leaders of this
Catholic" party and opposed at all times
10 what they term the Virginia type OF
Guardianship" In other words. the same
quarrel. only slightly modified, that is raging
IN the Church of England IS reflected in mild
form here. The Rev. J. b. Funston, rector
OF an Episcopal parish I'm Virginia. was
chosen bishop of Boise at the Episcopal
General Convention last October. The Cath
Ole party among the bishops opposed his
selection, but acquiesced at last because
they were given several representatives in
other new bishops chosen at that time. The
Rev. Mr.. Funston declined the election and
sent his declination 10 the bishop of Rhode
Island. the senior in date Of conservation
and therefore presiding bishop. 1t was ac-
cepted and the House of Bishops called to
make a new election. Here was an oppor-
tunity TO defeat, 1t might be, the elevation
OF Virginia churchman. and the Catholic
party in the West took immediate advan-
fage OF II by raising the cry OF irregularity.
The present effect has been TO postpone the
date of conservation indefinitely, as stated.
Not ali OF the four bishops named are known
TO have spoken, but all are known TO have
acted in the premises. The outcome Is said
by those IN position to know to likely be the
formal reelection of the Portsmouth rec
tor, and so nothing will come of Ii more
serious than delay OF six months or more
The date for advancing to the priesthood
OF the Episcopal Church the Rev. DR.. Chas
"A Briggs. of Union Theological Seminary,
the man who precipitated the Briggs con-
froversy in the Presbyterian Church. has
been set for May IA. and the same Cath
Ole party which is protesting against the
conservation OF the Rev. Mr.. Funston is
proclaiming the inconsistency of admitting
the Union professor TO Protestant Episco-
pal orders Three years ago the Brother
hood of st. Andrew invited the Rev. DR..
Briggs to speak at a national convention
OF that organization In Pittsburg, and
invitation had 10 be Withdrawn. The state
ment was made that such invitation was
C1ScOurteOuS TO PreSbyter1dnS. NOW the
same statement Is made, and. singularly,
by the Catholic party. The opposition Is
not confined TO the Western bishops who
are recognized as the. bulwark of that par
ty. but extends TO ritualistic priests
throughout the country. There is no criti-
cism Of the bishop of New York for admit
ting Prof. Briggs TO Episcopal orders. be-
ause IL Is recognized that Bishop Potter
could not, the laws being complied with,
pese 10 Of a aat that Fa IN is tn RT dc
bar him out. The charge is openly made
that he Is a discordant element, and likely
10 make trouble among new friends as he
has among old ones The ceremony of adj
-Fanctng him to the priesthood Is not TO be
an elaborate one, but is to take place in
suburban church, in conjunction with
regular Episcopal visitation for the purpose
OF confirmation. The Rev. DIR. Briggs sails
abroad. it is said, for a year and a half
For this reason he will not be in service
at Union Theological Seminary next, year.
lie Is engaged upon at least two new books,
one of which. IL Is announced. he regards
as the most important work of his life.
The decllnation OF Rev Alexander Con-
nell. of Regent-square Presbyterian Church.
london. of the call TO become the success
sor OF the late Rev. DE-. John Hall, renders
II likely that attempt will be made to
extend call TO another man before the
autumn. There is an element in the Fifth
avenue Presbyterian Church. New York
which favors the calling Of an American to
this famous pastorate, and that element
gave way In the case of the Connell call
That having been declined, II has again as
serted itself not in fvor of any man. but
known that when the Rev. Mr.. connell was
In this country last autumn he advised the
church to call an American. on the ground
that IL would take an English or a Scotch
man q long time 10 learn American ways
Beside the F1fth-avenue, there are no fewer
in New York city at this moment either
pastorless or In such financial straits that
consolidation or EXTINCTION, or both, is de-
clared TO be inevitable.
Roman Catholic parents in Chicago. in
Baltimore, in Boston and I'm some other
cities are complaining that they are not
getting the worth OF their money from the
parochial schools. They charge that the
public schools. which are free. are far ahead
they are supported by Catholic teachers
who are employed In the public schools.
who testify that scholars from Catholic
families. many OF whom attend public
schools all or the year save during Lent,
learn nothing whatever of consequence dur
returning TO the public schools they disar-
of themselves and OF an other pupils.
The Rev. A. II. Matthews, who Is at the
head OF Methodist work among the Chinese
OF tho Pacific coast, who speaks Chinese
! and spent twelve years I'm Canton. declares
fhat there are white lawyers and capitalists
on the coast,who are assisting Chinese i'm
porters In the slave trade that is being car
ried on both I'm China and California. lie
says the slavery Is as absolute as any
slavery ever was In Mississippi. and a thou
sand-fold more nefartous, because wholly "A
trade Ia young girls. The profit Is. how
ever, 80 enormous that 1t Is impossible TO
put stop To ~ or prevent Americans from
engaging in IL. He says that girls pur-
chased In China for $500 readily bring S3 GOO
4 FTanCiSCO a faH In
the law ostensibly complied with, and then
auctioned on as literally as ever they were
In Kentucky. In the Methodist Home at
san Francisco there are at this moment
80, worth Of rescued girls. But there are
100 more at a low estimate i'm san Fran
them he believes are the fifty dancing girls
that were imported for Atlanta under spe-
clal license. and who afterwards disap-
peared, whereto nobody has ever been able
20 say.
The diamond anniversary OF the American
Sunday-school Union will be held I'm Phil
adelphia on May "a and 25. at which many
eminent diyines will speak. III. H. Nc
Granahan. with the assistance OF the Phil
adelphia Choral Union and other singers.
consisting or COO voices. VIII have charge OF
the music. The work OF the society for
seventy-five years In part. is as follows:
le.sS sunday schools organized. containing
5S6c0 teachers and 100. 3fs scholars: 224 Sl4
casts or aid TO schools having - 3l3 Gus
members. Nearly four schools a day or
ganized for ever day Of the last seventy
by sales and gifts. over 100000 Persons
wishing 20 make Inquiries concerning tho