The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-04
BISHOP SEES DR.. BRIGGS.
SAID TO HAVE SUGGESTED THAT
THE APPLICANT WITHDRAW.
DIR. Briggs, However, It Appears, Is Deter
mined to Enter the Protestant Episco-
pal Priesthood, Although Much Dis
tnrhed nv the Strnnnnma Onnnsltinn.

DIR. Briggs, However, It Appears, Is Deter
mined to Enter the Protestant Episco-
pal Priesthood, Although Much Dis
turbed by the strenuous Opposition.
Bishop Potter has met DR.. Charles A. Briggs.
since DR.. Briggs's return from Boston. and has
talked over with him the question Of his ad-
vancement from the diaconate to the PRIEST
hood. Neither the Bishop ror DR.. Briggs has
made known the result OF the interview. but
II is understood that the Bishop suggested
to Dr.. Briggs that. in view Of the
bitter ecclesiastical controversy opehed in
the Protestant Episcopal Church OF Amer
lea by his application for holy orders.
n withdrawal OF his application would avert
more serious trouble. Bishop Potter. II is UNI
derstood. called DIR. Briggs's attention to n
statement in THE Sun that DIR. Briggs had said
that ordination was Of no great consequence to
him. inasmuch as he was free to preach and TO
60 on with his work in Union Theological
Seminary. DR.. Briggs's friends say that he was
misunderstood hy the reporter who SO quoted
him. and that this statement has hurt him
hood. and the more he il attacked by High
Church mon the more determined he Is to be-
a churchman advanced in years. whose ife
work has been the teaching Of Gods Word as he
understands i. but now outside the ministry.
discipline. The Protestsnt Episcopal Church
I'VE, itStINti NH iliIp v cum IN 80
Bishop OF New York has made him IA deacon
and has approved of his intention TO enter the
priesthood. and the standing committee OF the
diocese has unanimously recommended him
for the priesthood. certifying that " he has not
written. taught or held anything contrary to
the doctrine Of the Church" DR.. Briggs, there
fore. thinks that he should be ordained, al
though he is as much disturbed as the Bishop
ny the strenuous opposition OF the High
Church party to his ordination.
Some of the moderate Broad Church, men,
who are not greatly interested in DR.. Briggs's
case. think that DR.. Briggs is using the Epls-
coral Church to back. him up in, his tight
against the Preshyterians.. and while these
Broad Church men are not. opposed to, the
~. higher criticism " of the Bible. they think
that DIR. Briggs. for the sake OF peace IN the
Church. ought not to enter the priesthood
while so large and influential a body of church.
men believes him n hereto. DR.. Briggs. they
say. ought to be ready to make n sacrifice, for
his Church. On the other hand. the High
Church party holds that the issue raised by
DEB riggs's writings must sooner or later be
met by the Anglican Church, and that the
longer the question is evaded the more de-
structive will be the final struggle.
Bishop Potter doesn't want any controversy
In the Church while he is the Bishop Of New
York. Bishop Potter's attitude was made plain
yesterday by the statement of the Rev. DIR. W.
g.. Harrington. editor of the Lhiirchmdn. who
said that the official organ of the Protestant
Episcopal Church would have nothing to do
with the Briggs controversy.