The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-06
BRIGGS FIGHT IS UP AGAIN
HIGH CHURCHMEN TO MAKE WAR ON
THE BANDING COMMITTEE.

Hope to Replace the Present Members with
Men from Their Own Faction at the
Diocesan Convention-Great Power Ia
Lodged in the Standing Committee.
Tho controversy In the Protestant Episcopal
Church In this diocese between the so-called
High Church" and Broad Church" factions
10 likely TO become acute again at the next
Diocesan Convention. according to those who
are acquainted with the disposition and the
works OF the High Church people. According to
the we'll supported rumors, voiced by those who
predict sharp fight in the convention. the
opponents Of the ordination Of the Rev. DR..
Charles A. Briggs have determined to or
ganize and make q showing OF their full
strength. This showing 10 to be In the
nature OF q protest against the Episcopal
policy which permitted the ordination Of the
Rev. DR.. Briggs and prevented the ordination
in this diocese OF John Tlrey. Jr. the prot6g5
OF the Rev. DIR. Frank NJ. Ccndenin. one OF tho
leaders in the opposition to the ordination OF
the Union Seminary professor The fight, ac-
cording to tho reports that are in circulation.
10 to be made in the election Of tho Standing
Committee OF the diocese.
The High Church faction has its reasons for
opposing the reelection OF the present Stand
Ing Committee in It's entirety. 1t was the
Standing Committee upon which Bishop Pot
ter practically put the responsibility for the adj
mission OF DR.. Briggs to the priesthood. The
Secretary OF the Standing Committee. the
Rev. DR.. Thomas II. Harris, is the moving
spirit OF the Board OF Examining Chap
lains. which rejected young Tilley and forced
him to go to the Diocese OF Springfield for
deacon's orders The Standing Committee.
next to the Bishop. is the supreme authority
In the diocese In some cases 1t has authority
over the Bishop. The Bishop for instance,
has power to call q special convention OF the
diocese when he thinks 1t conducive to the
welfare of tho Church to do so. The Standing
Committee has the power to compel the Bishop
to call special convention whether he wants
to or not. Tho canons thus define the prnc-
pal powers Al the Standing COMMITTEES:
AT every stated convention Standing Com
mittee shall be elected by ballot. to consist OF
four clergymen and four laymen. Vacancies
In said committee. occurring by death or other
wise. shall be supplied by the concurrent vote
OF the clerical members and lay members Of
the com mittee.
In case OF a vacancy in the Episcopate. or
the inability or disability OF the Bishop. the
powers and duties to be peform cd by the Bishop
In matters OF discipline shall be performed by
the Standing Com mittee. except In those cases
where such powers and duties arc or may be
specially delegated to. or enjoined upon. the
clerical mem bers Of said committee; in which
cases such powers and duties shall be exer-
cised by said clerical mem bers alone: pro-
vided. that no sentence shall be pronounced
on a clergyman but by Bishop
The members OF the Standing Committee OF
this diocese at present are: Clerical members.
tho Rev. DR.. Morgan Dix. OF Trinity Parish !:
the Rev. DR.. Thomas r. Harris. OF st. Marys.
Scarborough; the Rev. DIR. Octavus Apple
gate. OF ST. Georges. Newburgh; the Rev DR..
Jacob s. Shipman. OF Christ Church. New
York. Lay members--G. Nacculloch Miller OF
st. Thomas's. New York: s. Nicholson Kane.
Of St. James's. Hyde Park; George Zabriskie.
OF tho Church Of the incarnation New York,
and Herman c. Won Post. OF st. Mary's, Man
hattanville.
Tho opposition to the Standing Committee as
at present constituted concerns itself for the
most part with the clerical members. There
is an understanding (Which amounts to law
between the clerical members and the lay
members that the clerical IN m bers shall have
complete Jurisdiction over all matters concern
ing theological questions and matters regard
ing the clergy exclusively. This agreement
put the Briggs matter and the Tilley matter
and all the other matters ia which the high
church controversalists are interested under
the clerical members OF the committee.
The Standing Committee is not now alto
gethsr in the control OF the broad church fac
ton. layman who is unusually well informed
in church politics thus cassihes the member
ship OF the committee
The Rev Dr. Dix is the only man who can
be set down as an out-and- out high church.
man in the whole membership OF the COM
mitteo. His high church allegiance Is, more
over. to be qualified in the present controversy
by the fact that he has always been staunch
friend OF Bishop Potter, and 1t is to me an open
question whether he would join the high church
faction in any action that could be construed
as an attack on the Bishop or the Bishops pol
icy. The most pronounced low churchman
among the clerical members OF tho committee
10 the Rev. DR.. Shipman. The Rev DR. Harris Is
rector OF a fashionable church at Scarborough,
whose communicates rather like rtualistic
service. He furnishes it to them. Nsverthe-
less he is ompletely In accord with the Bishop
and the more violent opponents OF the admin
istration OF the diocese are inclined to put
upon him the responsibility for the rejection
OF Mr.. Tilley whom they regarded as the out
ward and visible exponent OF their cause The
Rev. Dr. Octavius AppleRate occupies rather a
middle ground. as between high and low
church factions. but he. too. Is believed to be
fully in accord with the Bishops ideas.
'Of the lay members. I should say Mr. Won
Post Is one Of those who might be claimed by
both factions. Messrs. Miller. Kane and "a
briskie are classed as low churchmen. although
Mr.. Zabriskie has sometimes shown q dispo-
sition to identify himself with high church
interests.
IT were to call any one OF these men whom
I have cassed as low churchmen. broad
churchmen he would angriy resent the clas-
sihcation. Yet tho fact remains that the low
church men within the limits of this city are
practically arrayea with the broad church side
in the support Of DR.. Briggs ordination"
The High Church plan OF campaign in con-
vention is said to be the displacement OF all
the clerical members OF the committee except
DR.. Dix. especially the Rev DIR. Harris 1t is
believed that an attempt will be made to elect
High Church members for the lay side OF the
committee. but those who have the campaign
in charge are very reticent as to the details OF
their plans. They say. and relate instances
to show that what they say Is true, that
Bishop Potter usually knows long be-
fore he calls q convention to order Just
what acts the convention is to- perform in
the way OF elections and legislation. They say.
thok Fo- H..