The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-10-09
Bishop seabury and the Hall Of Fame.

To THE EDITOR OF TIE SUN-Sir: 1t Is a. be
presumed that one requisite for those TO whom
a place Is To b. awarded in the American Hall
OF Fame l. patriotism. or at least loyalty TO the
Government under which they are thus exalted.
II such be the case. Bishop Seabury. who-e
name has been presented for that honor by a
writer .igning him-elt ID. D., LID" is
barred out
That writer admits that seabury was a Royal
ist. but af1rms that he was also a loyal citizen.
Bishop Seabury's record will not bear out
that assertion. There were several Episcopal
clcrgymen holding views Of church and state
similar to those held by him who quietly minis
tered 10 their congregations throughout tho
war and we're not molested but he was not Il
that temper He earned for himself the char
acter OF being one Of the enemy's most active
and adroit agents. lie first became obnoxious
as the author and publisher of n number Of
seditious papers in connection with another
reverend brother. Rendering himself thus la
BILE TO arrest, he prudenuy r%etreated within the
British limos, attaching himself to Sir Henry
Clinton a. chaplain.
one OF his sermons was regarded as so valu-
able an aid in stimulating the troops against
the American rebe's that the Governor had it
published and widely circulated both In Eng
land and America. He did not oonnne himself.
however. to what he might consider hi- spirit
ual duties, but gave efficient military assistance
TO Gen. Clinton Being well acquainted with
the topography OF the country. he furnished
him with maps and diagrams Of the river and
the roads. and by his own confession or boast
on one occasion he Ruidrd the British troops by
q private way known 10 him in order to sur
prise a body OF Americans. tSee Doc. His. So,
n. Y. p. lO03-IIawkins's His. Of HlmIlton's
Life. by his SOM
These things and others which might be re-
lated OF him come nearer TO treason than to
Loyalty as the words are generally understood.
Whether he ever became a bona nde citizcn Of
the Republic / do not know. but / think not, He
received pay as a retired chaplain from Eng
land until his death. and when in March. 1888.
ten Presbyters OF the Church in connecticut,
at a secret meeting. requested him to go TO
England and procure conservation as Bishop
they we're so apprehensive that he would not be
permitted TO land on his return that arrange.
ments were made that in such case he should
proceed TO Nova Scotia and govern his Church
In Connecticut from that province. The Eng
lish Bishops, however, did not consider the re-
quest Of the ten clerRymen, even though
backed by a commendatory letter from Sir
Henry Clinton. as credentials justifying consc-
Grafton: and after soliciting them in vain for
that during moro than a year he proceeded
TO Scotland. where he secured an irregular con-
secrstion from a mall clique. the remnant Of
the Scotch nonJuring Bishops OF l8So-irregu-
lar on more accounts than one, With this he
returned home, and was not interfered with by
the Government, extreme lenity being exer-
clsed toward the recusant Tories who fastened
to return after Independence had been achieved
and reace declared Bishop PrevooNt in a let
ter to Bishop White as late as 1855 sIys he had
been In New York for a few days lately. mot
withstandlng he incurred the guilt OF mispris-
sion OF treason and was liable to confinement
for llfe." &c.
After eulogizlng Bishop Sesbury ID. D..
LII. D." adds: This taken in connection with
the fact that George Washington and all the
signers OF the Declaration OF Independence in
Maryland. Virginia and the CarolInas, with the
preponderating number from the other colonies
south or New England. were Of the same reli-
gious convictions. It seems strange that the
name OF the first Bishop in America should have
been omitted" I will simply say here that
George Washington and tho noble company Of
patriots TO whom %. D.. LII. D."refcrs would.
we're II possible, arise 10 protest against the
suggestion that Bishop Seabury should repre-
sent their religious faith. They all belonged to
that "eIete school Of theology ~ which, IN
after years. the Right Rev Charles p. McIlvaine
was a leader, known and honored in the Church
both in Europe and America, the theology on
which the Church OF England was founded. and
apart from which she has no raison detre.
WASHINGTON. Oct !. p. Il. @.