New-York tribune., 1900-12-23

important arguments Of arguments they can be
called which he addresses against it. First OF
ALL he accuses Bishop Grafton and his six brethren
in the episcopate of lawlessness in going against
the mandatory commission Of the Presiding Bish-
op representing the Church in America" But
the Presiding Bishop more represents the Church
in America than any other bishop of the Church.
He is only primus inter pares. and such is
vested with q modified primatiaI authority.
in virtue OF which he, in the name Of the Church.
is intrusted with certain amount Of Jurisdiction
in matters which concern merely what may call
her temporal opposed TO her spiritual life.
That is. he is officio to the Church what the
ViceRresident of the United States is to the SEN
ate-merely the presiding officer in the House OF
Bishops when the General Convention is in session,
and is. further. the fount of jurisdiction which
assigns certain number OF bishops in the Church
as consecrators of any bishop. in whose cleo
tion he has more voice than those consecrators.
As to debating what ceremonial is to be observed
in any diocese outside OF his own or outside Of
that laid down by the Book of Common Prayer,
or defining what is of faith theologicaIly-these
being matters which concern the spiritual life OF
the Church-he has rights whatsoever Even IL
a bishop wilfully teaches heresy,. or INDUCES in
what may seem to some idolatrous or superstitious
ceremonial, or If he falls short of observing that
prescribed by the Book OF Common PRAYER the
presiding bishop has no authority to proceed
against him of his own motion. All he can do as
Presiding Bishop is. if he is called upon TO do So to
issue a commission to examine into the alleged
charges. and then. if they seem TO that commits
sion to demand. such course he NAV take the
necessary steps to have the offender tried. not
before himself, but by commission granted to his
peers.
In the Fond du Lac case the Presiding Risbon
evidently does see any cause for proceeding
against the seven bishops who took part in the
conservation. and has contented himself with nuh
Hciy announcing in the columns of the Church press
that the commission to. consecrate DR.. Weller was
issued on the understanding that the service used
z-ar1l oIT~E
Form for Ordaining Consecrating Bishop."
as printed in the Book OF Common PRAYER That
form was followed in its integrity by Bishop Graf
ton and the other bishops who took part in the
and all that the rubrcs demanded was obeVed TO
tne sfeT SO far therefore the accusation Of
II Is matter Of complaint. however that there
b van f addtIons made to the service in
OF common Prayer. But until the bishops of the
General Convention-the iawmaking BODY OF the the
GnIbTehL0ecare ofheally first, that omission is
Pr1ohlniton and second. that only in the Presiding
BISHOP and not the bishop of each diocese lies the
ceremonies in the various churches Of fhs jio alo
II follows that each bishop may, when he sees ft
toned rites and services-aIways of course pro-
Church the order OF fb pubic oil services OF the
and It's rubrics be strictly adhered TO.
chiefly stirred up by the use of vestments etc sucR
as as the bishops OF 1ther Catholic communions wear
pal habit, prescribed by the Book OF Common
frayer+ nave all my life been a very close
student or the rubrics of that book and the
of the Church OF England and have Vet 10 dis
cover that the words rochet and the rest OF the
episcopal habit" refer to what was originally only
the outdoor dress OF bishops Copes are OF
-don IN the archbishop when crowning the king
or queen-the latter also wearing one-upon the
high court prelates when officiating in the chapeIs
royal al certain functions. and all bishops deans
and the celebrants at the Holy Communion in
cathedral churches and Westminster Abbey. That
all Anglican bishops use the mitre on their letter
paper and envelopes on the panels of their car
r1ases. on their seals and plate: that their
efhgies after death carry ii on their heads. and
that the Bishop Of London. many colonial
bishops OF the Church of England. and
think. the majority of the Scottish bshops
wear the mitre during ecclesiastical functions
prove not only that they logically right, but
also that they have the law their side II they
choose 10 revive its Many of them also wear
the pectOral cross. and even Low Church
bishops are not averse to being presented with a
pastoral stan or an episcopal ring None of these
things are prohibited In the Prayer Book any more
than the ''nagpe'' costume is prescribed as the
one style of vesting 10 be worn by a bishop in
church. E r
New-York Dec Is. 1900