New-York tribune., 1900-12-14
EPISCOPAL FUNCTION" AT FOND DU LAC
A DISSATISFIED EASTERN cHURcHMAN.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Playing dress up is favorite amusement Of
children and, judging from the photographs Of the
eight right reverend fathers who Tnasqueraded
at Fond du Lac the grown ups in some instances
seem enjoy the play as much as children OF
smaller growth. And, as the children find their
chief treasures among the old clothes in the gar
ret. 50. with apparent unity OF cut or color.
these venerable men have rummaged in the old
attic CT nedisvalism and dragged out all they
could find OF accumulated anachronism and put
them on The first impulse OF outsiders admitted
70 this spectacular display is 70 laugh. Bishop
Tikhon says Il Is not Roman; Il certainly was not
The general effect is a polychrome. patchwork
crazy quilt think II may be said 10 be Fond du
Lacisn. The same Bishop also suggests that the
opening service OF the General Convention might
well be patterned after this performance / am
afraid his hopes destined 10 disappointment
Judging from the anxious. unhappy. uneasy look
upon the faces OF all the Bishops except the Bishop
OF Fond ou Lac doubt II any of the seven were
pleased enough 10 care for repetition. am sure
they viii not be when they realize the Reputation
OF the whole function by the overwhelming opinion
OF intelligent churchmen. And am as sure that
there not seven more Bishops OF the American
episcopate who would lend themselves 10 such
service
The fact is the Anglo-Saxon face is not suited to
this sort OF costume any more than nineteenth
century America is TO be taken by IT, I have al
ways felt this when looked at the photographs Of
the Archbishop OF Canterbury and the Dean Of
Westminster and some other dignitaries dressed up
IN some such fashion at the Queens Jubilee. stil
hope that the whole thing may be crushed under
the riocule which il deserves, but II has serious
side 10 II that Is not laughable. II individual
Bishop, IN his own cathedral and diocese, decides
that in our indefinite and indeterminate condition
about Vestments ne is free 10 wear eopes and mi
tres and whatnot, suppose there is no one 10 say
him nay; but this was representative ecclesiasu-
cal function, IN which propTiety would indicate
that individual vagaries had no place. The conse
orator was acting under the commission OF the
Presiding Bishop representing the Church in
1.-The rochet and the Of the episcopal habit
were directly ordered 20 be worn by the Bishop
elect. ] know there Is class OF mind capable Of
arguing that this means the episcopal habit
cordng 10 the OF Sarum or Rome according 10
the twelfth the sixteenth century, but the aver
age honesty OF Interpretation must make this mean
what Is known the episcopal habit by
Bishops IN this Church. which. however II may
vary In a few instances of color and form. is the
rochet and chimere and scarf sleeves and rufies
and all-not particularly beautiful. not having any
very ancient authority but nevertheless the episco
pal habit which the rubric in the Prayer Book
means.
wrong this service in its deliberate and frequent
Interpolation OF unauthorized words and acts into
the prescribed service, which is az once a violation
OF consecra tiou vows and q hagrant disObedience
10 the provisions OF the commission 10 consecrate
But this other phase OF the folly deserves notice
ss A breach Of good faith. and violation OF all
proprlety IN the failure 20 distinguish between in-
dfvfdual liberty and representative responsibility
A NETWORK CHURCHMAN.
NeW-York Dec. y. 1900.