New-York tribune., 1901-02-17
BISHOP GRAFTON'S SIDE.
HE REPLIES TO CRITICISM OF THE
FOND DU LAC CoNsECRATIoN
SERVICE

The Right Rev. DR.. Charlie, C. Grafton. Bishop Of
Fond du lac, Wis, is 70 conduct the services this
morning at the Episcopal Church OF ST. Edward
the Martyr. IN East One-hundred-and-ninth-st
The extremely ritualistic ceremonies the recent
conservation Of Bishop Reginald H. Weller. IT..
Bishop Grafton's c0sdjutor have aroused con-
sroversy IN Episcopal Church circles and Bishop
Grafton and his fellow cOnsecrators have been
charged by the opponents OF elaborate ceremonial
with violating the canons and rubrics Of the
Church. II has also been urged that the presence
OF Polish Catholic Bishop and a Russo-Greek
Bishop was an unprecedented feature The Epis-
copal Bishops and the Polish Bishop the Right
Rev. A. KOzlowsk were all vested in cOpes and
mitres. The mitre placed the head Of
Bishop Weller. and. accompanied by the two pre-
senting bishops he walked down the full length OF
the church. and the congregation fell upon their
knees as he passed.
When last evening at his brothers home.
No 3O7 Fffth-ave.. Bishop Graften denied that
there had been any departure from the canons
and rubrics OF the Church IN the ceremonies at
Bishop Weller's conservation.
I'VE not Mediaevalists" he declared. I'VE
think man insane who wants 20 revive anything
OF the Dark Ages. We have no desire 10 initiate
Rome Our position In doetrinaI worship is a
catholic one I'm the broad OF the term. Be
heving our Lord is Divine Teacher we hold He
could not have SO bunglingly established his re-
ngion that nine-tenths OF His followers should be
led into error respecting either doctrine worship
That we made no departure IN using the copes and
mitres will be evident 10 any who remembers
the pictures OF the Queens Jubilee where the late
Archbishop Of Canterbury. the Archbishop OF York
and the Bishop OF London all shown as wear
ing cOpes. When King Edward is crowned you
Will find the Bishops. no matter what their conser-
vatism. robed In the same way.
Il tell you this he continued. with some
spirit. that In State like Wisconsin. where half
the population consists OF foreigners High
Church Lutherans. accustomed TO lights and elab-
orate vestments. believe that doing
nothing wrong IN employing similar ceremonial
We have In our worship lights. vestments and in
eense, and as our Lord sanctioned them by attend
ance without reprobation at the Temple service. as
conservative Christians continue their use.
There trouble the service. other
than an attack made by Episcopal paper in
Philadelphia. which very ably answered by
The Living Church. one OF the prominent papers
OF body"
Bishop Grafton explained that he was "A member
OF the Church Unity Society. the object OF which
is TO bring about far possible union among
all Christian bodies Consequently there were in
vited 10 the service the Russian Bishop OF San
Francisco and the old Catholic Bishop Kozloski-
Invitations were also extended 10 ministers Of the
various congregations IN Fond du Lac a mat
ter of courtesy.
The service was the form provided In the Book
Of Common Prayer" he continued. but as the
Episcopal Church allows for considerable latitude
in its ceremonials each Bishop has inherently the
night 20 determine il. provided he breaks no canon
rubric- As Bishop % the diocese % Fond du
Lac ] acted this right. What occasioned the
most comment Was the fact that seven or eight
bishops were clad in cOpes or mitres. The cope IS
a recognized legal vestraent IN English canon law
and is In different cathedrals by high and low
churchmen The mitre has been declared ny a
committee % the House of Bishops. consisting OF
Bishop Potter Bishop Doane 90 Albany and the
late Bishop Coke. of Western New-York. 20 be a
legal vestment IN America. In consequence % fits
having been by first Bishop. Ssahury.
4 might add that the service Mas received with
warm welcome BY those who attended ~. and the
Church club ~ NeW-York sent on a series OF ap-
proving resolutions
Bishop Grafton expects 20 return 20 hts home In
Fond du Lac early this week.