New-York tribune., 1901-01-06
oUARRELL1NG OVER A FUNERAL.

When the late ex- x-Governor Roger Wolcott OF
Massachusetts died il was expected that his
funeral would be held at Kings Chapel. Boston,
which he had frequently attended and whose
pastor. the Rev. Howard y. Brown, he had
known. But Kings Chapel is small building.
and would hold only few of the many who
desired by their presence to show their friend
ship and respect for the Ex-Governor. Noting
this fact. the Rev. Dr. T.. W. Donald. rector of
Trinity Episcopal Church. one of the largest
buildings In the city. thought 1t would be both
neighhorly and Christian act, as well as a
tribute to the memory of Ex-Governor Wolcott,
to offer the of Trinity Church for the funeral
service He did so: the offer was thankfully
accepted. and great multitude of people We're
thus able TO be present at the last rites who
otherwise would have been debarred. Thus far
the transaction appears on its face to be credit
able to all concerned in it,: not very different,
indeed, from the kindly impulse that prompts
Roman Catholics to offer their church TO Prot
estant congregations made homeless by fire.
Such exhibitions Of goodwill have become so
common among all Christian denominations
that they have ceased TO excite remark, and it
does not appear that they have worked any
harm to the faith OF those who for the moment
recognize the common bond of fellowship that
ought to unite all those who profess and call
themselves Christians
But 1t happens that Kings Chapel is a Uni
tartan body, and for that reason many clergy
men of the Episcopal Church at once condemned
the act of DR.. Donald as a PROCLAMATION OF the
building and n gross insult to the faith OF the
Church. And some of them are in favor of put
ting the rector of Trinity Church on trial for
breaking the canonical law. AS TO whether or
not any law was violated there is considerable
difference of opinion among Episcopal clergy
men themselves. DIR. Donald claims that he
acted within his rights. and says that he has
nothing To regret or retract.. Other Episcopal
clergymen in Boston think that while the act
may have been technically violation of the
Church law it was in the spirit of the larger
law of charity. This is also the attitude OF the
Rev Percy Stickney Grant, of this city. who
says:
II were rector of Trinity 1 would have per-
mitted the funeral. rules or no rules The
thought OF quibbling about rules in the presence
of the dead is abhorrent TO me. And when the
great Cathedral of ST. John the Divine, in this
city. is completed. and service is held within its
walls. think that it ought not TO be shut TO all
the world except Episcopalians. 1t should be
place where the great, the sacred and the
solemn events of civil and religious life
may receive honor and celebration
AS to the Cathedral, the fact will be recalled
that Bishop Potter i'm his first announcement
concerning il said that 1t would contain chapels
for the great historic churches, but 1t is not
clear that he had In mind any official recog-
milton of the non-Episcopal Protestant bodies.
That would be a step for which. apparently, the
Episcopal Church is not yet ready, although
there is little doubt that some such recognl-
ton, under proper safeguards. would greatly
strengthen that Church and make the Cathedral
the common fame OF religious worship for the
metropolis.
AS a rule, the Unitarians show a commend
able reserve in commenting on the incident, not
desiring to add fuel TO the flames Of denomina-
tional bitterness. But one we'll known Congre-
gational minister OF Boston. the Rev. Or. Z. A.
Horton, speaking for the common Christianity
of NewEngland. says:
Our Republic Is In genius and laws opposed to
ecclesiastical bitterness. Governor Wolcott is
directly assailed, his Christian character i'm
pugned. And by whom? BY one OF a ministerial
coterie who celebrate the death OF royalty and
organize a society for the glorihcation of a
martyr king. AS the men. so their religion
They are not I'm sympathy with democracy. II
is not a question, in this instance. OF Unitarian
versus Trinitarian; IL is more outbreak of
the oligarchical element in Christianity. vexed
and bitter In spirit because Dr. Donald and
Bishop Lawrence broad enough and Christ
like enough TO honor character under any de-
nomnational name The people Will think and
draw their own righteous conclusions.
And another clergyman remarks:
Unitarians doubtless very defective in
their theology; but they cannot be utterly bad,
for l recall the fact that few years ago an
eminent Episcopal clergyman preached the SER
mon OF a Unitarian minister on Easter Day and
nobody thought that he profaned his Church by
so doing.
One interesting fact bearing on the incident
has not been noted. While the Catholics In the
church are denounclng DIR. Donald for loaning
his church To Unitarlans that CLERGYMAN AL
though Broad Churchman not long ago went
out of his way to defend the much talked of
Fond du Lac conservation as within the per
mitted liberty of ceremonial In the Church. In
so doing he showed broad catholicity OF mind
which is not always seen In any religious school
of thought, and for which he should receive due
credit from his brethren