New-York tribune., 1902-05-10
HELP FOR BISHOP POTTER.
CoADJUTOR SUGGESTED IN VIEW OF
HIS EXTENDED ACTIVITIES.
RECENT ILLNESS DUE TO ovERwORK-HIs
USEFULNESS TO THE COMMUNITY
AND THE CHURCH.

USEFULNESS TO THE COMMUNITY
AND THE CHURCH.
The recent indisposition Of Bishop Potter has
brought to public attention the overeXacting du-
ties of his position in the Church and the COM
munity. And those who know best how to value
him-and there are none who do not look upon
him Of the greatest Importance to the life OF
the city-feel strongly that he should for the
sake Of the community at large be spared from
a multitude Of routine duties and labors which
beset his industry and vigor.
His physicians attribute his recent collapse 10
sheer overwork. II takes the barest review Of
his activities TO show that the Bishop performs
work of such an extended. incessant and va
ried character as would put a dozen of ordi-
nary stamp severely to the test of endurance
At present. for instance. in addition TO his regu-
lar duties, he has been sitting regularly with
the Civic Federation, and giving the best of his
energies to a hopeful and intense consideration
Of the labor difficulties now before that body.
He has also been giving a course Of lectures at
Yale University. There is never an occasion
of state public Importance when the bishop
IS not called upon 10 be present. He goes here
and there, not merely the representative Of
his Church. but because his position in the city
and even in the nation one Of unusual promi-
nence. This is due 10 his fOrceful personality
and his experience and wisdom, which cause his
counsel TO be sought on all conceivable kinds Of
questions and by endless variety of people
holding positions of trust and responsibility. 1t
is said good authority that administrations
at Washington watch the utterances of this
bishop being the most valuable light which
be given as TO the most enlightened outside
judgment acts and events. Such influence
Is national in its character and is the highest
expression Of the best Information and thought.
When Archbishop Temple was Bishop Of Lon
don he made the remark, 1t is enough be
Bishop of London-but when all the world comes
10 London," There is a close analogy in the
case Of New-York. Set in the midst Of concen-
trated church activity a very capital for all
denominations, archbishoprc Of the Roman
Catholic Church. and a centre for missionary
enterprise the world over. New-York is as much
a gathering point London. And yet how nat
ural, how usual is il, TO speak of Bishop Potter
"the Bishop OF New-York." This is fruit
of arrogance or local strength OF numbers mere
ly. but rather the automatic recognition of the
almost unexampled leadership Of a man whose
utility overleaps all denominational lines and
the value Of whose judgment goes afeld far
beyond the professional limits Of his calling.
By the canons of the Church, a bishop is
qured TO visit each parish in his diocese at least
once in three years. The characteristic inter
probation put upon this provision by Bishop
Potter is 10 visit every one Of his churches at
least once every year, and hardly a Sunday
passes that he is not occupied IN administering
the rite Of confirmation. Such programme as
this would not be an unusual Sunday for him:
In the morning confirmation service at some
church on the Hudson. the afternoon SER
vice in Harlem church. and in the evening
address at one OF the downtown citE churches-
On the whole, this would not be a particu-
larly severe days work. For il is 10 be remem-
bered that the Diocese of New York comprises
nine countes-DutChess, New-Iork, Orange,
Putnam, Richmond, ROCkland. Sullivan. Ulster
and Westchester. II is, Of course, the largest
diocese in DOiut of numbers the Church. There
:5S5 clergy, for instance, while Pennsylvania,
the next largest diocese has almost third less,
24S; Massachusetts, the next in importance,
262. and Connecticut, the next, 22o. In the
number Of communicates New-York shows even
Tanis numbers - 200. Massachusetts, 10000,
and Connecticut. b. 600.
As to financial strength New-YOrk stands for
the year 1901-02 Sl0OoGo0 ahead Of the next
diocese, Pennsylvania. in contributions alone,
which were S2.519, 130, TO Pennsylvania 81 Cos,
344- In parishes and missions Massachusetts
stands next TO New-York with DID; Pennsyl-
vania, lS4; NewYork still being in the lead.
with 244
These figures in a rough way suggest the ex-
tent, numbers and wealth Of a diocese where all
the canOnical duties as local head Of the Church,
growing constantly in extent and undelega ted,
devOlve upon a man whose thought and counsel
have become the familiar need of the people
and their officers. If such work were all that
Bishop Potter was expected TO do, he would be
one of the busiest Of men.
1T is enough TO be Bishop OF London" But
TO how many other enterprises Is the time OF
the Bishop of NeW-York committed even within
the Church strictly? There is the Cathedral Of
ST. John the Divine, which he has been mainly
Instrumental in having erected. There is all
the work Of the General Theological Seminary
and various schools and institutions which come
under his constant consideration. There is the
growing work Oi church extension in the more
thinly settled parts Of the diocese and city,
such the Borough OF The Bronx, which has
been receiving the Bishops special attention.
in short. his activities within the Church itself
and his Importance to the world outside in gen
eral. leave the impression that Bishop Potter
should not be burdened 10 the point Of illness
with such work as the Church has made pro-
vision for delegating.
Bishops Of doceses Of far less importance
have been willing 10 ask for cOadjutOrs-fOr the
initiative rests in the Bishop himself alOne-and
while the matter is fraught with many delica-
cies, there seems TO be no good reason why
Bishop Potter should not take a step which he
need surely have: no fear, in the city where he
is so loved and priced. would be in any way
misunderstood. 1t would carry with it sug-
gestion of inability to cope with the situa-
tien. for abundant demonstration has been made
on that It would he merely a natural
and practical step for the head Of a large local
institution. whose time and energy being
constantly required by demands Of a public
nature.
At the home of Bishop Potter. No. 10 Wash
ington Square North il was said yesterday that
the Bishop resting and improving.
There was nothing serious in the Bishops case
but he merely suffering from overwork and
was in need Of complete rest for time
sDDTspC AG9JNST THE DON TnA-