New-York tribune., 1903-06-27

Bishop Henry c Potter has taken prompt no
Rice Of the open letter sent him by the Rev. r.
C. Fillingham, vicar of Hexton. Hertfordshre.
England and has sent the vicar reply that is
Ct once vigorous and pointed. Furthermore, he
bias written TO the Rev DR.. G. NJ. Christian,
sector of the church Of which the complaint was
made, advising him to apply for detail of the
police and in case the Hexton vicar and his
followers present themselves and interfere. to
direct the police TO throw the party into the
street. Bishop Potter writes from Cooperstown.
sn Otsego County. as follows:
Reverend Sir: In the public prints of yester-
day / find letter from you addressed TO me;
and later this letter reached me through the
mail.
You call yourself clergyman of the Church
Of England. but 1 doubt il. For a clergyman is,
usually, a gentleman. and aware that ne may
not print private letter until its receipt has
been ACKNOWLEDGED by the person 70 whom it is
addressed.
That you are a lunatic is much more likely.
for only lunatic could suppose that the Church
in NeU--YorE is governed by the laws of the
c-burrh of England. or that YOU could compel
me. or any incumbent in the Diocese of New
York to enforce. to obey, the laws Of the
The rector Of the Church Of st. Mary the Vir
gin possesses my respect and confidence; and
1hough his modes of worship may be as little to
my taste as to yours, he is not Following them
without my privity and knowledge-
I save advised him. therefore to apply Tor
detail Of police and have instructed him, in case
YOU and your followers venture in any way TO
Interrupt or interfere with his service to direct
she police TO throw you and your associates into
the street Happily, have a law in the State
OF NeN-York which deals summartly and erect
ually with disturbers OF public WORSHIP: very
truly yours H Z. POTIERt
Bishop of New-York.
To the Rev. p. C. Ffllingham.
On receipt Of Bishop Potters letter yesterday
she Rev Mr.. Fillingham addressed in reply
spd in spite Of the Bishops cutting words about
people who make letters public before those to
-rhor, they are addressed have received them
he made his letter public he had done the
first one. His reply follows:
Right Rev. Sir: I am in receipt of your
tremely violent and insulting letter Of yeste--
days date. 1 suppose so extraordinary a pre-
lduction was never before penned by pro1esse0-
ly Christian minister.
You are or affect 20 be. unaware that open
letters are frequently written TO public men.
Church of which you are an officer has declared
that she has no intention OF dlferlng IN any
thing from the doctrine discipline and worship
Of the Church of England. l suppose you are
also unaware of the fact that the ritual or 81.
Mary the Virgin does differ absolutely from that
discipline and worship
/ Will not follow you in your choice
pressions and describe them as llnacy' but IL
S. certainly a singular exhibition of ignorance:
I note that you condone and are pr1vy 10 the
Fllegalities and iGolatry practised by the rector
OF St Mary the Virgin. / also note your threat
of Dhvsicai violence-that you. minister OF the
Gospel advise another minister TO throw US
3r+o the street; but l can assure you that no
threat will affect those who are prepared not
only 10 act but TO suffer in The cause OF Prot
esIantisTn. Very truly yours r111rvcHAM
To the Right Rev Henry c. Potter
The Rev DR.. Christian, of the Church Of St
Mary the Virgin is in Europe. and his assistant.
the Rev J. A Lanpher. declined to make the
Pshop's letter public. Its contents were now
ever mere mention of the fact that the blshop
tnclosed a copy Of the letter he was mailing to
the English vicar. and the instructions to do