New-York tribune., 1903-06-29
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
BISHOP POTTER AND MR.. FILLINGHAM
A Brooklyn View of the Controversy Over
Ritualism in the Episcopal Church.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: If there is any meaning in words. the let
ter addressed by Bishop Potter to the Rev. Mr..
Fillingham, admitting "priyity and knowledge"
on the Bishops part of practices in the Church
of ST. Mary the Virgin which are denounced by
the Protestant Episcopal Church in her articles
and rubrlcs as "blasphemous fables and danger
Gus deceits' and "idclatry to be abhorred of all
faithful Christians" convicts the Bishop of be-
traying the most sacred trust that can be
mitted to human hands Mr. Fillingham may
fairly be congratulated having brought mat
ters to this point. If his agitation has accom-
plished no more At the same time it must not
be forgotten thai there is this important diff
ference between the Established Church of Eng
land and the Episcopal Church in the United
States, namely, that idoatry in the former is
recognized as an offence against the State as
well as against the Church. and. when the
law is duly enforced. is punished as
such: whereas, in this country. since no
one form of religion is recognized by the
State any more than another. No cognizance is
taken by it of any heterodox doctrines and prac-
tices, however fragrant, which do not also come
under the category of offences against the COM
mon law of the land Utterly untenable and
reprehensible the Bishops position is in re-
fusing to suppress illegal practices in his own
church, he and the offenders whom he shields
enjoy an immunity from prosecution which. un-
der the older regime. must sooner or later find
out such delinquents Nor can it be questioned
that the fact, if such it is, that the Bishop is
practically the sole arbiter in such matters
heightens his responsibility for the wrong done
to the church at large by the federation Of the
evils referred to.
Mr.. Fillingaam's experience in suffering ar
rest for calling attention to lawbreakers In
England simply means abuse of authority,
for which, if there is any Of the old Anglo Saxon
spirit left over there, those responsible will
sooner later be called to strict account
For the reason above stated however that is
more than he could hope for in this country
AS to a mans right to interrupt services or
worship which is contrary to the law of the
church in which such service is performed, and
in case of dereliction of duty in this regard by
the regularly constituted authorities. l would
say If idolaters no better than money
changers (and who will affirm the contrary0,
the Saviour's own example in scourging such
sacrilegous intruders out of the temple would
more than justify such action Nor need Mr.
FiIlingham be at all concerned about the
Bishops insinuation that he is lunatic. The
same charge was made against both the Master
himself and the closest of his followers, Paul
by men OF Bishop Potter's calibre- May GOD
grant all of us wisdom and courage to rise 10
the occasion whenever duty calls!
The true origin and character Of the rttualistlc
movement in the Church of England are too no
toriously corrupt to need further characterlza-
ton here, and should the present conflict with
heretics and traitors in that church issue In
civil war-which God forbfd,-I say, let the ar
bitrament of the sword come, If need be, rather
than the forfeiture of our civil and religious lib
critics. inseparably bound up as those liberties
are with the Protestant cause.
CHARLES WHITLEY MULLIN-
Brooklyn, June q, 1908.