New-York tribune., 1903-02-18
BISHOP POTTERS PLAN
His Recommendations as to D'U1S,on q
Diocese-Not Impatientto for Acf'on.
WARNING AGAINST A cockNEY BISHOP.

II . ls+,er which is published to-day in The
Churchman," Bishop Potter gives Hee eHpies
sion of his views regarding the propositions ~
divide the diocese of NeT-York ana 10 eject d
coadjutor. which considered at 'he ias'
convert ton of the diocese. AS the Bishop ex-
plains the letter was sent to the twenty-three
members of the two committees appointed by
the convention and was dated at the pesihnihs
of last December, but for some reason has not
been published heretofore. He says he Is not
impatient for action for the relief of the diocese
since through the cooperation of the Bishop
of Nebraska he has abundantly provided, IN
connection with his own appointments Tor all
necessary episcopal duty. However, the Bishop
in his letter says:
The question of increased. more efficient,
episcopal service. is one which may properly De
considered and decided by the deputies to the
convention of the diocese. and shouId not pe
left to the exclusive discretion of the ordinary
Almost all the precedents are 1t is true, ih
quite another direction but that fact Goes h9l,
in my judgment. affect the equities in the case.
The election of bishops is vested, where they
are diocesan bishops, in the BODY. or cohVen-
body, or those to whom. as in your case, II mas m
committed il. to consider what measure or
mode of providing efficient episcopal service Is
deSira BILE. and to recommend II.
Personally / beg to say, the matter Is one
which is largely indifferent to me- AS ques-
ton of ecclesia stical policy I have, indeed.
strong convictions to which I have already re-
peatedIy given expression But can quite uh-
derstand why the diocese may not be prepared
TO elect a coadjutor at present, and 1t mas oC-
Cured to me. as affording such q measure OF re-
lief as may be desired by the diocese TO sugees,
that the two committees above named shoulo
meet together should agree upon certain pol-
tions of the diocese to be set off into new Ju-
risdiction, and should recommend that, at ltS
next convention, the diocese take such canonlcal
action as may be necessary in the premises
Such action implying, IS 1t would. tnf hesN
of increased Episcopal service. Woulo oea ia !.
til the diocese should permanently p1otiu tar,rn.
a sufficient warrant for my dong SO, Iell,p1l
rarilv In order to facilitate this end snaH
be glad to surrender. during my Ile'ilne, s
tne occupancy of the Episcopal residence lul
which the trustees of the cathedral have al
ready set apart site, so soon as 1t snall nave
been erected and to guarantee salary PEI
annurn of 81 500 for the bishop of the new d1o,
cese: provided that. from Decemosr unlL
June l. he shall occupy the Episcopal resloeIce
to be erected on the cathedral srounns' aho
during these months perform sucn EplscoPaI
duty as might he assigned TO him by the Bishop
of New York. This would leave him SIX months
for duty in rural parishes and ne1ghnorhooos
and relieve the new diocese, for the present
from anv burden for his support, further than
his travelling expenses; while he could cary
address himself TO the task of securing from Ihe
mother diocese at least the considerable founoa-
ton for an endowment of the Episcopate OF MS
own.
There are in this connection certain considera-
tions that l should be disposed to urge upon Inc
attention of your joint committee though
should not wish TO insist upon them Ihese
are:
(al That should be permitted to indicate my
Judgment as to the territory 10 be included in
the new diocese.
OBJ That neighboring bishops and dioceses
e. G. those of Albany and Central New Y ork
should have the opportunity Of making. TO the
new diocese, a eession of any part Of their ter
ritory from the care Of which they might WISH
TO be relieved. However others may "lsh -
forget it we must never forget that the diocese
of New-York is the spiritual and ecclesia silica
mother of all the dioceses within the boundaries
of this co11n1onwealt lth and must forever be ur1-
willing TO act toward them in an unn1otherly
way.
And (c) that, in whatever may be done for
the relief of the metropolitan diocese, care De
taken not to create a jurisdiction which shall
condemn its ordinary to the fate of a cockney
bishop No bishop who is wholly cut off from
contact with rural life can fail to become that
very preiudiced, nnsympathetic and opinionated
thing