The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-26

Aufeh'' mat so soon as the letter di-
iihssoiy IN due form was received, he
Wouiu aceept it and withdraw all OBJ
Jsc.ions' ana that they, the vestry would
s,ie , 70 a. hoerty to elect Mr.. Ewing as
men rector. The letter dimissory was
cespaeu oi november 4th, and due notice
TO TINS ERECT reached the vestry on
November 9TH. / contend that Bishop
Beckwith had every reason to believe
that the vestry would elect Mr.. Ewing
AFTER lhal letter reached them AS fact
he took 1t for granted that such had been
the case. The bishop was in my par
IRISH on April 10th, 1904 and while there
he Informed me that he had not sent me
certificate OF MI. Ewlng's election be-
cause ne had never received one. L call
ed Mr.. Ewings attention to this by let
ter April 18th or 18th and in a few DAYS
received a certificate, stating that the
election had taken place October 9TH
1903, and that a similar certificate had
been sent to the bishop. Bishop Beck
with was visiting parishes in the do
cese and did not receive this certificate
until the latter part of April SO that
the bishop of the diocese was not Off
cially informed of Mr.. Ewing's election
until nearly six months after the giving
of the required evidence, although on
December 10Th 1903 he had officially
called the attention of your vestry to the
fact that such notice had not been re-
ceived.
In two places you state that Mr. Ew-
ing was enrolled and took his seat in the
council as rector of the Advent and in
one place you assert that he could not
have been accorded vote except as
such rector. | am surprised that such
statement should have been made by
one who had so frequently been a men,
bor If he ou
positively deny the fact. On the first day
of the council the bishop is required to
furnish slist of the clergy entitled to
seats and votes" Mr. Ewing's name was
on that list but neither In his case nor
in the case of any other clergyman was
any mention made of a parrish. That
list formed a part of the proceedings
of the council and I assert here, most
positively, that there Is not a word in
the minutes of the last council which
refers to Mr.. Ewing as rector of the
Advent Mr.. Ewing took his seat as a
clergyman In eannoEieal connection with
the diocese of Alabama.
Refers to journal.
If YOU will refer to the journal of
1902 you will follow me more intelligently.
On the page prefixed to that journal you
will find Rev. Mr.. Hogue. Rev. DR.. Spaul-
ding. Rev. Mr.. Stickney and Rev. Mr..
Van Hoose as clergymen without par
ishes, and on the first page of the
minutes you will find the name of each
one of these clergymen on the list of
those entitled to seats and votes in the
council. As a matter of fact, three of
them were present and took an active
part in the proceedings of the council.
so there is no truth in the assertion
that Mr.. Ewing could not have been
cd of the
Advent.
You state that ''if Mr. Ewing was not
enrolled we were led to believe by the
silence of the secretary and of the bishop
as well that he had been enrolled as
such rector, and you asked why the at
tention OF the parties interested was not
called to this point before or during
the council. Judging from the head
lines which introduce this "open letter"
this point must have made a great i'm
preston upon the editor of the paper.
In regard to the silence Of the secretary
I reply that when that officer has called
the list as presented by the bishop he
has performed his duty.
In regard to the bishop I here state
most positively and from personal know
edge that in his address delivered after
due notice before the whole council he
did most plainly call attention to this
TACT, stating simply that MI. EWING nau
been economically received into the do
cese and was numbered among the clergy
of Alabama. Mr.. Ewing and Col Pearson
were both present and heard that adj
dress.
And now, in conclusion, I protest
against the implied charge that l could
be induced under any circumstances to
alter the minutes after they had been APP
proved and signed. ! do not for mo-
ment believe that you think so, but your
words may in6uce others TO form such
an opinion. I have been secretary for
more than thirty consecutive years and
l challenge any man in the diocese to
find in the records which have been in
my keeping the slightest foundation for
such charge.
Very truly,
r. II. COBB,
Secretary Council.