The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-29
Analytical Discussion.

Analytical DISCUSSION.
Let's return to Bishop Brattons let
ter the firm foundation on which
you rest your charge.
Did Bishop Bratton say that the mat
ter of my connection with a certain mar
riage had been and was suspended"
by the standing committee? Aye. Did this
saying of his convert me from quail
fed" into a "disqualiied' clergyman?
When did the Protestant Episcopal church
In the United States of America confer
upon bishop the power to disdualify a
clergyman by saying like this, or by
any other mere saying? When, sir, was
power delegated to any bishop from the
Throne of Omnipotence to make things
that are not as though they are, or things
that are as though they are not. by a
scratch of his pen? Do you not know that
the age of pope-wrought miracles is past
If It ever was, in the Protestant Episcopal
church?
But If we allow the miracle, how will
you credit with either mind or morality
a bishop who. on one small sheet of pa
per, disqualifies a clergyman-and also
accepts him as quaifiedY'-puts him I'M
der ban, and also testifies that he Is "a
Presbyter In good standing ?"-declares
that he is a law-breaker unwhipped of
Justice. and certifes to the 'purity Of
his motive" his "moral reetitnde," and
the Usefulness and Godlness of his min
istry" as rector of a church in his (the
bishop's) diocese? Must we allow another
miracle more astounding, If possible, than
the first? Must we think of the morality
of simple truth-telling al subject to Gre
alton and destruction by the ultra -omni-
potent miraculous scratch of an Episco-
pal pen?
Again. did Bishop Bratton write that
the matter was "suspended2' Aye. But
did he not also write that he would take
no step In the prernises?'' If the matter
was suspended in such sense that
he might have taken action and chose
not to, did not Bishop Bratton declare
himself, by his expressed choice. an alder
and abettor of the standing committee
in their act ''suspending the matter?"
Did he not az bishop. to the extent of his
power sanction this alleged action of his
standing committee when the matter
was directly before him. and he declined
to take any step to reverse or modify
the said action-to take out of state
of suspense" what he declared to be in
such a. slater
Do YOU not make very grave charge
against Bishop Bratton when you assert
that he wrote q letter in which he set
forth that was disqualified as clergy
r,an by q certain act OF mine In his
diocese. and by that letter sought to
transfer me to another diocese, beyond
his Jurisdiction, beyond his power to call
me to account for an act serious enough
10 have made of me a clergyman dis
oualifed? Are you of the opinion that
Rishop Bratton was afraid to do right,
Lest he offend in Mississippi the friends
Of The dead bishop? Or do you think that
he was absolved from the obligation 10
do right. to vindicate the sancity OF an
insulted canon in his diocese. by the
sentimental aver sion to passing Judgment
on his dead predecessor? Claim, sir that
+2ishop Bratton's letter to Bishop Beck
with declared me disqualified as clergy
,,an ,nd YOU must claim. that by the
same letter he declared himself disauah-
Fed to exercise the office of bishop.
no YOU not know that a clergyman is
not liable to presentment and trial for the
,,,a,ation of a canon. unless such viola
zion he .willful?" How. then, could
Rshop Bratton have taken any step
"a bring me to trial. or contemplated the
possibility of taking such step. alter
certifvIng TO my purity of motive
and ascribng to me nothing worse imam
mistaken judement?'
The Late Bishop Thompson.
have never admitted that | violated
either the letter or the spirit of any canon
when | offieiated at the marriage OF the
Rev. Mr.. Morris ] believed then, ana
believe now, that he had as much can
onical right to marry as any man who
ax-ar married since the word canon was
,nvanted, interpreted the marriage and
divorce canon as 1t is. not as You or any
hodv else believe II ought to be. And, sir,
a. nv Interpretation of that canon / had
tha sympathy and the support of the
great bishop under whom | was serving
the great bishop. with whom as scholar,