The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-01
NATIONAL BISCUIT COMPANY

as 1t was a question whether Bishop Beckwith had a right legally or morally | to refuse to accept these letters in the face of his agreement of September N, as we'll as in the face of the fact as we l believed that he was at least instrument I tai in bringing about a letter In such form That was the question which brought about the contention. But how ever this may be, after this contention going on for a long time the Bishop wrote us that he wanted to meet the Vestry again and explain his position, and so on the 18th day of October we again met In conference After several hours or discussion in which our contention was gone over and laid before the bishop we again reached what we thought to be full understanding, and we again separ- ated so believing
 This agreement resulted In one condl- tion required by the bishop and that was that as soon as we obtained from Bishop Bratton a letter in canonical form ne would accept 1t and put an end to all further dispute or controversy so far as this matter was concerned. We that night prepared a form of letter to Bishop Bratton to be signed by the bishop and sent to Bishop Bratton next day, re- questing Bishop Bratton that if he could see his way clear to send such letter to Mir Ewing the bishop would accept 1t, and he also agreed that night to write a letter to MT Ewing welcoming him to the diocese The personal letter that he wrote to Bishop Bratton and his letter to MT. Ewing was not satisfactory to the vestry when they had 1t laid before them several days afterwards, but we will not go Into that now.
 Suffice 1t to say that few days after these letters were sent Bishop Bratton, MT. Ewing received a letter from him In canonical form and upon our being mo- tified of the fact we upon the 2th day of October renewed our call to him, and soon thereafter, on the 4th day of November, Bishop Beckwith accepted this letter in compliance with his agreement of the pre- vious conference and at the same time wrote to MT. Ewing telling him that from that day he would have his name regu- larly enrolled. This was as we under stood and believe the bishop so under stood, complete carrying out of our agreement of the 16th day of October and, nothing more for us to do. MT Ewing, on the 10th day of November, came and took charge of the parish as the rector and has from that day until this been per forming the duties of said office, and not one word or intimation has the bishop given to MT. Ewing or to the vestry of
  Not until after the council met and ad- iourned did we ever, any of us. receive any intimaton from any one that his election as rector was not regular or was questioned And not only this, but at the last council MT. Ewing was enrolled and admitted to seat fin the council as the rector of the Advent, and was admitted and understood by every member of the council, so far as we know, entitled to his seat as such rector.
 Thought Matter Ended.
 I am sure that the facts will bear me out in saying that the bishop so under stood and so intended that the agreement of October 16 being carried out In the &C., ceptance of the letters of transfer on November 4, and his letter of same date to MT. Ewing. that he would from that day be regularly enrolled, was a complete ending of this matter and that there was nothing further left to be done either by the bishop or by the vestry so far as the regularity of his election was concerned. And l am sure that the facts will further bear me out in the statement that the bishops demand and evidence by letter Of | May g Is but an afterthought It were 1 better that such was an afterthought, brought about 1t may be by something at the council he did not like and in moment he forgot himself without ad- | vice and without due consideration
 l l say 1t Is better for the bishop that such Is the fact rather than for his friends to believe he had this matter up his sleeve for more than six months and was only waiting for the council to come and go before taking Advantage of it. If the bishop expected or required the ves- try to do anything more after the 4th day of November, in order to make the cleo ton canonical. why did he not say so in writing to M. Ewing on the 4th of Mo-