New-York tribune., 1905-01-06
THE TALBOT CHARGES.
Withdratcn by Presenters, Who Re-
SerUe Right to Rene7c Them.

Philadelphia, Jan. 5.-The presenters Of Bishop
Ethelbert Talbot of the Central Pennsylvania Do
cese of the Protestant Episcopal Church, who hth-
erto have not repudiated the paper filed against
him, tonight formally withdrew the Charges in
writing made against the bishop by friends OF
the Rev. DR.. l. N. W. Irvine. the deposed priest.
They reserve thesrght to present new charges in
writing"
The document was handed to the Rev. Dr. w. b.
Bodne, president of the board of inquiry TO hear
the case. late tonight by J. Frederick Jenkinson.
of this city, who spent the day in New-York In
conference with those interested in the case After
reading the withdrawal. DR.. Bodine said: THE
charges against the Bishop of Central Pennsyl-
vania having been withdrawn by the presenters, it
has been hoped that arrangements might be made
whereby meeting OF the board Of inquiry could
be avoided. AS this has been found to be impract-
cable. the meeting will take place as directed by
the presiding bishop at 10 a. m. on Tuesday JAM
uary TO- The place of meeting will be in the Man
sion House. In the city OF Reading"
The withdrawal is dated January 2, and is ad-
dressed to Bishop Tuttle. to whom copy has been
sent. The document begins by saying that all the
signers to the present knew the contents and
the purpose Of the charges in writing" and emu
merates the charges follows:
Crime; to w.t. criminal libel.
immortality; TO wit, false statements
Breach OF ordination and conservation vows
Conduct unbecoming q bishop"
Continuing, the document says:
I'VE In possession OF such proof is suf-
fcient in opinion, to put the Right Rev. Ethel
bert Talbot. D. d. LII D.. upon his trial We be-
leved. and still believe. that the grounds suf-
fcient to put the accused bishop upon his trial.
Tho charges were formulated in order that the
manifest scandal in the Church and the disgrace
of the office of the said Right Rev Ethelbert Talbot
should be inquired into by the board of inquiry in
the expectation and belief that the board would
direct the Church advocate to prepare present.
ment to be signed by such of the board agree
thereto"
The paper then states that since the board Of
inquiry appointed the canon laws have been
changed; that bishop is now not liable to be tried
for breach of his conservation vows" nor longer
liable to be tried for conduct unbecoming a bish-
op." In the canon existing when the Charges In
writing were made, these offences were among
those for which a bishop could be tried. The
Charges" the withdrawal says. were sent TO w.
G. Miller, of Huntingdon with request to procure
signatures thereto Upon returning the document to
Dr. Irvine, Mr.. Miller sent a letter. in which he
said:
Dear Doctor: Your letter at hand and I send you
the same by mai here with six names, the very
may bring about the matter all o. K They all
seemed glad to sign the paper IL it would help
you in any way.
After the names Of the signers had been pub
lshed. the paper says. DR.. Irvine learned through
the newspapers that the Huntingdon signers had
repudiated the document.
Continuing, the withdrawal says:
las incomprehenSible as this seems, upon investl-
ha@ tha 9ae at lea qWo
confirmed these reports. They also find thSt two
of the Huntingdon sgners desire to Withdraw
their from the charges. We do not know
the attitude of the other
For all these reasons we cannot go peIore the
board of inquiry, and, accordingly, we withdraw
our names from the charges in writing heretofore
delivered to you presiding bishop
In thus Withdrawing our names, however. our
iterate that we signed the charges in writing be-
eving that they should and ought to be finally and
absolutely settled by proper inquiry ana trlaI
I'VE deplore that owing TO the serious legal
difficulties and the position taken by some or the
Huntingdon signers 1t has become necessary for
all, and seYerally TO request the return or
the charges in writing heretofore delivered 70 3q,
presiding bishop. that the said char ges1i,ch
writing shall be duly indorsed in writing LIN ~ not
nanner In acc9rdatnSe 4 with the 9sding bishop of
anSjtmer document to take the place thereof, exc
clted in accordance with the existing canons.
The withdrawal concludes by asking that If, be-
fore any further charges in writing" are made
against Bishop Talbot he (Bishop Talbot shall
make a request in the manner provided in the
canons OF the Church for board of inquiry to
investigate 'rumOrs reports or charges Gin ctrcula-
tion) affecting his moral religious character,
then and IN that event Will furnish TO the proper
person persons the proofs would have pro-
duced before the board Of inquiry ordered by you
The paper is signed by j. Frederick Jenkinson
A. J. Arnold, S. Lord CTilberson. Herbert Noble
Cannon
Although the Rev. DR.. Gilberson signed the above
paper, he issued statement disavowing any fur
ther connection with the case. and will not allow
his ito be used to support such fraud as has
been perpetrated in this case"