The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-05-19


 me to send along with it my reasons therefor, and to have the same made pub lie through the daily press.
 I have been a member of this com mlttee now two years during all of which time I have received from each and every member the most courteous treatment and our relations have been most friend- ly and pleasant But it seems that my election by the last council did not meet with the approval of Bishop Beckwith. So far from meeting with his approval he was soon thereafter found, while at a large dinner party in the city of Tusca- loosa. as well as elsewhere, criticising the action of the council, and chastising certain of those who saw fit to vote for my election. claiming and pretending by reason of such election he could not oh- tain the advice of the standing commit tee and by reason thereof was forced to 20 outside of the diocese for acvice.
 While personally do not care one cent what Bishop Beckwith says or does, yet if would appear at once 10 the mind of any reasonably just man, that such state ments coming as they do and especially from the bishop of the diocese, were not only childish and spiteful in the extreme, but il direct insult to each and every member of the standing committee. 1t Is not fact that Bishop Becwith could not
 
 the standing committee if he had wished or sought It. Nor is it a fact that he was forced to go outside of the state for advice by reason of an. member being unon the committee.
 I am one of the many of those In the church in Alabama, who from two years of sad experience and of close obserya- tion have been forced to the conclusion that the diocese of Alabama can not pros nor t1ndar Piehop RackWifhs adminiStra- a- ton; that he is too full of his own im- portance; too narrow and contracted in his views; too hard and spiteful of dispo- ition; too much disposed to run everything by force rather than by consideration and kindness, and too much disposed to claim under himself all of the rights, powers and duties of vestry, of priest, council and diocese, ever to bring to his support that sympathy and cooperation without which it is utterly impossible for this or any other diocese to prosper or to long exist that the sooner we all recog- nize the true condition of affairs the better it will be for all. I see the inevit- able result and l am unwilling to re- main in official capacity to allow Bishop Beckwith even to pretend that this work Is impeded or that he has to go out side of the diocese for advice, or to con tribute in the slightest degree to his cer- ts barrass if embarrassment it may be, any of my friends or any one member of the council by asking or standing for re- election however. that election may be. 1 prefer to occupy that position which brings embarrassment neither to myself nor to any one else.
 Now while 1 am convinced Of the propriety of my course fin this particular instance I would have you to understand 4l,af | m n the evil effects upon the diocese if such a course were generally adopted or fol- lowed. For if 1t be permitted or admit ted that the bishop of the diocese can by his likes or dislikes, his frowns and his preiudices dictate the personnel of the standing committee, then it is clear that soon there would be no use of going through the farce of an election by the l council. because of the possibility of the committee soon being composed of mem l bers if such could be found, whose every action would be dictated by the will of | the bishop. What is here said of the l standing committee could with equal force | he said to any other important commit | tee ordered to be raised by the council. | The rights, powers and duties of the l council and of each important committee 1 thereof as well as the tights, powers and duties of the bishop. are so we'll and fully | defined bv the laws of our church that | there would seem to be no need of any mistake or misunderstanding in this re- i gard. Whenever it comes to pass. as l l fear it has already in measure come, i that the rights. powers and duties of one department of our church government are I not duly regarded or respected by the other. or when 1t comes to pass that the bishop of the diocese is allowed to usurp the powers of the council. as he seems disnosed to do then [ say it will not re- ouire the wisdom of Solomon to fore ! tell the result
 This disposition of the bishop has been exhibited many times and in many ways, hut at no time and in no way possibly go madlv as when at the last council, as I am informed he appeared before the | hoard of missions and demanded of them | thai all the missionary funds should be | left to him. paid ont and disposed of by | bis order. So strongly was this demand nressed that upon refusal by the treas urer to comply with it or to pay out mo new except according to law. he was | threatened with immediate removal from 1 oef,ce .inside of five minutes The result of all this was. as I am Informed. the hoard of missions in effect divested itself of all duty and responsibility of this fund