New-York tribune., 1909-11-28
AnglO-AmeriCan Memories
XIII.
Ccopyrirh,. 1909. by George W. smslI.y.,

ure In the episcopal life of New York
But at that time he had just come TO
the city. and il was. / think, the first
time he had met Bishop Potter I'm this
way. After dinner men lighted their
cigars i'm the dining room. DR.. Grosve-
nor hesitated. but when he saw the
Bishop smoking. he followed his ex
ample. saying to the Bishop: II was
not quite sure whether I should be al
lowad 20 smoke in your presence"
IF YOU had not lighted that cigar"
answered Bishop Potter Il am by no
means sure that | should have felt at
liberty to perform to- o-morrow's ceremony
OF induction, or welcome YOU into my
diocese"
The Bishops humor never failed him.
lie had been a guest "a a very hospitable
house, where the possible shortcomings
OF guests arc provided for I'm advance.
even 10 the extent Of silver hairbrushes
on the dressing table. which are often
10 be seen in America. but never here.
The Bishop naturally had and used his
own. Upon his departure the house
brushes were not to be found. and the
mistress of the house wired the Bishop
10 ask whether his servant had packed
them up by mistake The Bishop
answered. Poor but honest. Look in
the dressing table drawers"
He was one of those men who had the
art OF brevity; an art which consists
not so much i'm omission as i'm concision
OF speech and thought. He wasted no
words and forgot no point. When Lord
Grey WAS I'm New York meeting was
called by Mr. Fulton Cutting-a meet
ing of some civic reform association-to
hear Lord Grey's statement about the
movement in England. and especially on
his own estate. for the gradual closure
of superfiuous public houses by the pur-
chase and extinction of licenses. Lord
Grey made a clear and strong statement
which very much impressed everybody
who heard him. whether i'm agreement or
not with his views. Bishop Potter was
asked to follow Lord Grey. He spoke for
perhaps three minutes. cannot under
take 10 reproduce his speech, but never
! 10 be forgotten was the Bishops atti-
tude and manner and the illumination
of his face. He spoke as one having a
direct commission from above. With an
authority which made him master of
the scene he said:
Il wish To declare my belief-my as
sured conviction-that at this crisis in
the history Of the City Of New York
Lord Grey has been sent by the Al
mighty with the message he has just
announced to us. We also are trying 10
deal with the drink question. We have
not tried Lord Grey's way. We may
never try il. His methods may not be
suited 10 us; they may not succeed al
home. Whether they succeed or not. he
has done for us a service which no one
else has ever accomplished. He has
taught us in what spirit such a mission
ought 10 be entered upon. He has shown
us what kind Of man is likely TO sue
cced. He has brought us an inspiration
and if we do not profit by it the. fault
will be ours. But 10 him this city viii
over owe an immense debt of gratitude
That is somewhere near the substance
! Of Bishop Potter's speech. but ever
could l repeat his words. | could give
you but a faint impression of the effeci
he and they produced. For it was IN,
man far more than the speech which
stirred that little company of the elect
Paul Of tho nineteenth century: fol
hath not the potter power over tn,
( clay" G.. W s.