Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-17
RICHMOND SUSPENDED
FOR ATTACKING BISHOP
barred From Pulpits of Episcopal
Church in Diocese OF
Pennsylvania.
FINDS STRONG DEFENDER
Chairr:en Of Ecclesiastical Court,
which Finds Him Guilty, Flags
Bishop Mackay-Smith and Others
as Immoral and Un-Christian."
tBy Associated prc..1

i'ibADc.LPlilA, Pa, October 16.-
rev. George Chalmers Richmond. Prot
estant Episcopal Clergyman, was sus-
pended for two years from the Do
cese of Pennsylvania to-day for at
'ackinE the bishop of his diocese
In announcing the verdict of the
board of tricrs. tho ecclesiastical court
which heard the charges against the
minister. Rev. Fordyce II. Argo rector
OF the Holy Nativity Church, Rock
ietdge. denounced Richmond's accusers
IN vehement and strong terms. He
mayed Bishop Alexander Mackey-Smith,
now dead; Bishop Rhinclander, new
mead OF the diocese, and Francis A.
Lewis. lawyer and leading layman, as
lnstigators Of movement to unfrock
Kichmond. He accused the mas the
asgressors in tho affair which dis
rupted Richmonds former parish, ST.
Johns. He labeled their actions AS
Immoral. un-Christian. Illegal" He
excused Richmond's attacks on the do
cesar authorities as justihable.
PUBLICITY MIGHT MEAN
HIGHER TYPE OF BISHOPS
For were there more publicity and
denunciation." said Dir. ArEo, "our
bishops would be Of higher type than
that revealed in this testimony on the
Bishop Mackay Smith and Bishop
Rhinelander variety"
no sarcastically referred to the in
Visible government" in the diocese and
called for a tribune Of the people" in
It's place. The two bishops and Lewis
were really on trial. not Mr.. Richmond,
he said. and he concluded:
In my opinion, there Is guilt in this
case, grave. moral and canonical guilt
possibly criminal guilt But it rests
elsewhere than upon Mr.. Richmond"
Henry Budd. chancellor OF the do
cese, called upon the triers for their
decision. Mr.. Argo. as chairman, gave
the formal report OF his colleagues.
Rev. John a. Goodfcllow and Rev Ed
ward Richie. which was to the effect
that they had found Richmond guilty
on nine OF the l40 specifications filed
against him and not guilty on the
others.
We recommend that nc be suspended
for two years from the rendering OF
the verdict" the chairman reported
He began reading from a manuscript
or dozen typewrittcn pages his own
opinion OF the trial, the church leaders
who accused Richmond Of conduct un-
becoming clergyman" the diocesan
authorities and the Protestant Episco-
pal Church in general
I'm presenting my reasons for dis
scntinE from that portion of the YER
dict which finds Mr.. Richmond guilty"
Mr.. Argo began. Il submit that in this
case. the frst fact evident from the
testimony is that all Of Mfr. Richmond's
alleged onenses are the outgrowth of
n situation created by the action Of
the authorities OF this diocese and a
leading layman.' so-called, in conjunc-
tion with other less influential per-
sons
II mean, in the first place. Bishop
Alexander Mackay-Smith. Bishop p NJ
'Rhlnelander and Mr. Francis A. Lewis.
ACCUsERS OF RICHMOND
ARE REALLY on TRIAL
"Mr. Richmond was not primarily
the troubler in Israel not the 'ag-
gressor.' according to the evidence; but
Bishop Mackay-Smith and Lewis were,
and later Rhinelander took Mackay-
Smiths place. While technically, Of
course. Bishop Mackay-Smith, MT.
Lewis and Bishop Rhinelander are not
on trial, in reality they are, for 1t is
Impossible TO determine the innocence
or guilt of Mr. Richmond OF the Of
lenses charged without any valuation
OF the performances OF these men.
which. we have >aid. evoked the
actions of Mr.. Richmond.
For Mr.. Richmond TO be punished
while Mackay-Smith's memory Is unim-
paired, Philip NJ. Rhinelander holds a
life position of honor arsi rich emolu-
ments per year and Francis A. Lewis
rests in ease and affluence. and lesser
lights. both clergymen and laymen,
whose performances have been repre-
hensible in this matter. as can be seen
from the testimony. go unscathed. Is,
in my opinion. preposte-ous. unjust,
unthinkable.
Perhaps. however. 1t is ecclesiasti
cal justice. But 1 remember that &C.
clesia stical justice frequently has been
a travesty, a mockery. stencil in the
nostrils Of men since long before Jesus
of Nazareth stood before the Jewish
Sanhedrin until quite recent days"