THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS X LIBRARY CI Y\ ILUNQIS HISTORIC^ SURVEY 1 flUNOIS IW^ARRATITE or THE EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE ELECTION OF AN ASSISTANT BISHOP, FOR II^UNOIS. ^K^S^N«^^^^^V BY A PBESBVTER OF THE DIOCESE. JUBILEE COLLEGE: PBrNTKD AT THE JVBII.EB PBBS8. 1848. A NAEEATIYE, &c. ":;: : 1 ^ The false statements, made concerning the 1, election of an Assistant Bishop for Illinois, during •- the last session of the General Convention, have o been industriously kept before the public in the columns of the 50-cailed " True Catholic" aad Utica " Gospel JMessenger." S The charges of exercising an " undue" or " an , unlawful influence" to procure the election of a "^ particular individual, of even " commanding" the ^ clergy on their '^canonical ohedience^^ to vote for • him: of " endeavoring: to remove a Parisli Min- ister, to make provision for his maintenance ;"of holding out the private resources of the person proposed, as a reason why he should be chosen, which was denominated a"simoniacal contract," form the chief burden (so far as Bishop Chase is concerned) of those representations which were made in the House of Deputies, with the view to prevent the confirmation of the canonical election Q of the Rgv. James B. Britton, to be assistant Bish- ^ op of Illinois. These charges v/ere also ac- C companicd with such reflections on the Bishop's ■% manner, as to leave the impression that he acted, not only unjustly, but with the most undignified weakness. Most, if not all the above representations had (O their origin in a communication made by Rev. Mr. ^^ ^Giddinge, not originally his own, but which he "5 adopted, prefacing it with the declaration that I there had been no election! On the other hand, wi Rev. Messrs. Kelly and Samuel Chase, of Illinois, -U gave a very different account of the facts concern- I »> ing the clec'.ion — utterly denied the excrciic of any undue influence or command upon canonical obedience — and would, had they been as willing- ly and patiently lieard as those who spoke on the opposite side of the question, have produced, it is believed, a different result;* while the arguments of Dr. Hawks and others, went to show, that had even the Bisliop distinctly asserted that if the per- son mentioned by him were not elected, he would withdraw the proposition for the election of an assistant Bishop, he could not be considered as exercising an unlawful influence over the election. Those who looked calmly on, and read the pro- ceedings of the convention, it was thought, could Bee that sufficient was said in the debate sustain- ing the course of Bishop Chase, to counteract the ill impression which laight hav3 been made if the assertions of Mrr Giddinge and the coMments upon tliem had r.p.b8Comin tlac two Rev. objectors, (Rev. Mr. Giddinge and Louderback,) were at St. Louis on Sun- day, (having passed by the town of Alton, where tlie Convention met) ; and who Cftn say what/;rI the Redeemer, in conjunction with his bt -ved clergy; — the inability on account of his ^^ -. aiid inci easing infirmities, of a continuation t>f thege,as formerly in a measure equal to the de- Cmand of the increasing Diocese. He then signi- fied hir desire for the election of an assistant Bish- op: and from proceeding to describe the quali- fications in his opinion, necessary to secure use- fulness, he was led to go beyond his previous in- tention, and mentioned Mr. Britten's name, asona whom he thought would be mutually acceptable ; and further, begged them when they came to act on his proposition of chosing an assistant Bishop, if they could not agree upon Mr. B., to drop th« matter for the present, and let it remain as before. The honorary members from St. Louis, probably supposed that parliamentary usage justified them in remainicg, though this request was twice repeated ! e There was no commanding upon canonical obe- dience, or any expressions \vliich could be so in- terpreted. The absurdity of the thing would at once have been apparent.* It was simply a request with which tliey could comply or dissent, as they might see fit. So far from the Bishop's course being thought to •During a speech hy Judiro Chamber?, of M<1. inUic Hoii«e of Deputies, a ciiriou3 cross-qupglioning collomiy occurred cor cern» ijig this language. Rpv. Mr. Kelly, of llHnois, rises to dcclar* that he "certmnly did not hear aly command from the Bishop oo that occasion." R«v. Mr. Griswold, of St. Loui«, "had the r ulhority of tb» delegate from Springfield, HI., and a letter from another gentle mnn who was present at the election, to confirm his assertion, that the Bishop had *' commanded" them. Rev. Mr. Dresser, [thb Delegate from Si-ringkield, III.] asserts in reply, "'Iliat h» had no recollection of the Bishop having used the lunguagc at- tributed to him, but the impression made on his mind was, that tha Bishop's remark was, that unless Mr. Britton were elected, b« did not wish them to elect any one. There was, he dared to say, some reference to canonical obedience, but he did not recoiled the precise import of what was said on that subject." When Mr. Griswold is questioned in his turn, a. inatce;-, had th^ majori'.y tiiought edther '. thoiii^nGp^s course -t'Gj impropcfj or nii^neceEsaiy ; ""d since, o*i the other hand, the question wUJ decided i i t'.ic afiirmative, we may justly Infjv i-hriC ?.^^ se:z. z of thz Convcntk was taken Oi: '.hc^e l/ir^e *ssi'cs — thaf thi coi.rcz of w»c jJiSuOp in .»/ tjposiji^ the inutfcr was pro- ^tY ; thai i.e. cic:th:i teas expedient; and that the person ..cied was noiohjectionahlc. The icction took place in the afternoon, after the other business had been dispatched in good feelii " and quietness. The Rev, J. B. Britton was nominated by the clergy; the balloting made according: to cunon, and ere the Convention ad- dlridual,andl)ad T)crn in his possession sevrral racntlis. II is most positively (Irnied 11. at any mention was made by Bishop Chase of relinoii'shing his missionary salary, previous to the elec- tion of Mr. Britlon, nor was there any allii'ion made by him as to Mr. Britton's private resources^ forof tliese he was entirely ignorant. The fact that this latter charge was taken np and ar- fiied upon at length by the Rev. Mr. Giddinge, as if the office had een oncred forsnleto the highest bidder, must certainly weaken his position with such as know the facts. 9 journed, every person entitled to a seat, had sign- ed his testimonials. After all the husiness of tlie convention had been transacted, the Rev. Mr. Worthington, (a clergyman in deacon's orders,) rose to state his reasons why the mode of proceeding should not be used as a precedent; prefacing his remarks with a)i express disclaimer^ of any ivish to re- flect upon the Bishoii's manner^ but only express- ing his opinion, that the naming of the individual proposed to be elected Bishop, should in all cases originate with the clergy, over whom he was to preside. It was evident he did not distinguish be- tween an Assistant and a Diocesan Bishop. In the former case the existing Bishop is as much concerned as any of the clergy are. It would be incongruous, indeed, if the person so chosen should disagree with him under whose direction he is to act, according to the sixth canon of 1839.* It is not an inevitable case that the assistant Bish- op is to be the successor of the Diocesan, and as long as they both live, it is evident tliere ouo-ht to be the strictest harmony of feeling, to which harmony of sentiment strongly tends. The cler- gy can, by letters dismissory, dissolve their con- nection with the Bishop and Diocese at any time, but the connection of the Bishop with his Assist- ant, is like that of man and wife — " For better or worse," "Till death do them part." It was but reasonable, then, that the wishes of the Diocesan should be expressed, and but just and kind, they should be respected ; when after all, the Conven- tion had the matter entirely in their hands, either • " Tlie assistant Bishop shall perform such Episcopal duties and exercise such Episcopal authority in the Diocese, as the Bish- op shall assign him.'' 10 to refuse the election altogether or to substitute anotlier.* This expression of the opinion of Rev. Mr. W. (which is, i iiope, oi>en to correction) has been tortured into a protest against dictathn ; whereas it was made in the kindest manner and with the express disclaimer of any such intent. In due time the matter is brought before the General Convention. Tiiere witii surprising con- sistency, he whose name appears firstf on that document which aflirms so solemnly before Al« mighty God, that there is no impediment known io the consecration of the Bishop elect, is the first to declare there has been no election, (a very for- midable impediment, o;-e would suppose to con- secration !) Nor is the He v. gentleman's position inconsistent alone with his invn roJer. i ace, but he also calls in question the sincerity of his constituents, for they, and he ^rith them, had af- firmed that the Rev. J. B. Brittop T/r<' " duly nomi* natcd" and "didy elected. ''J Thougli he does not pretend that any new mat^ tcr had come up afterwards, yet he states in Gen- eral Convention, " that within ten hours after signing the testimonials of the Bishop elect, he "was convinced tliat he had acted improperly," and when iu New York, (some three months after- wards!) he addressed a note to the cliairraan of the committee on consecrations, requesting that hi9 name might be taken off tiiat paper ! Notwitli» standing all this, (I speak advisedly,) some time after the ten hours^\\\Q. Rev. gentleman "address- ed a letter to the Bisl)op elect, giving his reasons for opposing his election, and for signing his testL- • Would not, for instance, the election in this ca^c have been val- id, a!ul iiisi.-ted upon if the other person for whom one vote ■was cast, had received the support of the majority? t A precedence which he seemed at the time emulous to obtain! *See Illinoii Jourual, pp. 10. 11 monlals, and offering if he would make Quincy his residence, to resign liis parish in his favor, he being invited to take charge of St. Pauls, St. Jjouis." It is certainly not my place to reconcile such inconsistencies. I leave to the Diocese of Illinois the task of freeing herself, at tlie proper time, from the imputation of dishonorable submission cast upon her by one of her own representatives. The most charitable judgment I can entertain is that when the Rev. gentleman signed that paper, he yielded to his better feelings and better judg- ment, and that his subsequent course was the real MISTAKE. If there was no election, why was the above of- fer made? If there was no " free clioice" why after the election, was the parish of St. Paul's, Springfield, proposed by its representatives, cou- pled with the offer of 4>6{}0.per ann., to the assistant Bishop ? Why were the standing committee (with whom the matter of salai-y was left,) authorized by common consent, to offer him $500, to bear his travelling expenses? Every one must be con- ficious that in the election of a Bishop it is rarely the case thai; all are suited — conflicting interests or prejudices will exisi: — but it has hitherto obtained as a good rule that the majority shall decide. In this case did not all sign the testimonials ? and are the statements of an uneasy individual, so incon- sistent with himself, which are contradicted on the spot, b}' equally competent witnesses, to weigh against this fact; while every insinuation against Bishop Chase — although it involves the disgrace of the Diocese, is to be listened to and believed? If the decision of the General Convention is to be refered to as a time jndgment upon the facts, it must be answered, that it was so artfully managed that a v^rong impression was given concerning them, in the House of Deputies. The small majority by which the signing of tho 5 19 testimonials was defeated, shows tliJit there Was a large pr -portion who held just views, hotli of the necessity of an assistant to the Bishop of Illinois, and thti validity of his election j and had these been the only points called in question, there 18 but little doubt tliat the consecration would have taken place. But when the objections on the ground that there was no necessity of an Assist- ant ; and that the election was invalid, were los- ing their force upon tlie minds of members, through the statements of a portion of the Illi- nois delegation, and the able arcniments of some others, the insinuation (for it deserves no better name,) that the Bisliop elect was not qualified in point of literary attainments,* is tlirown into the scale; no time is given to rebut a charge, so cru- el to the Bishop elect, — cries of question ! ques- tion'! prevail, and the final vote is taken under tliesc circumstances. If we may believe the True Catholic, another motive of policy — (a pitiful policy !) '"the jeal- ousy of the larger Dioceses, which he says "may be dignified with the name of a principle," had also its influence in producing that aetion of the highest Assembly of the Church, which reflects no honor upon the Diocese of Illinois, and aims a blow at the character of her Bishop. But we console ourselves that there is in tlie public mind a sense of justice, based upon facts, which parlizans can- not overrule ; and above all, that there is a just God, who will finally rectify all evils, and right all wronffs. D. C. o •It was aflcrwarJs proved and admitted that the charge wa« false. «i"««W HIi A UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA lairiM C001 A NARRATIVE OF THE EVENTS CONNECTED WITH 0112 025258655 1 ■■■■■ ''0'<' 'A'.'.'y/'. -.V ■} ;>ils ■^•r. ■■■•: