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The Charles P. McIlvaine letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
Description
Presnet Cracroft to standing committee "Bishop Whitehouse, like anyone else, may so accuse Mr. Cracroft that I will see that and inquiry is instituted." He is to send any additional material he has to Standing Committee. Nothing in the charge that a presentment can be made except that he preached in Illinois when he had been forbidden to do so. Whitehouse not remand him here - only I can.
Date
12-28-1864
Keywords
letter, McIlvaine, Bedell, church
Recommended Citation
McIlvaine, Charles Pettit, "Letter to Bishop Bedell" (1864). Charles Pettit McIlvaine Letters. 274.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/mcilvaine_letters/274
Rights Statement
Transcript
Cinc. Dec. 28/64
My dear Bishop -
I duly recd the paper you lately sent me in the [?] with others. I have come to the conclusion to lay all the paper before the Standing Committee, under our [Canon] for the trial of a Clergyman + let them judge whether there is cause for [presentment] & trial. If they decide there is not, [Cracroft] is then cleared. If they decided not to present on a part, he is cleared of that. I am led to this conclusion by considering that with the allegations now made are thus acted in I could not give a letter dismissing, that in view of that C. request me to proceed to trial, that I have re-examined the question of [Cannon] as presented by you to Bp. Whitehouse + am not satisfied that he may not [cell] for [laying] under Canon 3 Tit. II. While I see clearly that under Can. 2 same title “Of Offences for which Ministers may be tried. Bp Whitehouse like any body else may so accuse Mr. C. that I will be [bound?] to see an inquiry is instituted &c.
Seeing then that the questions reduced to this shall they anyway be have or left to [Hlmin + Kurway] that what would be not thought to demand trial here, would be made a grievous offence there, + I am bound to see as far as I can that no injustice is done a Presbyter of the Diocese. I have to day written Bp. W. that I shall lay the papers now in hand before the H. Committee + notify him to send any additional papers he wishes to, also sending a copy of Dectl. of our Cannon.
There is nothing in the charges at present preferred or intended on which the Committee can base a presentment, unless it be that C. officiated once after being forbidden to preach in [Hlmin’s] + then that after reading that part of Bp. W.’s letter to him in which the letter says he [Cracroft] has been remanded to [the] Diocese for trial. he said it was a he.
As to the [?] it was wrong + very unwise. But considering the notice of Services having been given, & the Bp’s letter coming on Saturday & that after that once [effecting] & giving notice that it was the last, there was no more, I don’t think any Committee but an [Hlmins] me can see in it the need of trial.
AS to the lie, it depends [then far] on the accuracy of a [??] from where the man [?] it who furnished to the Bp. Mr. C. [?] it in a letter to me. No doubt he contradicted it some way or other, as he might for it was not [time]. He has not been remanded.
Bp. Whitehouse can not reward a person for trial in any diocese but his own. It is for me to reward him.
I have not the date of [Chapron’s] acceptance. AS I never keep any memoranda, but of the fact of acceptance.
Rylance did produce a letter of transfer from the BP. of Winchester + now he has recd my [?] of regular standing &c. + is Rector Who & what [Wamer at Boardman[ is I know not. I forward here a notice from a lay-reader there that he resigend his office because Mr. Wamer is there, + from the date of the notice I inferred he had been there over six months. He has sent me no letter dismissing, nor have I recd any notice from the [vestry] of any cell. Have you? I pity you [?] the uncomfortables of an unfinished house, - in the winter -
Yours very affectionately
C.P.M.
I forgot to ask you about Norwalk. What is the condition there. The papers you sent will be carefully preserved. I see on the last Journal a Report of the parish at Boardman with Rev. A. J. Wamer Rector & [Statery] that he commenced his ministrations May 1st. It is curious that [French] put him down there.