There Were Two My good friend, the Rev. Richard L. Rising, has saluted THE LIVING CHURCH[TLC, March 3] for its positive approach toward those discussions which may lead to a closer relationship between the Episcopal Church and the largest body of American Lutherans, ELCA. Like Dean Rising, I find TLC's stance on the matter, thus far, helpful and encouraging.

Reminiscing about earlier times, Dean Rising mentions what he remembers as one somewhat controversial ordination. Actually, the events he recalls happened at two different ordinations.

The first of the two ordinations was held in Trinity Church, Boston, on June 8, 1951. Thirteen of us were ordained as deacons. The service was newsworthy because four of those ordained were sons of bishops. Bishop Peabody ordained his son, George; Bishop Sherrill ordained his son, Edmund; Bishop Whittemore ordained his son, James. Because of post-war conditions in Japan, Bishop Yanagihara of Osaka could not be present for the ordination of his son, the late William Hikaru Yanagihara. Bill and the rest of us were ordained by Bishop Nash, the diocesan.

My father did not preach at this ordination. He and my mother were quite content to be in the congregation. The preacher was the Very Rev. Charles L. Taylor, dean of the Episcopal Theological School.

The second, and controversial, ordination was my ordination to the priesthood on May 11, 1952, by Bishop Nash, also in Trinity Church, Boston, where I was the junior assistant minister. It was a great joy for me that Bishop Nash and Dr. Theodore Ferris, my rector, invited my father to preach and also to join the other presbyters in the laying on of hands. (Edgar Franklin Romig was senior minister of the Collegiate Church in New York City, and a former presiding officer of the Reformed Church in America.)

It is only at this point that I believe that Dick Rising's memory is defective on an important historical point: The editor of TLC was not the only opponent of my father's participation in my ordination. The American Church Union, led by the late redoubtable Rev. Albert J. Dubois, was outraged. The controversy flared to hot heights, not only in the church press but also in daily newspapers.

In a lengthy two-page editorial, TLC [Aug. 24, 1952] expressed its strong disapproval of Bishop Nash's inclusion of my father in my ordination. TLC unwisely quoted from the Prayer Book Commentary by the distinguished liturgist, the Rev. Massey Shepherd, one of my teachers. It cheered my father and me when Dr. Shepherd in a letter [TLC, Sept. 14, 1952] strongly supported Bishop Nash and stated that "I totally repudiate [your] use of my statements."

Halfway through the 1952 General Convention in Boston, I happened to be the celebrant at Trinity Church, Boston, at the usual quiet service of Holy Communion at 8 a.m. on a Sunday in September. Among those to whom I gave the bread were the Presiding Bishop, Dr. Henry Knox Sherrill, former Trinity rector, and his guest, Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, the Archbishop of Canterbury (in gaiters).

It was kind of them to chat with me for two or three minutes after the service. With his usual warmth, Bishop Sherrill said, "Don't worry about all this fuss!" Dr. Fisher, of course, respecting American autonomy, said nothing but he smiled, and there was a twinkle in his eyes.

(The Rev.) Edgar D. Romig Washington, D.C.