There have been a great many clergymen in the Potter family, and
doubtless the Right Reverend Henry Codman Potter, bishop of the diocese
of New York, had an inclination for the pulpit which was an ancestral
inheritance. He is the son of Bishop Alonzo Potter, of Pennsylvania,
and was born at Schenectady, New York, May 25, 1835. He was educated
at the Philadelphia Academy of the Protestant Episcopal church, and
later at the theological seminary in Virginia. Graduating therefrom
in 1857, he was at once made a deacon and one year later was ordained
to the priesthood. Until 1859 he had charge of Christ P. E. church,
Greensburg, Pennsylvania, when he was transferred to St. John’s, P. E.
church, Troy, New York; for seven years he was rector of that parish.
He then became an assistant of Trinity P. E. church, Boston, and in
May, 1868, was made rector of Grace P. E. church, New York. For sixteen
years he was identified with the affairs of that famous church. In 1883
he was elected an assistant to his uncle, Bishop Horatio Potter, who
presided over the diocese of New York. A short time after entering on
his duties as such, his uncle withdrew from active work and the care
of the diocese fell upon the younger man. On January 2, 1887, Bishop
Horatio Potter died and was succeeded by his nephew. His diocese is the
largest in point of population in the United States. Eloquent, earnest
and devoted to his life work, Bishop Potter commands the love and
respect of all of those with whom he comes in contact.