Handwritten letter from N.D. Pendleton to Rev. Carl Theophilus Odhner. Pendleton thanks Odhner for his letter of yesterday with news from Bryn Athyn. He comments, “I have always opposed vaccinations as a matter of course. The compulsory variety adds injustice to injury. . . As to voluntary vaccination, I consider that the principle involved is a choice between evils, which every man must be free to make according to his judgement.” He asks if he is correct in understanding Odhner to say that Bishop Pendleton is in favor of vaccination. Pendleton finds Odhner’s view of Miss Beekman’s writings to be informing and reassuring; He agrees with Odhner that the Church seems prone to “occasional ‘enthusiasms’ from which we must later react(?).” He admits his surprise at Miss Beekman’s “vacillating course” as he had previously “conceived of her as a fierce character.” Pendleton discusses his views on ordination into the third degree of the priesthood. He writes, “The matter of a ‘warrant’ is immaterial to me, as is any case some person or persons not in the third degree would have to do the ordaining. The historical sequence would be broken. We would have to begin de novo, so far as the highest grade of the priesthood is concerned.” He continues, “I fear that the old regard for the distinctive markings, characteristics and prerogatives of our order is on the wane.” Names mentioned: Bishop (W.F.) Pendleton, Miss (Lillian Grace) Beekman