The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-31 00:00:00

(Prom the Times Correspondent.)
NEW YORK, Aug. 19.
In the entire dismemberment of Southern society
which the last four years have brought about it was
not possible that the Church could escape unharmed.
I refer especially to the Episcopal Church, which,
although embracing within its fold a small portion
of the population compared with other sects, and
deriving no profit in any way from the State, yet
possesses a degree of influence which no other
denomination has attained, and has always had some
of the ablest men in the country engaged in its
ministry. The perfect type of a National Church,
as some conceive of it, is one which is not assisted
by any compulsory rate, has no connection with the
State, and subsists entirely upon the generosity of
those who profess themselves members. Such
an institution is the Episcopal Church in the
United States. The " voluntary system " suc-
ceeds perfectly, for although it may be doubted
whether the religious sentiment is very deep among
the body of the people, it is very general, and
wherever the pioneers of civilisation settle down,
there the Church is soon found in their midst. A
small party of colonists take up lands in the Far
West, and before their log huts are fairly on the
ground the itinerant preacher, looking for some
fresh " location," steps in among them and mixes
his lot with theirs. At first the hut of one of the
little community is used for service ; by and by a
special one is built ; and as the society prospers, the
Church flourishes with it, until the " territory "
becomes a " State," and the site of the preacher's
log cabin is perhaps the centre of a large diocese.
There are, as I have said, sects much more important
in point of numbers than the Episcopal Church.
The various branches, the Baptists (including some
whose principles are as doubtful as their titles),
the River Brethren and the Winebennarians, the
Dunkers and the Mennonites, form a very large
body. Then, too, we have in America 200,000
persons called Israelites, many Hicksites, a strong
party of Second Adventists, a fair proportion of
Shakers, and a band of members of the New Jeru-
salem. The statistics of these and other eccentric
communities are a little questionable, and their in-
fluence outside their own circles is small. The
Episcopal Church occupies a more prominent posi-
tion, and the time approaches when the delibera-
tions of a Convention of its bishops will be watched
with anxious attention by the nation. The meeting
will take place in the course of next month, and the
questions to be brought before it have an interest
far beyond that which may be attached to its in-
ternal affairs.
The war caused a total separation between the
Northern and the Southern members of the Church,
and thus for four years they have held no commu-
nication whatever with each other. It is now the
earnest desire of tile _IN orcocrii wallops 10 rene w
their former association with their brethren ; and
since the course which the clergy may pursue must
necessarily have its effect upon their followers, there
were great hopes that they would not hesitate to
set a good example by coming back cheerfully into
the union of the Church, as well as into that of the
nation. If the clergy show a willingness to bury
the past and make the best of the present circum-
stances, their followers will be more likely to do so
as well ; should they exhibit a disinclination to shake
hands with the North, that feeling also will be very
readily taken up. Considering how much may turn
upon this issue, it is with regret one observes that all
the present signs discourage the hope that the South-
ern bishops will come to the Convention in a friendly
spirit. They, too, have suffered, they and their
clergy ; and they would be less than human if the
miserable condition of their followers did not pro-
foundly affect them. Yet if they could but see, as
they must be taught to see sooner or later, that no-
thing is now to be gained by opposition, but, on the
contrary, the little they yet retain will inevitably be
lost, they would not fail to strain the influence
they possess to make their suffering people truly
loyal subjects. They must know how suspiciously
they are watched by that party in the North

which will ever disbelieve in the possibility of the
South becoming loyal. " Southern men will always
be traitors," such men say, ".and the Government

will find a military rule the only one which is prac-
ticable to preserve in their States." Why should
those who lead, in a great measure, public opinion in
the South give fresh confirmation to those represen-
tations by wrapping themselves in the flag of a party

which is utterly broken and overwhelmed. Submis-
sion may be a hard duty, but it is better to practise
it than to fall to a lower depth than the one which
the unhappy South has already reached. There

were, and are, Englishmen who do not know, not

withstanding the stubborn evidence of facts, how

hopelessly and completely the Southern cause is lost

But men who have seen the country, or have taken
the trouble to ascertain in what condition it is, re-

quire no other proof than is there afforded them 01

he extinction of Secession. A blind and deaf man

or a fanatic may still conjure up visions of victory,
and imagine that he beholds the present position of
North and South reversed ; but even if the struggle

could be renewed—and it cannot—it could have no

other end than that which we see now. The legions

of the North would again cover the South as locusts

blacken and consume Eastern fields. There is no

hope for the South save in unconditional submission.
Gloomy as the prospect may seem to them, it is

after all less gloomy than the alternative prospect

which alone lies before them.

Some of the Southern bishops approach the crisis
with much of the spirit in which two angry women
set about a reconciliation. The only basis of agree-

meat that either can understand is the settlement of

all points of difference in her favour. The bishops
forget that under this arrangement only one party

can be satisfied, and that unless they forsake their

attachment to it it is impossible to restore a good

understanding. Bishop Green, of Mississippi, has
addressed a pastoral letter to his clergy which is
fatal to the work of peace. When the war broke

out he directed his clergy to use a prayer for
" all those in authority," instead of the one in

the service for the 'President of the United

States. But wherever Federal forces were they
either compelled the priest to repeat the prayer
in the book or closed the churches. "Fearing," the
bishop now writes, "lest upon the late change of
our political condition, a like interference might be
attempted in this diocese, I felt it my duty to set
forth in advance the course of action which, in such
case, it was proper for you to pursue." That course
was to obey their ecclesiastical superiors, " and re-
silt, in every kccoming maim or; the least interier-