Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-09-23

a, which claims as its author MANY Chris
t'ans.' lregret that the letter ha. not beer
written more IN the spirit of Christianity
and hone, that deficiency of christians
temper VIII not be discovered in the re
narkS which | shall now Offer for the con
/ NSieranon of these persons,
Persons not belonging to the Episcopal
Church would not complain, that form
of prayer has not been supplied by one
under no obligation to furnish 1t to them.
and which they would not have used if il
| had been given { them-These are then.
surely, christians OF the Protestant Epi.co
Ipal Church, who, while Careless aud indif
iercnt themselves, are very watchful of the
! conduct of another and can they acuuit
! themselves OF indifference to the prosperi-
/ y OF the Church, when they ale no, il
I termed whether there is, or is not Bishop
ia the state of Virginia.!
! For their information, / will state, that
IN the year 1872, the Convention selec,ed
the Kew. Joan Bracken as a persontit to fiji
he office OF Bishop-Desirous of serving the
| Churcn as Tar as in his power, he did not
| fhen oEJect TO the appointment-But, after
wards, retec,ing on his age the arduou.
duties of a Bishop, with other circum.tan,,
ces, he thought it best TO decline the con-
! sccration and at the convention of 1918.
he gave notice of this determination
Other person Was appomtcd--he never was
the Sishop,o of Virginia, nor has there been
one IN thus state, since the decease of DR..
Madisoa.
Admit however, that Mr.. Bracken had
heen tue Bishop, with authority above his
brethren IN the Mini,try--I wo Id ask, is a
public newspaper the vehicle thro' winch
members OF ms church should present their
complaints of him ! Can these chris ians
thlnk that the style of their letter is prope
IL addressing the temporal head of their
Churchl Where IS the tender and sfFcc,,
onate renons;rance, or the evidence of
hearts wounded and soirowful, that their
chief Pastor has neglected his flock -
| Where the respect due to Gospel Min.
ter, and the reverence which c,iistr,,s
should feel for him who is Ever then IN
the Lord! Are these found in the insinu
atom that party spirit may have ac uated
the blshop-In the reference To has College.
Presdency--in the allusion To lindoien,
Church diSnIlaries eiSewnare-in sneerino
notice OF his title in the church, ana h;s
dress? Are they found in what i, said at
| Bible Society, recently formed at a distance
/ from his residence, and without KNOWN.
/ whether he has or has not encouraged II ,
Do christians thus admonI,h their friend,
aud brethren! Would a mora list adont
this mode OF Correcting the errors ot
us triendt is 1t by hipting at possible i'm
! proper and dlsgracelui motives, that any
man would expect to correc, an errns
| friend Is the christian temper Dromnp
to suspect ard to impute bad motiyesp
ItfIsk nor. If am lght, what d. ss,ble nh
| ject could the authors of the letter all
dressed TO tie Bishop have had in yiewP
] Neither their spiritual or temporal int esr
are advanced by it-uor is the interes, at
[ The church consul ed IN its publication
| They have NOT demonstrated ar admonished
as friends OF the bisnop; out as censors
| they nave CrIIninated bin. Was il kind Ia
write and publish thus letter 10 an old man.
now nearly seventy years of age----a minis
ter Who has served at the altar more tna,,
! forty years, always with a compeii.a ion in
! adequate to moderate and simple su ,jp,,r..
aud now faithful to his trust. still found IN
he performance Of his duty, while he re-
ceiveS nothing, or very insignificant sum
| from the members OF .he Church Had
Christian charity dictated this letter how
| different would it have been! Ana how
unwilling would the authors have been to
| nave seen II published in a news paperl
Members of The Episcopal church mourn
ITS fallen safe they are deeply wounded
| by the taunts of ihhdels. they see and
| dep!ore the faults OF members and ministers
but they will not find comfort from the
| publication OF these faults IN newspaper
ILL ey heartily wish that the legects of
'estrles, wardens, deacons and priests, with
ali VINO arc engaged in the service OF the
| church, were repre- scnted to the proper au-
nority III l Z, nat they might be corrected
/ itet they, with Christians OF all scots, must
aisapprove resort to newspzpers-rhe,
must regret such a Publication as that sub.
scribed " Many Christians; nor are they
without their doubts, that if the names OF
these Many Christians should be given 90
tue pubic as their letter has BEEN a search
TOT them on any Christian register OF mem
oera might be unavaiIing-1he letter is not
such as christian would have written on
such an OCCASION. 1t leads to The suspicion
OF some personal plque against the presu-
med Bishop. For Christians do not love to
publish the faults of others. They are for
hidden TO do so; and if they are mindful Of
| duty, they will be more disposed to watch
themselves than TO view the conduct of o.
theirs Sith critics or a censor's eye. Yet,
| they Will not omit to notice, before the pro
per authority of the church, those faults III
members or ministers, which are known 20
them, and which can not be otherwise re
NEEDED, in order to the publication of the
ministry, and the advancement Of christia
nifty.
These remarks are offered in a spirit OF
regard TO the church, and for the considera-
ton OF the authors OF the letter t. the Bis,
op. 1t is hoped that they will be received
asthey are offered, with christian temper !;
and that no unworthy motive will be attn
buted TO the writer
]