Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-03-05
BISHOP IVES A rERvERr 10 ROME.

with regard to the late Bishop of that Diocese
"To-days mail Jan. 28th) brings us intethgence
from Italy that Bishop Tees has formally acla're"
Professionalism. This has been expected Tor some
time; and the result proves that the bishop mas
either been playing the Jesuit and the -, or
that he is deranged man. have charity enough
to believe that his mind has been affected for some
wears. If it were not so, he would not within the
last ninety days, have drawn from his Diocese six
months salary in advance, to d9fray the expense OF
his trip to Europe
When individual sees fit, from any cause, to
withdraw from one portion of the Church OF Chnst'
and unite himself to another it is too often the case
that his late friends and associates turn upon him
and rend him without mercy. With SO unklnd
and unreasonable practice will have nothing to
do. If my brother or neighbor prefer the extreme
of Romanism on the one hand, or Ultra-Protest-
antism on the other, to the safer middle ground
of Primitive Gospel Truth, instead of backblhng
or maligning him, will only pray that the erron-
eous creed which he has chosen may rot prevent
him from making his calling and election sure
against the last day. After thus dscaiming all
unkind feeling towards my late Brother i'll the
Episcopate, and praying that in the midst OF the
spiritual dangers which surround him his
soul may be in the keeping Of the Good Shepherd,
| must respectfully beg little further space at your
hand, whilst briefly allude to the cause of Bishop
Ives Detection and its probable effect upon his d.
Geese. And that your readers may know how tar
am qualified to speak on this subject will simp
ly mention that twenty nine years of my ministry
were spent in North Carolina, my native State;
and that for the greater part of that time l was
frequently and intimately associated with him who
forms the subject of this painful communication.
When therefore, in accounting for the apostacy of
Bishop Ives, l say that 1 hare not, for the last
fee sic gears regarded him q responsible man.
| speak from personal observation, and l use lam
hot Iuin ha ,1-on ,,1Ia
stood, and will create no surprise in the Diocese of
North Carolina, nor in any other place where the
Bishop has been Familiarity known for some time
past. Nay, in saying this l but repeat the admis
sion virtually made, by himself by his confidential
Physician and by one Of his most intimate friends,
to the Convention of his Diocese in ] S51. Before
a Committee Of twelve appointed by that Conven
ton to investigate the alleged offences of the Do
cesar, their Bishop appeared, and said that How
ever humlating it might be considered in him to
offer to the Committee the statement he was about
to make yet sense of duty to himself and the Church
compelled him to do So" After mentioning favor
lite idea which he had entertained ofuniting the
Roman, the Greek, the Anglican and the American
Churches, he said that This tendency of his mind
toward union of the Churches had been greatly
increased by a high state Of nervous ercitemcnt
arising either from bodily disease or constitutions
al intfrnaitv; and that the change in his views
(Which had just then taken place. had been
brought about in part by more healthy condition
of mind and body, but mainly by his having per-
ceive6 the tendency of these doctrines to the
Church of Rome
The Committee, in their Report to the Conven-
tion state that in addition to letter from scien-
ti6c Physician, an intimate friend of the Bishop
they had before them statements tending to show
that the Bishop has, for several years past been
in state of mental excitement which has impaired
his memory, and rendered quite uncertain the de-
termination of his Judgment" moral statement
was likewise made to the Committee by distin-
guished layman of the Diocese whose house had
been a second home to Bishop Ives, Showing that
the Bishops mind had been for several wears past
from an attack of fever, sngularLy affected, so as
to impair bis judgment and enfeebe his memory
while other powers had been exalted-a state of
mind we'll calculated to misead its subject, and at
the same time to expose him to gross misconcep-
ton on the part of Others"
These quotations are from the printed Journal
of the Convention of North Carolina for 1851 and
may suffice to show, in the opinion of that body,
the irresponsible condition of their Bishop And
to this conclusion my own mind is driven by that
Charity that "hopeth all things" For could l be
induced to look upon my erring Brother in any
other light. would be forced upon many grounds
OF personal knowLedge to think of him as l
wish not to think Of any other who names the
name of Christ. 1t would be truly painful to me
to be compelled to enter into particulars on this
subject. will only add that the unsettled condi-
ton of Bishop Ives intellect or rather of his moral
Judgment, has been growing source of pain to
his Diocese for several years. SO much so as 10 in
cline many both of his Clergy and Laity to set
INN aside, or at least to appoint an Assistant to
him IN the Episcopate. And nothing but his ear
nest entreaties and repeated recantations Joined to
their own too kind regard for his feelings prevented
them from doing so on more than one occasion.
As to the probable effect of the aposacy of Bish-
op Ives upon the Diocese which he has so insult
ed and deserted, the following extracts from letters
received within a few days may suffice.
]. From Presbyter of high standing in the
Eastern part of the Diocese:
dated Jan. 23d.) "No body seems to be alarm
ed at the rumored detection Of Bishop Ives. or to
think OF wavering for single moment Nor do
OeheVe' should the rumor prove true that the Di-
oeese or Convention will have the least trouble
whatever There is not, so far as can learn, the
first symptom of any such apprehensions of trouble
as existed two or three years ago.
2. From Clergyman in another part of the Di-
Geese
Jan. l8th) GA letter has been received from
BISHOP Ives. He still suffers from Neuralgia in the
mead and eyes. To my mind there is no doubt
OuG tnat the hand of hereditary insanity is resting
lhls one thing you may rely upon, that the apos-
tacy of Bishop Ives, should he fall awav will not
affect the religious sentiments of single individual
in the Diocese"
g. From an influential Layman in the largest
IaFIoh of fhn