Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-03-02

THaving heretofore published Bishop Ives letter
from Rome, written in December last, at the re-
quest of friend we publish the following from
The Register being part of a communication ad-
dressed 10 that paper by writer the initials
Fl. d. E. 1t is no part or province of ours to min
gle i'll any religious controversy AMI we have al
ways thought thut little profit could come of 1eli
giOuS discussion in the secular press especially
But as an item Of general news published the
letterof BlSl op Ives and publish the following
in order that the public may have view OF both
sides of the question.
''Of recent occurrences, the most melancholy is
the falling away of Bishop Ives. 1t is, at last re-
duce TO certainty, that this unfortunate prelate
was in the course of last month, formally received
into the Roman Obedience by the hands of the
Pope himself. The fact maniteSts at once the i'm
portance attributed to the acquisition. The final
reception was little more than technical The &C
tual, and even formal reconciliation had been pull
llcly stated in RomiSh paper of high authority to
have taken place in London, under the auspices
of Cardinal Wiseman. Nay, 1t has, we know, been
whispered about, that even before Bishop Ives left
this country, he had signed written paper testify
ing IN substance, his acceptance fall RomlSh doc
trine. The journey TO Rome and the solemn cep
ton by the Pope, then designed for effect
and induced by the supposed Importance Of the
convert
Wea are not going to depreciate the Importance of
pervertng bishop as connected with the mere fact
of his office, or deny that there was time when
Bishop Ives held high and honored place among
our prelateS. But we think that there are some
facts which diminish in no small degree the
portance Cf the conquest, which the RomiSh party
have made. 1t not only after his departure
from this country, and consequently after the exc
cuton of the written document, which we have
mentioned but after the interview with Cardin al
WiSeman had been blazoned in ''Hhe Tablet;' that
Iya fTOm PaTISt tn anfh Ic hu
tiers, old personal friend, that he going to
Rome 10 study the system Of "the Catholic Church."
1t is also fact that his travelling companions were
not aware of the interview with Cardinal Wise
man, or, we believe, of the formal reconciliation
at Rome, until after the latter event. Such Sc
crccy must hsT had a cause. 1t is manlteStly in
consistent will. honesty of purpose or with sanity Of
mind. The plain course for an honest and sane
man would have been to have resig ed his diocese
as soon as he had made up his mind that he was in
state of SchiSm But we are informed that, after
having made, towards the close of May, 1852 in his
address 10 his Convention, the most unequivocal
declaration ofattachment to the Prayer Book, he
proceeded before the close of August 10 receive his
salary III advance, and gather up money i'll other
ways in his character of Bishop OF North Carolina,
and then Immediately TO proceed 10 NV York, put
himself in mmunication with Archbishop Hughes
and DR.. Forbes. take letters of recommendation
from them and sail for Europe, virtual member
OF the Romish Church.
How is this to be excused, TO the most vulgar
ideas of morality, is the question. 1t may per
hapS be solved by little attention 10 the history Of
the Bishop. In the year 1858, there arose great
uneaSlneSS in his diocese connected with several
opinions which lie supposed to have express
&c, and several practices which he supposed
have encouraged. At the Diocesan Convention,
in May, 1S49, the Committee on the state of the
Church male report, i'll which, without underta-
king 10 decide whether such doctrines had been
preached or such practices introduced they stated
the fact of the opposition of the clergy Of North
Carolina to such doctrine and practices. This
was followed by charge from the Bishop, in
which he authorized his clergy to assure their peo-
pie 'that no efforts should be wanting on his part
so long as God may give him jurisdiction ov- r
North Carolina, TO hinder the introduction of any
practice-come from what quarter it may-not IN
strict accordance with the Liturgy of our Church,
and illustrated and defined by those standards OF
Interpretation authorized by the Church itSelf'
Tins was followed up, at the Convention Of
1850, by plain and distinct population of sever
al ofthe leading doctrines of the Church of Rome.
This does not seem 10 have satisfied the Couven-
ton, and Bishop Ives found it necessary to demand
committee to investigate his conduct. 1t was
appointed and instructed 10 report IL the Conven
ton of 1851. They reported six charges as hav-
ing been made against him. The Bishop himself
stated, "That it had been at one time a very IA
vorite idea with him to bring about union of the
Roman, the Greek, the Anglican, and American
Churches; and that i'll his zeal for Catholic union,
he had overlooked the difficulties in the way,
which he was satisfied were insuperable; that
this tendencyCf his mind towards union of the
Churches had been greatly increased and his abil-
ity to perceive the difficulties in the way had been
diminished by high state of nervous excitement,
arising either from bodily disease constitution
al lnfrmity" The report OF the Committee also
contains the following passage: "The Committee
would further state, that IN addition 10 Dr. Pages
letter, they have statements before them tending
10 shew that the Bishop has for several years past
been IN state of mental excitement, which has
impaired his memory and rendered quite uncer-
tain the determination of his Judgement. An oral
statement quite in detail, but which the Commit
tee have not had time TO reduce to writing, was al
SO made by Josiah Collins, Esq, to show that the
Bishops mind for several years past has been sin
gularlY effected from attack OF fever, SO as 10
impair his judgment and enfeeble his memory,
while other powers of the mind have been rather
exalted; state of mind we'll calculated to mis-
lead its subject and al the time to expose him
TO gross mlSconceptlOn on the part OF others"
1t is scarcely necessary to add, that since Thu t
period the influence of Bishop Ives has been en-
tirely at an end. The facts stated go a long way
towards accounting for the extraordinary proceed
ings on which we have been commenting, and
certainly diminish the value of the acquisition
which has been regarded at Rome as so important
Either Bishop Ives has lost his moral ty his san
lty; in either his testimony is of very little
value.
But a grave question remains; wha is to be
done! 1t is indispensable that the diocese OF
North Carolina should be vacated, in order that it
may be filled. How is this to be brought about!
10 present an insane man for tral seems an mad
mlSSable proceeding Besides where is the legal
evidence to be obtained! The case requires leg
lSlatlon at the next meeting of the General Con-
veniion. lSit not sufficiently important to render
1t eXpedlent, that that meeting should be hasten
ed!
BURNING OF THE john SwAsEY.-TmREE LIVES
LOsr.-FULL PARrcULARs.-The fire was first
discovered on her Starboard side near the boilers
then he In in