New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-17
CIRCULAR LETTER.

CIRCULAR LETTER.
NEw-YoRK, Jan. /, 1861.
To u. C!gg aEd Lav Of Chg''a" Church" ne SOs''r'
States 81 TIE linton.
". would salute YOU brethren, in the spirit of the
apostolic fol mula: "Grace, mercy, and peace" Ar
fellow.heirs Of kingdom that 'endureth forever
We have common interests and relations superior TO all
political bonds furnishing the basis Of iraterna inter
courte even in Of greatest civil comrnoton
Faith IN God would to be the only alternative IN
crisis which reveals the impotence and short-sighed
ness OF IL is with proiouRd conviction OIL tue
imninence Of national per and with deep sense OF
the soemnity and delcacy of this humble attempt 70
avert tkem that venture fow suggestions 10 our
dear brethren touching of the immediate csnses
of danger and the probable consequences to great
moral and religions interests Of the threatened disrup-
ton OF our civil ties
belief that n system Of gross and persistent nisreprc-
seAtoti0A has had much 10 do with leading the nation
10 the verge Of revolution The South has been sian
d-red AT tie North, and the North az grossly msrepre-
scented at the South. The extreme sentiments or un-
worthy acts of ind vluas and the passionate utter
ances of inconsderse bodies, political eccesiastica,
have been heraded ihrouuh the land the deliberate
expro ion Of opinion II great parties, denominations
OF sections Of country; whereas they merely repre-,
sented the extravaganza Of their authors and should
have been consigned 10 the oblivion they nerited
Too much Of this fratricidal work has undeniably
been done by the pulpit but Tar more ty the press
distinguished Senator when recently asserting IN his
place that nine-tonihs Of the complaints a. TO a
iuppossd grievance unfounded' added this de-
served rebuke If interruptions preee mere lbere
is sectional strife aud excitement there seerns TO be
pronenes- ON the part oil the newspaper press IN both
sections collect and give every fact which would
nAane the passions and prejudices Of ono section
sgsD another. la that way partial and Unfair state
nts are given which makes each section act under
an apprehension Of the other
Ii this view OF the question be accepted does not
vitality affect our relations and the duty of good citi
rens Noth ard Souihi DO not truth Justice and -elf.
r,spect demand extreme deiberaon IN the adoption VI
Tor the redress Of grievances, which, on this
hyrohesis, may proveo DO partly unreal ana NJ The
beet are greatly exaggerated Mutual mpunderrtsnd-
ing hns been often enough the oc,asion Of domestic OF
national calamity induce the utDlo-t patience and
forbearpncc, befor hTeyocabe action involving the
hof and the interests OF thirty mllionn Of souls
In our Judgment, dear brethren, the time has come
Tor more calm discriminating investigation Of the
causes of imIendr peTils and FOR manly Christian
effort, under God 20 avert them. IL IA not true that
intelligent, Christian patriotism has succumbed 10 IA
Daticism and dcnagoeism. II may be disheartened
sliaed for the time by the i-ided passions OF
in ore locality or another; but IL hye- and glows in
millions Of hearts all over the land, and in them all II
IL loyal 10 the Constitution, the Union, aud the Bible.
We rhoud hazard nothing in thus pedging the great
BODY OF the PEOPLE In these Northern States do
not will not disirus the great body OF the people in
hi- behalf IN the southern States Why then should
We not seek TO put end 10 the existing spirit of mis-
rust and alienation, TO stay the progress OF groundles
eIimraiion and Iecrinnaion and join hands, accord
ing 10 the grace and wisdom God may bestow IN the
blessed Office Of ptacenkers for our distracted coun
try
II il our appropriate work. Beside the interests
common TO m citizens, have vital stake in the
perpetuation OF Federal Union other aud higher
erouBds The honor and prosperity Of Protestant
Christi nifty are involved in the issue. failure In
our great experiment Of sefgoyerDment, beside
aod ding sad proof of recreaney on the part OF Ameri
csn Christians would be interpreted in all lands
evidence Of the powerlessness Of the only sysiem Of
religion that claims TO furnish adequate basis for
sell-govemiDg institutions. Disunion, too, would
involve the rupture Of cherished ecclesiastical ties and
the al andonment OF cooperative beneyolence VI home
and abroad. The noble example Of American Chris
tim enterpIise and tho Ring influence Of our Chris
tan civilization, must and react, the life cur
Of charity dry up, md the night Of our brief and
brilliant day gathers gloom. Aud should prevalent
81 prehensons riIen into fact that armed strife
should essay the adjustment OF difficulties nsoiube TO
reason, patriotism, aud religion, and thus pave tho
way for popular inHdelty Sabbath-breasing, hcen-
tonsncs,al the terrible concomtants Of civil war;
how ju,iy woud the guilty authors and abettors OF
ls misery be- Sifitcd with the maledctions Of Chis
tendom and how bitter must he the selfreproachos Of
those who neglected any part Of their duty In arresting
or avertng tbs dire catastrophe.
We cannot doubt hat spirit of candor and forbear
snce such religion prompts and the. exgencias
Of our times drnHnd would render the speedy adjust
ment Of difficulties possible, consistently with
every Constitutional right. Unsweryng fealty 70 the
Constitution justly Interpreted, and prompt return
TO ts spirit and requirements, wherever there may
have been divergence from either would seem 70 be
the first duty of olzens ana legislators Ii IL our irm,
and think intelligent conviction that only very
uncomfortable fraction of he people OF The North will
Leritate in the discharge Of their Constitutional obi
cations; and that whatever enactments are found 10
be in conflict Herewith will BIO annulled. And 1t is
our further belief that instructed and corrected pub
lie sentiment will coDsrhn stroter regard for truth
and for the rights and feelings Of men, tho part alike
of tie press and The pulpit in the popular discussion of
political and moral questions. Thus will the i'm.
mediate Of alienated feeling DO suppressed, and
the healing touch time the seasonable eXertions Of
patriotic men, the peace-nsprng influence Of religion,
the spirit Of fervent prayer and tho tavoring provi
doDce and grace Of the Triuno God, will cemeqt anew
the bonds that unite the North and the South the
East and tue Wet, in one thrce-blessed American
brotherhood.
To this end dear brethren and for the saks Of those
spiritual gifts imperatively needed by American
Zion, LET increasingly mp1ore the outpouing of the
Holy Spirit the rulers and people u theso United
States.
GARDNER SPRING, Pastor Of Brci Presbyterian Church.
W. W. PHILLIPS, rs.tor Of Pi,t Presbyterian Church,
GEORGE POTTS, univniiy.pace Presbyterian Church,
w.lok.
J. McELROY Foureeuhsireet Presbyterian Church " York
JOHN NJ KREBs Rutsers ttreet Presbyterian Church. N Y
CHARLES MclLpAIhE, Bhep Of bs Protestant Episcopal
FRANCIS L. HAMS Rector Of Calvary rrots.sut Episcopal
THOMAS HOUSE Taylor Rector Of Graz. Pro.o...n. sp,
oop0l Church, New.York.
WILLIAM y. MORGAN, Rector Of g. Thomas Protestant
Episcopal Church, Eewfork.
Nsr'yc't