New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-20
BISHOP MEADE OS TIE WAR.


ia the Diocese Of Virginia, has been Ia session in this
CITY for the pact tw days and considering tie crcua-
stances OF tie coonry s numeiously attended, by me
Bishop, Assistant Bi-hop, and other Clergy, ssn' oy
Law Delega e. As we'll by several ylsiung erey'
m,u; auOn. the latter the ki ght Rev. Ihonas Atkin-
son. Bishop of North Carolina.
Yesterday Bishop Meade read his report, from which
we make the following interesting AID admirable ex.
tract. All who know uis venerable Diocesan viii
recognize in Ills expression OF lis VIEWS tue wisdom,
rmnees aud ety which tbey are Accustomed TO asSo-
ciate NTH IGNORED name:
Hav bg thus presented statement OF those things
pertaining 10 Docese which the canon requires VI
Ne / now ask your attention TO few remarks con:
corning tie pres unhappy condition OF our Siaie aud
country. My brethren AID friends VIII bear me WIT
nese how ca eiully have ever avoided III All 10y
cummunicat the les-t reference TO anything par
taking If political character aud how baye ear est.
~ warned uy younger brethren agsinst the dagger OF
iuIng tie efe CT their sacred ministry, by engaging
in discussions which apt to disturb tie peae OF
societv. But in the present circumstances OF our
country the cause ofs religion lie 80 dee involved,
that feel not ouy justified but constrained 10 oer
few remarks TOR your consideration. Ii h,r pleased
God Ia permit great calamity 10 come upon as Oar
whole COUNTRY is preparing Tor war. Our own Site,
after failing her effort Tor the promotion of
eAce Is pert als, actively engaged in all needfui
measures for maintaining tie ioilou witch Sie has,
after much consideration, deliberately ASSUMED, tnan
apy port of the laud.
A deeper aud more hottest CONVICTION that II war
81 oud actually upon US, il will be- on our pat.
one OF sel-def-I Sc ard, therefore, usinable before
God seldom il animated the bre acts Of those WHO
appeaed to arms. From this consideration, aod from
ny knowledge OF the character OF our people, be-
live Ii At tie object sought for will be most erseVer.
mgly pursued, whatever sacrifice OF lie, aud COM
ort and treasure may required. Nor do er,ain
any doubt as TO the fll result, though shudder At
the thought OF what may Intervene before taat resun
is secured. May God ia His great mercy, and with
His mi .hty power, interpose, and grant us speedy
,eace Instead OF protracted war; But can II be- that
az this pevd VI the world, when SO many pra, are
"A TAIL fufl hi. %
all the earth and su hi-h hopes are entert lined
that the Jealous efforts put forth will be sue
,essful aud our country be one Of the most
etie tive and honored instruments for produc-
my the same, that the great work shaii oe
suow ously threatened IL there not rcoD eIOueh
for ali 10 dwell toget er In eace III this ailel, ex
tended country, so large portion u Which Is hot yat
settled, and may hot be ui ii tue world That now 10
shal be- no moe The families or ratoDs wbie Jung
lrom Two venerable patiiaruhs OF old could huu room
enough in the little peDt up land OF udea to live u peace,
by going the hand and the other 10 tne op.
poetic. AT Ia period, when Israel and Judah ~
rated and the having the ci,y aud in pos
session. and the supremacy, according 10 prop tcy,
was preparing TO mp against the former aud reduce
the eoyle Submission aid bri"g them back 10 union,
the Lord himself came down aud forbade 1t saying:
Tnou shalt not go mp, nor fght agaiast yOnr 1refa.
rem tie ch,idrtR If Israei Return trs,y to hts
house, for his thing IS IF ne. And they harkened unto
the Lord aud after tie hi tory Of tie two hing
IL
are also recorded the evidence OF GVds favor 70
both and though sometimes AT controversy, yet how
often We're they found side bv side defen ing Tie
cent bounda les OF Judea against surrounding nations.
God grant that our co ntfy may learn lesson IRON
Il is sacred narrative. Let think thai alu uu.
mindful vi law aud order and Of the blessings VI Uuon
was iaiued in different school have cldug with
tenacty " the hope O preserving the Union - tho
last 1.0nent Ii know ny own heart, could the sac-
rice OF tue poor Of my life have contributed
Ia degree To it's maintenance, such sacrifice mou
have been che.rfmy made Bot the develo JmeLts Of
public feeling and the course of rulers have
brought me slowly, reluctantly, sonowfuly yet most
:eeidedy to the painful conviction that
ing attendant dangers and evils shall consul; tho
wele and happiness Of the wsoe land ~ -eLarl ion.
Aud WHO can d, sre to retain Union which has now
become 90 hateful, and by the application OF AIMED
force which il successful would MAKE II ten-fold more
hateful and lead TO the repetition OF the same
bloody ,ontestsi
trust therefore, that the present actual separation
of 40 uany aud such important portions OF country
NAV Ike ,lace without further collision, which
greatly hinder the estabh hnent VI tho fienuly
aud intimate relations which Gun consist with separate
e.tabli hmeuts. trust Il at our f-nds distance
snd now in opposition to US, will mott seriously re-
view their Judgment and Inquire whether the y, lie
resulting from TO sustain their wishes aud pin.
ions as TO singe Coniederacy will not far exceed
those apprehendea from the establishment Of seyoud
-an event far more certain than the result Of The
American Revolution at the time Of is occurrence.
l. connection with tuis civil and geographical seps.
ration In our country, and almost necessarily result
from IT, subjects OF some change Of the ec,lesias u
relations Of our Diocese must come under consideration.
II ere IL general aud strong desire, believe To 70.
tain much possible Of past and present happy
intercourse With those from whom we all oe in o.ier
matters moro divided. meeting Ia already proposed
plans, far developed will submit to the consd.
GRAFTON of this body at Is present session.
cannot coacluae without expressing the earnest de-
sire that the ministers and members Vi our Church. aud
a. ON ba pIv L.
e,re in the prvsent contest may conduct il m tie laos,
elevated and Christian spirit, rising above uawo. y
and unchantatlo imI uta,ions all who are opposed
Eichsh Raaa