New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-07
THE KPIAWOPAL CONVENTION ArD
TnyE REHELLHON,

The action .Oi the Episcopal Convention.
which met last wick in this city, is the subject
of comment and Of surprise not only out Of tia
Church but in it, Ut time when the people.
young and old, rich and poor, Of all sects and
all parties are united in a war to maintain
the freedom of the people and the integrity Of
tue Constitutions CONSTITUTION on which, 20
bishop Hobart showed in his famous sermon,
was modelled that of the Church itself--
1t wos hardly supposed that an Episcopal Cor
Vention could meet to debate rules Of order
and forms of canon, and be silent on n great
national calamity.
Though at the formation Of the American
branch of the Anglican Church by the men Of
the Revolution, the political tie that connected
Church and State was sundered, the high moral
and religious duty which the American Church
owes to the United States was not in the Ieast
forgotten, but was recognized throughout the
prayer-book. For the petition for the Soy
ereign of Great Britain was substituted the
PRAYER for the President of the United States.
In the Litauy the people are taught to pray
the good Lord to deliver them from "sedi.
" ton, privy conspiracy, and rebellion" Tbs
safety and welfare of the people, the delibera-
ton of Congress, and especially +" the honor Of
+" this people," are made the subjects Of special
and solemn devotion; and from frat to last
the prayer-book teaches that no man can be
good Christian or q true Churchman unless he
be in thought and word and deed loyal citi-
zen. The duty of loyalty on the part Of the
British subject to the British Constitution, as
expouuded by the English Church, is distinctly
recognized mutatis mnt0ndis by the Americas
Church as the equal duty of American citizens
to the American Constitution.
The Convention knew well that the views OF
many, both of the clergy and the laity, on this
duty of loyalty had become frightfu!ly lax, and
that there have been rumOrs that even among
the clergy of the diocese might be found men
who. however outwardy loyal sympathized
with the Rebellion in their hearts, and they
knew well how absolutely essential it is to the
success of the Government that sympathy with
rebellion should be replaced by the most ardent
loyalty.
Such being the state Of things, Dir. Jay
offered the following preamble and resolution.
which had been carefully pOndered and approved
by the most conservative men in the Church
clerical and lay-such men as DIR. Alexander
H. Vinton of Trinity Church, DR.. Montgomery.
the Hon. Murray Hoffman, the Rev. Mr..
Boggs, and others of equal responsibility:
WSs,ea, The 18th Of the Articles Of Religion established
by the Bhops Clergy and Lsy Of the rt4tean. np,eoP
received into the Church so far as declares the Book Of
.f y IN Pety end Mos and Tie order io r.dns
the In Clutches suspended only untii revioa
them could be conveniently made for ths cesns o. een a.
well from obsolete words and phrases as from the Local refer
ences. ,,, 81, -, M II
lily against Rebelion doth coGsin cody and wholesome
d5ctine, and especially demanded in the.e troube
Rs,red that the Right Reverend the Bishop Of this Do
ce,e be respectfully requested may be found con
venen to revise csuSe to be revised BY such proper Per
on on persons may appoint for the said the
Homy sgsnst Rebellion clearing the o. local reference
ard obsolete phrases sad rpydnS vac S, s
the Church and the exiseny Of the present time and Se
.on 70 the end thst me sid % ISis ~ b Wo.,, by
the minister diligently and distinctly that the same may be
understood BY the people
This resolution, to which the most eminent
authorities in the Convention admitted there
could be but one objectiOn-that it might dis
tIrb the holy calm of the Church-was not
even received by the Convention. BY new
rule of procedure of which this aid and com
fort TO the rebellion is the first fruits, neither
the mover nor any of the distinguished gentle.
men who were prepared to speak in favor OF
the resolution were allowed to open their
mouths. The gag certainly never was applied
in more cOngenial cause.
Thus the cherished conservatism OF the Con-
yentiOn forbids it to conserve the honor and In
teerity of the country aud the Church. The
" holy calm" maintained at st. Johns seems
to be the unhealthy growth of decaying Or
ganization rather than of the vitality OF
Christian body. 1t is to be hoped that the
Convention does not fairly represent the feeling
of the aymen Of this Diocese.