The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-17
rHEsrArE cRTHE COUNTRY.
Important Action OF the Protestant Eptscs-
pal Church in yisgimin.

Church, In the rsiceess of Virginia, has been
in session in this city for The past two days,
! and, considering the circumstances of the
/ country, is numerously attended, by the
| Bishop, ssis tant Bishop, and other clergy, and
/ by Lay delegates as well as by several visiting
( ciergymen-among the latter the Right Rev
Thcr-ias Atkinson. Bishop of North Carolina
/ Yesterday Bishop Meade read his report.
from which we make the foilow interesting
and admirable extract All who know this
venerable Diocesan will recognize in this ex
preston of his views the wisdom, flrmness,
and piety which they are accustomed to as
sociate with his honored name:
Having thus presented a statement of |
those thugs pertaining TO our Diocese which |
the canon req afres OF me, now ask your at |
tention to a lew remarks concerning the pres |
eut unhappy condition of our State aud coun !
NV brethren and friends viii bear me wit |
ness how carefully have ever avoided, in all |
my commu MICA lions, the least reference 10 |
/ anything partasing OF political Character, |
and how have earnest!y warned my younger |
brethren against the danger OF in)nring the /
effect of their sacred ministry, by engaging iii
disc us sOns which are so apt To disturb the |
peace of society. But in tue present circum-
stances OF our country the cause OF religion Is
/ so de- ply involved, that feel not only Justi-
tied bat constrained To otter few remarks for
4 your consideration.
1t has pleased God to permit great calani
/ " 10 come upon us. Our whole country is
! preparing Ter war. Our own State after Iali-
| ing IN her earliest effort fer the promotion OF
peace, is, perhaps, more actively engaged in
all needt Ill measures Tor maintaining the po-
/ sItion which she has, after mucn considern-
tion, deliberately assumed, than any portion
, of the land.
d uv.ovr and N ore honest conviction that II
war should actually come upon US II Will he
/ on our part one OF saif-defence, and, there
lore, justin tbie before God, saidoln' II
, ever, animated the breasts of those who APP
peaed TO arms. From this consideration
and from my knowledge of the character OF
our people, believe That the object sought
sued, whatever sacrifice OF life and COM
| fort and treasure may be req nIred.-
! Nor do l entertain any doubt rs 10 The final
! result though l shudder at the thought G!
a what may tervene before that res ult is Sc
: cured. May God, i'll great mercy aud with
! His mighty power, interpose and grant US
Il speedy peace, instead OF protric ted war But
can il be, that AZ this PERIOD OF the world,
It when so many prayers are offered up for The
Q establishment of Unrist's Kingdom III all the
+arth, aud such high hopes are entertained
|, that the Jealous efforts put forth Will De sue
7, Cessiul, and our country be one OF The most Ell
e receive ana honUred Instruments for produc
It ing the same, that tne great Work shall be ar
2 res ted by such truiIicidal war as that W hich
= fs now SO seriously tnre'tten.d1 Is there not
l. room enough for us all 10 dwell together m
e peace IN This widely extended country, so large
;: portion OF which not yet unoe tied, ana may
II nUt be until the world that now Is shall De no
= more? the families or nations which sprung
"A lind room enough III the little pent uv Hand OF
&c ] udea To live lii peace, by gong the QUE To
n one hand ana the other 10 the opposite
of At a later period, when Israel and Judah sep
III ara ted and the latter having The cty ana TEN
Is pie in possession, and the supremacy, accord
" lag To prophecy, was preparing 10 60 up
:, against the former and reduce the people to
IA submiss and bring them back to union, The
<, Lord himself came down and forbade il, say
- reg: Tho,t shat not go up, nor fight against
~ J0ar brethren, the chiidre1 IF I8rIel. Return
N speru man to his house for Nts thing is Of me.
&c Aud they hearkened unto the Lord, aud ever
-, l.ter the history of the two Kingdoms Is writ
"a ten in the same sacred volume IN which are
also recorded the evidence of God's favor 10
both, and though sometimes At con troYersy
vet how often were they found side by side
defending the ancient boundaries of Judea
tgainst surrounding nations. God grant ina
$3.50 our country may learn Il lesson from ms sa
,i -. cred narrative Let noue think that am un
~ mindful OF law and order and of the blessing
,I If Union. l was trained in different school
-, | have clung with tenaCity to the hope OF pre-
~, serving the Union to the last moment.
,c [ know my own heart, could The sacrif1ce
~ the poor remnant of my lite have contributed
,i IN any degree 10 its main tenance, such sacri
fee would have been cheerfuity made. ia
W. the developments of public feeling and IN
~ course of our rulers have brought me slowly
reluctantly, sOrroWtully, yet most decidedly
10 the painful con fiction hat notWithstind
ing attendant daOgers and evils we shall con
suit the welfare and happiness OF The whoi
IN | land by separation. And VINO can desire
retain = Union which has now become SO hate
or. iul and by the application of armed fore,
roo which if successful would make il ten-fol
ped more hateful, and soon lead 10 the repeLito
-hn | Of the same bloody contests
| trust, therefore, that the present actu'
IAN separation Of many and such Inporttt
. in nor tione OF our country may take place with
'ol. ont further coliisioi' "hien ii.su. sie' ~
me hinder the establishment OF the moet iriendi
Ind and Intimate reittohe "L'VI Can eon5lSt " IL
ate separate esttbli+hments. L trust that OF
friends at a distance, aud now in opposition
of us will most seriously review their JudI
,gs mpnt and inqur whether the evils resuitlf
- from Il war to sustain their wishes and opli
: h. IONS as TO single COniederacy, will not I;
his | exceed those apprehended from the establish
re- ment of second-an event far more certa
2 to | than the result OF the American ReVoiuti(
ven | at the time of its occurrence.
eru 10 connect ton with this civil and geograph
re- cal separa ton in our country, and almost n
ave cessarlly resulting from it, subjects OF sou
and change of the ecc1esiast teal relations OF OF
red Diocese must come under consideration
OF There is a general and strong desire, belieV
an 10 retain AS much as possible of our past III
emit present happy Intercourse with those fro
ike whom We shall be in other matters more {
this yided A meeting is already proposed for til
10 purpose in one of the seeded States, who
she plans so tar ~ developed, will sub nIt 70 I
ON consideration Of this body at lis prese
lore session.
oto- l cannot conclude without expressing !
ted earnest desire that the minis ters and mem be
the of our Church, and all the citizens of o
"A OF state who ara deeply interested in |
present contest may conduct 1t in the mt
aed- alava ted and Christian spirit, rising above
En- worthy and unchariIable i'm putattous on
who are opposed. Many there are equa
sincere both sides, rs there ever have be
had in all the wars and controversies that ha
iva been Waged upon earth though IL does
the follow that All have the same grounds OF j
iov tice and truth which to base their warfa
e in 1t was the maxim of an ancient sage that
Grit | should always treat our friends as those
iva might one day be our enemies, and TO tr
Ized | our enemies those W no may one day be
friends. While abhOrriDg, as am sure we
stys do the former part of his cold hearted max
r the let US cherish and adopt the latter, SO con
the Mil with the spirit OF our holy religion.
d re- thought of even II partial separation Fl
e ac- those who have long been 90 dear 10 me
tates anguish To my soul But there is union
the heart in our common faith and hope VIII
Con- can never be broken. The Church in Firgi
and has more dear friends and generous pair
tates amongst those who are on the opposite sid
kad- this painful controversy than any other,
some feels most deeply the unhappy position
they which are placed.
the As our State has, 10 its high praise, enc
guide yored oavert the wills now Threatened, so
lions our Church, and all the others In Virginia
COM PRAYER and the exercise of true charity,
Gov deayor to diminish that large amount OF
use iudice and i'll WILL which so unhappiiy abou
TT IN in our land.
e i'm Let me. in conclusion, commend to the
tests, cis! PRAYERS all those who have now dew
yern- themselves to the defence of our State. r
been personal knowledge of many OF them,
any from the information OF others, there IS
d for ready l believe, a large portion OF relig
it. principle and genuine pIety TO be 10
= the among them. ] rejoice 10 learn that IN II
eralI companies not ohIy are .no SCI rIcss "a u
press AIMS ,a anu - nm, social PRAYER meetings
ouo,, ,hamsslyes Our own Church h