Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-05-18
Protestant Episcopal Convention.


Church, in the Diocese of yirginis, has been
in session in Richmond for the past two
DAYS, ami considering the circumstances of
the country, is numerously attended, By the
Bishop, Assistant Bishop, and other clergy.
aud by Lay delegates, rs we'll rs by several
visiting clergymen among the latter tho
Right Rev. Thomas Atkinson, Bishop Of
North Carolina
On Thursday Bishop Meade read his re-
port, from which we make the following in
teresting extracts All who know this ven
cradle Diocesan will recognize in this
preston Of his views the wisdom, frmness.
and pety which they are accustomed to a.
sociate with his honored name:
Having thus presented a statement OF
those thugs pertaining 10 our Diocese which
the canon requires of me, | DOW ask your
attention too few remarks concerning the
, present unhappy condition of our State and
country"
1T has pleased God to permit great Ga
lavnitv to come upon us. Our whole country
is preparing for war Oar own State, after
failing in her earnest effort for the promotion
of peace is. perhaps, more actively engaged
in al needful measures for maintaining The
position which she has after much consid-
ton. deliberately assumed, than any portion
of the land"
"A deeper and more honest conviction
that if war should actually come upon US it
will be on our part one of selt-defence, and
therefore Unsuitable before God, seldom, if
ever animated the breasts Of those who ap-
pealed to arms From this consideration
and from my Knowledge Of the character of
our people | believe that the object sought
for will be most pe:seye:ingly pursued
whatever sacrifice of life and comfort and
treasure may be required. Nor do | enter
tain any doubt as to the final result though
shudder at the thought of what may inter
vene before that result is secured. May
God, in great mercy and with His mighty
power, interpose and grant US speedy peace
instead Of protracted war"
Il cannot conclude without expressing
the earnest desire that the ministers and
members of our church, and all the citizens
of our State who are SO deeply interested in
the present contest, may conduct it in the
most elevated ana Christian spirit, rising
above unworthy and unchariEuble imputs-
tons on ali who are opposed. Many there
are equally sincere on both sides, as there
ever have been III ali the wars and contro-
yersies that have been waged upon earth;
though it does not follow that al have the
same grounds Of Justice and truth on which
to base their warfare.
1t was ths maxim Of an ancient sage that
we should ALWAYS treat our friends al those
who might one day be our enemies, and to
treat our enemies, rs those who might one
day be our friends While abhorring, ss l
am sure we all do, the former part of this
I tatp oh
the latter, 80 comgenial with the spirit of our
holy religion The thought Of even partial
separation from those who have long been SO
dear to me, is anguish to my soul But there
is union Of heart in our common faith and
hope which can never be broken. The
Church IN Virginia has more dear friends
and generous patrons amongst those who
On the opposite side of this painful consro
versy that any other, and feels most deeply
the UNHAPPY position in which weare placed.
The reading Of this report was followed by
the appointment of Is committee, whose re-
port having been subsequently submitted,
was approved by unanimous vote OF the
Convention as follows:
The special committee Is whom much of the
Bishops Address relates TO the present political
md ecclesiastical condition of our affairs was re-
ferred unanimously report the following resoiu-
tions for adoption by the Convention:
l. Resolved, That this Convention having heard
with deep interest the true and timely statements
of our venerable Diocesan in reference to the pre-
sent political and ecclesiastical condition OF our
affairs, cordially concur in the views presented,
and sympatbiae fully in the kind and Christian
spirit in which they are so wisely declared.
> Resolved, That Z committee, consisting OF
two Bishops with three clerical and three lay mem
bers be apsointe provisional committee 70
1,r IN Of he
TORS connected with our relations TO other diocaScS
and also 10 serve as delegates in any Convention
which may be agreed upon by other similarly sit
uated di0ceses. All tbs proceedings OF this com
mittee to be reported TO. the approval Of tho Con
vention of the Diocese Of Virginia. The commit
tee called for by the second resolution was elected
by ballet, Saa consisted of Right Rev. VIM
Meade D. B., Bishop; Right Rev. John Johns,
D. D., Assistant Bishop; Rev. Richard Il. vii.
mcr Rev. Vim. Sparrow, Rev. Joshua Petarkn,
Judge Thomas s. Gholsoa, Philip Williams, ESQ,
and Richard H. Cunning CHAM, esd
4 SCENE IN tbs CANADIAN House OF AS
sgaBLy.-The following is sketch of d scene
in the Canadian House of Assembly --the time
being Saturday evening. 1t is from the
Quebec Chronicle:
while the debate was proceeding, some
mem DerS WN!BIl9U, ulLiiAO0s iuSHy
slammed their desks, made mysterious creak-
ing noise with their boots, threw paper pellets
at each other. behaved il most uproarlous
way Speak Frenrh!, would be called out to an
English orator. Remarks as to his personal
appearance would be addressed to-rhe next
speaker. This is rather School,boy way OF
doing things, but is orthodox parliamentary
practice We have seen q members wig art
fully pulled off his head with hook and line,
and bushels of shreds of paper showered like
snow fakes over chairmen OF committees.
We have heard some members crow like chan
tcleers. and others bark like puppies OF NEW
like kittens. All this looks rather undlgnihed
t. people in the galleries.
There was repart in New York on
Thursday evening that I, Bearer of Des.
patches from Europe to the Confederate
States, had been arrested. It turned out to
be true, but he was SOON discharged
II !, s.;d that (,Gy Wise il arra-;n,r ,,,,, 90