Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-05
A Pastoral Letter,

To the Clergy and Ldiy Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the Diocese of Tennessee:
DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN: The Convention of
the Diocese, which recently met at Someryille by
unanimous vote passed resolution requesting me
to appoint weekday service for fasting and
prayer to be used all our congregation once
week. oftener, at the discretion of the Minister,
having special reference TO the dangers which
threaten the public peace and tranquility Of our
country. / sympathize very sincerely in the senti>
ments which prompted the Convention to make the
request, and share very largely in the feelings
which urge our people to invoke Gods protection
and aid in the perlls which are imminent over US.
Yet would say, let no mans heart fail him be-
cause of the ratings and threats that are made
against US. Under the lead Of fanaticsm which
sleeps to the of appeals to the passions of
human nature-which, in the ardor of its zeal to
complsh its purposes, sets aside the fear of God,
and actually rejects and denies the authority of His
Holy Word, a very large portion of the people of
the Northern States have been reused to make war
upon Us, and armies are gathering on our borders
for the avOwed object of carrying fire and sword,
ruin and desOation, from the banks of the Ohio to
the Gulf of Mexico. Possessed with an unaccount-
able nfstuatioR, they alledge, in justification of
their course, grievances of whose existence
unconscious, and pretend an apprehension Of inva-
sion of their territory and assault upon their rights
which we have not even meditated. On the other
hand for forty years past, citizens of the Northern
States have, in spite of warning, against entreaty,
been engaged IN tampering with our servants, se>
ducing them from their fidelity, aiding them to
cape from our and control, and exciting them
to the work of arson and death. We have remOn-
strated with our Northern brethren every year
since the attempted exclusion of Missouri from the
Union, and warned them of the sad work of ahena-
ton and disruption which their proceedings would
surely produce between Our warnings and re-
monstrances have effected no other result than
more active and determined efforts on the part of
those bent upon ruin, until these efforts issued,
less than two years ago, in the attempt of North
ern men, aided by Northern money! and Northern
sympathy, to seize arsenal in, the State of Vir
ginia, with the avOwed purpose of oyerthrowing
the government of the Southern States, abolishing
slavery, and establishing the supremacy and rule Of
the North upon our ruin. Had the plan succeeded
the work would then have been accomplished for
which armed hosts are now gathering upon our
borders, and fleets lowering on our coasts, to de-
stroy eur commerce. Notwithstanding all the past.
there were hundreds of thousands in the South,
who in their love of, and devotion to the Federal
Union, willing to bear more, until the procla-
nation of President Lincoln, inauguratng war, had
destroyed the last germ of hope that could reach
peaceful solution Of our difficulties.
To this day and hour we have continued to give
to the people of the North, that by arm
ing, we designed no attack upon them, but simply
to be ready for defence against aggression. We
have, in every way we could devise to be heard,
through Congress, through Peace Conferences,
through action of the Legislatures. through Con-
ventions of the People, through private positive
declarations, almost supplicated them to let US
alone to let US depart in peace to forbear hostlies
which in all human probability would engender
eternal hatred, and end in mutual and utter de-
struction.
Our assurances have been discredited; our sup
plcations for peace have been met by stern threat
enings and preparations for war such as look to no
suppression of Instruction but the subjugation
or determination of a whole people. In the Ian
guage of the Psamist, ave for peace, bit I1hen
zoe speak thereof they make them ready to battle" We
have, therefore, no alternative, but ''to meet force
with force" and repel aggression as best we may,
and commit our cause to Him that judgeth right
eously." Let all do our whole duty faithfully
as Christians and citizens, and we need not fear
what can do unto "The battle is not al
ways to the strong" "The Lord shall give strength
unto his people: the Lord shall give his people the
blessing OF peace"
While, then, we pray for our sons and brethren
who have gone forth TO breast the storm of battle
for the cause of people and our God let us not
forget that our sins have brought upon US all the
evils that now threaten US. Let us make haste to
confess sins, to repent truly of our faults,
ask Gods merciful pardon and forgiveness through
Christ, so "iniquity shall not be our ruin" And
while doing this for ourselves let US not forget that
Christ died for his and enemies, as well for
ourselves. Let Us, therefore, in the genuine spirit
of Christianity pray God to forgive them, and to
"turn their hearts"
In compliance with the request of the Conven-
ton, IappOint Friday of each week to be observed
by all our congregations as a day of Fasting. Ha-
initiation and Prayer, TO Almighty God, to ask his
meroifu forgiveness of our manifold sins and trans
gressions his gracious protection for our country,
and his care and direction of friends and peo-
pie exposed to the dangers and casualties Of war
To this end the use of the entire Ltany ana the |
following prayers among the occasional prayers, by
all our congregations during the continuance OF 'he
war, is appointed
In Time Of War and Tumult
n G,uur 7on the supreme Governor Of all things whose
power no creature is able to resist, 70 WHOM - So !S
h nnnb sinnes and meroul to those VINO Truly repeat
sr ne -e bumby beseeea thee, from the hands Of
~ ssa mat We being armed with thy deence may be
preseryed evermore from All peris % glofy 70 GU We
onv pyer all victory, through 'Hs " ny S"u 'S1'
Christ our Lord Amen
For those In Actual Service.
m ov Eosrs the mighty Lord, who reigne over all the
", "a nations Of men, hear humble prayers for all
those thy servants, who have oy ny zen
mn arms in defense Of the rights and liberties OF our coan
20 sAA their hearts courage, and them with
ar md strength do vaany and 70 quit themselves IKE
ne AGAINST those who win 70 Cypress Us Establish IN ther
mem - ay And love Of Thy holy that they
that Thsu art their shield and bueker, that
mon Wilt cover their heads IN me DAY Of oae and give ths
49, over their Do Thou especially, Lord guard
"a nd hy servants from those Temptations 70 youthful sn
- aganst the soul them in health safety;
| he fear Of before Thy servants and let their enemies
Zee before them and protect all those whom they love
m safety with grateful Of Thy mercy and goodness to
them, through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.
As many of you, beloved brethren, have husbands
or sons, fathers brothers, or friends, who have
zone forth at the call of their country and Of duty
10 the defence of all that is dearest TO On EARTH
recommend to all families the of the follow
ing or some other form of like import, to be used