Indiana State sentinel., 1862-11-03

nized and applauded savior of national unitv
and body OF political Institutions
Bishop Mcllvaine went abroad as the semi Off
cial representative of the Lincoln Administration
TO the people of Great Britain His high position
in the American Church. and his reputation for
learning and piety, gave him access everywhere
TO the circles of the noble the intelligent and the
influential; and had his knowledge OF the Ameri-
can character and politics. his appreciation of the
true state OF the country and its interests and his
impartaty, been equal to his influence, no man
could have done more good, or earned a nObler
fame as public beaefactor
But here is where he failed: Bishop McIlvaine
is no statesman. He has no enlarged conception
OF political princples-no exact ideas of political
rights. His notions of political values are drawn
from the leaders of Republican newspapers: his
knowledge of the state of the country and the
opinions of the people, from the same or similar
sources; his convictions of political justice from
party platforms. He is Republican clerical pol
iticlan-tinctured with the pseudo humanitarian
ism OF his party. and the uns0und theories which
are common to his profession And the iudicious
OF nus fellow citizens were disappointed and NOR
titled. when, in the accounts which reached them
OF his receptions and addresses. they saw him
giving AIS abilities and influence to the dissent
nation OF the fallacies OF American party Aboi
tionism and the untruths by which il claimed the
support of the people
We have right 10 say word here of the spir-
it of those who, for their own purposes, and in ut
ted disregard of the welfare of the Church or the
interests of religion, drew this welI-intentioned
but politically weak man from those diocesan du
ties which he performs with SO much dignity and
to so general acceptance, and embark him in a
work for which he had neither calling nor capici-
". The invitation, we have no doubt, came from
Washington. Ii came in a form which at once
hattered his selflove and appealed to his patriot
ism and his love of that Church to which his life
had been devoted. The form of an angel of
light in which the arch enemy sometimes ap-
pears, only cOnceals, not diminishes his malgni-
ty. However faithful the service, he is none the
less nexOrable toward the implement They
who employed the Bishop of Ohio cared nothing
whether he stood or fell, nor how much the
Church might suffer through his influence or ex-
ample; nor will they, in their sehshness mourn
over the division of the body of Christ of which
he may thus be the occasion. They wanted a
messenger to carry to the higher classes of Eng
lish society deceptive view of our national af-
fairs and popular feelings, and they found il in
the Bishop of Ohio.
The protest and proceedings 70 which we have
referred, show that the Bishop Of Ohio continues
to be politician, and that, like other clergymen,
when they embark in the exciting and absorbing
current of politics, he seems willing TO forget not
merely the interests of his church. but TO make
/ them subordinate 10 those of his party How
consistent, as a dgnifed Christian prelate, or how
courteous. under the circumstances, toward the
venerable Bishop OF Vermont his conduct in the
/ House of Bishops, will not pretend to decide;
but OF his desire TO link his church with the State,
and make common cause between il and the Ad-
mnistration, there be no question. The
pastoral letter TO which allusOn is made is already
before the public. To its contents we NAV here
after refer Suffice to say, by those who read il,
it will be found to partake far more of the char
acter of party pamphlet than OF solemn ad-
dress by body of Christian ministers TO a people
seeking religious instruction.
The Episcopal has hitherto been remarkable
among American Churches for the care which it
has taken TO avoid ali political excitement.
| This it has done in accordance with an establish
ed principle The dogma of the right of alli-
ance between Church and State. either directly
or indirectly, it has expressly dsavowei. To
this it owes its moral power. its unity OF spirit,
and its freedom from disiracting dissensions.
This admirable course, for its own sake. as well
for the sake of religion. it is TO be hoped it will
be enabled to preserve. Men not themselves
proiessedly religious love 10 look upon il as
standing like beacon, whose foot is on the eter-
nal rocks, rising calmly amid the turbulent wa
tiers of daily life, its light undimmed BY their
rage, and its foundation mistaken by their vio-
lence And sad it is to think that the first move
ment to vail its radiance and shake its firmness
comes from one so venerable for bis age, so in
huential from his position aud so loved tor his
holy living and his many vrtues.-CineiRn0fi
| Enquirer.