Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-10-29
The Triennial Epicopal Convention.

n HltulOTdblc lIlcuIldl convention oil
the Episcopal Church has just closed its
sessions in the city of New York.
After II protracted and obstinate debate
in the General Convention, the loyal res
olutions of the Committee of nine were
passed by a large majority.
Preliminary to the final question, all
the available parliamentary ~expedients
were duly resorted to by the United High
Church and Pro-Slavery party. After the
reading of several collects" of prayer for
divine guidance, the various motions to
amend. 10 recommit. etc. We're in success
sion voted down, in "a way TO show that
the body of the Convention were resolved
TO make an utterance of their loyal senti-
ments. As Il last resort, DR.. Hawks NOV
ed an adjournment. with the intimation
that If he could not succeed in that, he
had a pocket full of amendments with
which he could worry the body into COM
~pliance: but the motion was so determin-
ately voted down, that DIR. Ii. allowed
the fiual vote. to be taken; and at ii
o'clock the original resolutions were put
to vote, by diOceses, the clerical and lay
delegates voting separately, with the re-
suit:
Yeas. Clerical. ls-~~.Lay. IL. Total, q
A majority of more than twO-thirds in IA
vor of the resolutions. We copy the res
~olutions, Us Il memorial of patriotism,
which is honorable to those who made it:
Resolced, By the House of Clerical and
Lay Deputies of this stated Triennial Con-
vention, that assembling, as we have been
called to do, at a period of great national
peril and ~deplorable civil CONFUSION. it is
meet and proper that we should call to.
mind, distinctly and publicly, that the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the Unit
ed States hath ever held and taught, in
the language of one of its articles of relig-
ion, that lit is the dIty of all men who
are professors of the Gospel TO pay respect
full obedience to the civil authority, reg
ufarly and legitimately c~Onstituted;" and
hath accordingly incorporated into its
Liturgy IA prayer for the President of the
United States and all in civil authority"
and a prayer for the Congress of the
United States, to be used during their
session :" and hath bound all orders of its
ministry to the faithful and constant OBJ
~servance, in letter and spirit, of these
and all other parts OF its prescribed ritual.
ReSOlced, That we cannOt be wholly
blind to the course which has been pur-
sued, in their ecclesiastical as well as in
their civil relations, since this Convention
last met i'll perfect harmony and love, by
great numbers of the ministers and mem
bers of this Church within certain states
of our Union which have arrayed them
selves in open and armed resistance to
the regularly constituted Government of
our country ; and that while, in a spirit
of Christian fOrbearance. we refrain from
employing toward them any terms of
condemnation and ~reprOach, and would
rather bow in humiliation before our com-
mon Father in heaven for the sins which
have brought his judgement on our land,
we yet feel bound to declare our solemn
sense of the deep and grievous wrong
which they will have inflicted on the
great Christian communion which this
Convention represents. as well us on the
country within which 1t has been so hap
PLY and tremendously established, should
they persevere in striving to rend asunder
those civil and religious bonds which
have so long held us together in peace.
unity, and concord.
ReSoLred, That while, as individuals and
citizens, we acknowledge our whole duty
in sustaining and defending our country
in the great struggle in which it is engag-
ed. we are only at liberty, as deputies to
this council of a Church which hath ever
renowned all political association and ac-
ton, to pledge to the national Govern
ment-as we now do-the earnest and
devout prayers of all, that its efforts may
be so guided by wisdom and replenished
with strength, that they may be crowned
with speedy and complete success, to the
glory of God and the restoration of our
beloved Union.
Resoleed, That if, in the judgment of
the bishops, any other forms of occasional
prayer than those already set forth. shall
seem desirable and appropriate-whether
for IL Convention or Church or our
country, for our rulers or u defenders,
or for the sick and wounded and dying Of
our army and navy and volunteers, we
shall gladly receive them and %fervently
use them.
The passing of these resolutions by
such decisive majorities was a decisive
overthrow and humiliating exposure of
those elevated churchmen and designing
disunionists who sought to establish a
claim on behalf of the Episcopalian sect
to be regarded as altogether too much
sublimated to have any thoughts of ale
glance to the free Government by whose
protection it has so long flourished, and
by whose partiality it is enriched. The
body of representatives. both lay and
clerical. have shown that they are not
only churchmen, but also men and citi-
zens, and that in their church capacity
they acknowledge their obligation to sus-
tain thee Government for the benefits
which in their church capacity they re-
ceive.
The venerable Bishop McIlvaine de-
livered the Pastoral letter; and it has the
ring of true silver. 1t is a powerful le-
buke to the time serving course of cow
ards in and out of the church. All
Churches are strengthened and embold-
ened by the catholic and christian con-
duct of the Bishops of the Episcopal