Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-01
Politics i'm the Episcopal Church
bishop Hopkins's Protest-The Bish.
on Of Ohio.

The protest of Bishop Hopkins. of Vermont. TO
the House of Bishops lately in session. against
the introduction OF political topics into the Pas.
foral Letter TO the Church for the present year,
with the proceedings to which il owed its origin,
show that party dissentions are entering into the
Episcopal, as they have into other ecclesiastical
orgagzations. promising to leave their usual bit.
ter and unwhoesome fruit
Foremost in this work. according to the record.
is the Bishop of Ohio. who is the author of of the
Pastoral Leter-as accepted and published by
the Church: gentleman whose piety, theologi-
cal learning and devotion TO the interests of the
Church have given him wide reputation and an
extensive influence, but whose want of sagacty
in politics is as remarkable as the elegance of his
manners and the amiability OF his character
IL is thing greatly TO be regretted that Bishop
Mclvaine has become politician How he
To Toe drawn into III party vortex il i easier
TO conjecture than il j. 10 demonstrate That il
was not at hrst by his own motion. we sincerely
believe. Temptations came from without; and
doubtless, with the best intentions. and from
what he considered the most unimpeachabl OF
motives. he embarked IL could not have been
IN the hope OF personal fame or influence Tor of
that he had enough The devil tempts such
men through their lOves--whlch are their points
OF weakness The love of Bishop Mcllvaine is
for the Church. II. i'm a BODY, the Church could
be brought to the support of the Government: il
through her means, the Government could be
preserved. how vast would be her influence for
good. and how venerable she would appear upon
the pages of future history. tie forgot-as il is
natural for high prelate 10 forget-ihat tie true
mission of the Church IS TO the hearts OF indi.
viduals; and pictured her to himseI in the more
imposing but less Christian attitude of the recog.
nzed ana applauded savior of a national unity,
and body OF political institutions
Bishop Mcilvaine went abroad the semi Off
cial representative OF the Lincoln Administration
To the people OF Great Britain His high position
IN the American Chur-h. aud h's reputation for
learning and pety, gave him access everywhere
10 the circles of the noble the intelligent and the
influential and had his knowledge OF the Amer
can character and politics. his appreciation OF the
true state OF the country and ITS interests and his
imparuali'y, been equal 70 his influence, no man
could have done more good. or earned nobler
fame public beaefactor
But here Is where be failed: Bishop McIivane
Is 10 statesman. lie has no enlarged conception
OF political principles-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 aud the
opinions of the people. from the same or similar
sources; his CONVICTIONS of political justice from
party platforms He Is Republican clerical pol.
Northumberland with the pseudo Humanitarian
ism Of his party. and the unsound theories which
are common 20 his profession. And the udcious
Of bis fellow citizens were disappointed anu NOR
tilted. when. in the accounts which reached them
of his receptions and addresses they saw him
giving his abilities and influence TO the dissent
nation of the fallacies OF American party Adolf
tionism and the untruths by which il claimed The
support OF the people
We have night 10 say word here Of the spir-
IL OF those who. for their own purposes, aud in Ut
TED disregard of the welfare of the Church or the
interests OF religion, drew this well-intenuoued
but politically weak man from those diocesan du
ties which he performs with much dignity and
To so general acceptance. and embark him in a
work for which be had neither calling nor capici-
~. The invitation. We have no doubt came from
Washington. IL came in a form which al once
fattered his elflove and appealed to his patriot
ism aud his love Of that Church 70 which his lite
had been devoted The form Of an angel Of
light. in which the arch enemy sometimes ap
pears. only conceals. not dimnishes hts maligni
~. However faithful the service be Is none the
less inexorable toward the implement They
who employed the Bishop of Ohio cared nothing
whether ne stood OF fell. scr how mush The