Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-11-19
The Church Intelligeucer-Bishop Polk.

The Church Intelligeucer-Bishop Polk.
We do not deem it "woRrH WHILE" to make any
extended reply to an article in the Church IntelIi-
gecer of the l4th instant but justice to ourselves
requires that we should take some notice of that
article.
In our issue Of the 9TH, abiding to the tenden-
cies of the times, we quoted the following, among
other expressions, from correspondent of the In
te1igencer:
"If we will kneel gladly before our Right Rev.
erend Holy Father, and humbly receive the Rite of
Confirmation from those blood-stained hands, dyed
for US and for our liberties, who is to condemn?
Rather would we lift the hem of that lawn whose
whiteness' is crimsoned as well by his own noble,
generous blood, as by that Of cruel enemies, to
our lips our fearful eyes and trembling tongues
breathe blessings upon the venerable head of that
Good Shepherd who, following the example of
his Blessed Master has not hesitated to offer even
his life for his sheep"
We characterized a portion Of the foregoing as
"trenchng closely upon ,blasphemy." In reply,
the Intesligeacer exhibits some feeling, and endeav-
| ors to sustain its correspondent by drawing an
analogy between Bishop Polk and the late Rev. DR..
Drane, Of Wilmington, who had given up his life
for his Sheep" by his faithful attendance on his
that town. There can be no comparison-no anal
ogy, it seems to us, between even DR.. Drane and
the Redeemer of the world and there must be still
less between the Redeemer and Bishop, who is
engaged in war; no matter how just and holy that
war may be- The Good Shepherd who "gave his
life for the sheep" did in office infinitely holy
and exalted. There may be an humble and faint
| imitation of his general conduct while on earth by
good Bishop or Minister in his labors and suffer-
ings for his flock; but the ascrpion of the office of
Christ in the remotest sense whether "figura-
lively" or by analogy or comparison, does seem to
us to "trench closely upon blasphemy." The H.
teIAgsncer asks, "s it wrong to follow the example
of our Blessed Master?" Surely not but how
many do it? Does Bishop do it, who leads ar
mics, and thus necessarily neglects his flock? The
flock is the Church. Will the Inteligencer say
that the Bishop is commanded to fight for his
Church? We suppose not Then if he fight at
all, it is necessarily in worldly sense and if this
be So how it be said that he "gveth his life for
the sheep?" But says the Intelligcncer, the Ian
guase of the correspondent is merely fgurative,
or spoken in alusion." Grant it, hut the language
of the Saviour himself in this respect is 6guratve,
as are nearly all his teachings with reference to
himself
If it were becoming in US to do so, we might cite
numerous passages of the New Testament to sus-
tain US in our views; but we really desire no con.
troversy with our contemporary, especially on SUBJ
jects outside the range of our columns. That Bish-
op Polk is patriot and an humble, sincere Chris
tan VIC entertain doubt. That he has an ap-
proving conscience in leading armies and in she'd
ding blood, entertain little doubt; but We can
not help thinking, upright and unselfsh as we be-
lieve him to he, that he is not altogether nsensbe,
in the position he occupies, to earthly ambition and
earthly applause. We know that David, although
he made preparations for the temple, was not per.
mtted build it. for the word of the Lord came to
him, saying, "Thou hast shed blood abundantly,
and hast made great wars; thou shalt not build an
house unto my name, because thou hast shed much
blood upon the Garth in my sight" Yet David,
though "a man of blood" and in some respects a
man of sin, nevertheless honored and magnified
in his Solomon, and in his seed have " all
the nations Of the earth been blessed"
But Bishop Polk is not only patriot and Chris
tian-hc is man of excellent common sense and
|
lish Episcopalian Church. We therefore, believe
that he himself disapproves of such language as
that used by the correspondent of the Iutegencer.
Our contemporary says that he himself does not
"fcel personally Obliged" by article. We as
sure him that We had not the slightest idea of i'm
putting Intentional blasphemy lrreverence to him,
Or to his correspondent. We respect our cotempo-
rary as an enlightened, thoughtful, and pious Chris
tan but he must pardon us, if he cannot see as
we do the tendency Of the language referred to-
We confess we feel hurt by the tone of our cotem-
porary's article, and by one two expressions in
it; but even if we were disposed to reply tartly or
unkindly our respect for him and for his calling
would prevent us from doing so.
1t is, perhaps proper that we should state that
our first article and the present one, embody our
views and are from the pen of the Editor himself.
Our Assistant who, like our contemporary, is a
Minister of the Gospel, would be among the last to
avail himself of his position to raise discuss, in
secular newspaper, questions involving or leading
to religious controversy.
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE SOLDIERS COL Thomp
son was the first Colonel to report to the Quarter
master at Raleigh with his supplies, by partic
uar request, publish to-day, in full, the list O.
contributions made by the people within the bounds
of his regiment The people Of Chatham have done
nobly. We shall continue to publish acknowledge
ments of articles received by Capt Garrett but ou1
friends will see for themselves that space vii
not permit the publication of any lists in full
like that furnished by Col. Thompson.
Eastern North Carolina.
The condition of affairs in our Eastern Countie:
is far from being satisfactory. All the accounts VT
get us that every thing is quiet below, anc
vet the exact whereabouts OF the enemy seems mo-