New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-23
pAsTOBAL LETTER.

,.a b,foretbe General Council, n 81, PauVs Church
Vsn'"' Augusta Saturday. Nov ~. 1901
At your request. brethren OF the clergy n"u
ys,,, uA coneade the session of our First Geperai
Council BY presenting to you aud resdiDg IN your
,-s..nce Pastoral Letter, addressed 10 the mem
her. Of the Protestant Episcopal Church scattered
throughout the Confederate States. by the mghty !
mower of tho Holy Ghost we have been permitted To
SYpo our deliberations TO clase III spirit OF har
,ony and peace which augur' well Tor the 'u'ure
,,sIf,-o ~ our branch of tho Church Catholic; and
An, fret duty Is 10 thank Hin who has promised to
=. with Hjs Church TO the end of the world, for His
rrssanee with us during our consultsions and for
sbo boppy conclusion TO which He hes brought our
sacred labors.
Seldom has any Council assembled in the Church
of Christ under circumstances needing His presence
more urgently than ths which is now about TO sub
NIT its conclusions to the Judgment Of the Universal
Church. Forced by the providence Of God to
separate ourselves from the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States-a Church with whose
doctrine, discipline and worship we are in entire
harmony, and with whose action, up TO the time OF
that separation we were abunda0tly satisted-Gt a
moment when civil strife had dipped It's foot in
blood and cruel war was deso!ating our homes and
fresides we required double mea-ure of grace to
preserve the accustomed moderation OF the Church
in the arrangement OF organic law, Ia the adJast-
ment Of our code Of canors, but above all, III the
preservation, WITHOUT change OF those men treasures
of doctrine and worship which have come to rs
enshrued in our Book OF Common Prayer. Cut OIL
likewise from all communication win our sister
Churches OF the world, We have been Compelled 10
oct without any interchange Of opinion even with
cur Mother CburcD and, alone and unaided 10
arrange Tor ourselves the organization under which
we should do our part In carrying on 10 their con-
summation the purposes OF God IN Cbnst Jesus
We trust that the Spirit Of Christ has indeed 30
directed, sapctiled aud governed us in our work,
that we sall be approved by all those who love our
Lord Jesus Christ IN sincerity and IN truth, ana VINO
are earnest Ia preparing the world for His coming
glorious majesty to judge both the quick ana the
dead.
The Constitution Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the Confederate States, under which we
have been exercising our Legislative innclons IL tbe
same as that Of the Church from which we have been
proyidentially separated, that we have intro
dnced into IL n germ o. expansion which was want
ing in the Old constitution. This Is found IN the
permission which IL granted TO existing Dioceses 10
form themselves nv subdivision mo Provinces, and
by this process gradually 10 rednce our immense
Dioceses into Episcopal Sees, more Ike those
whic in primitive times covered the territories OF
the Roman Empire. Il is at present bat germ,
aud may lie for many years, without EXPANSION but
being there, it gives promise, IN the future OF a
more close and constant Episcopal supervision than
is possible under our present arrangement.
The Canon law, which has been adopted during
our present seseiou is altogether in its spirit. and
almost in it, letter, identical with that under which
we have hitherto pTOsgered. We have simphed II
in some respects and have made il more clear and
plain IN many of It's requirements; but no changes
have been introduced which have altered either its
tone or character. II is the same moderate, Just,
and equal body OF Ecclesiastical Law by which tie
Church las been governed ON this continent since
her reception from the Church Of England OF the
treasures OF an apostolic ministry and hturgical
form of worship.
The Prayer Book we have left untouched in every
particular save where change Of our civil govern
nent and the formation OF a new nation have made
alteration essentially requisite. Three words com
prlse all The amendment which has been deemed
necessary III the present emergency for We have fe
unwilling, in the existing confusion OF affairs, TO la!
rash hands upon the Book, cousecrated by the 0
ages and baliOwed by associations the most saere'
aud precious. We give you back your Book 0
Common PRAYER the same as you have intrnstej 1t b
believing tbatifi has slight defects, their
bad better be the gradual work OF experience thai
the hasty action Of body convened alnloJ upon tie
outskirts OF a camp.
Beside this actual legislation which we now sub
nit to you, our assemblyiDg together has given us
view OF tue condition OF tue Church Throughout the
Confederate States which renders it our duty 10
speak TO you Chief Pastors the flock OF
Christ reminding you of the peculiar encourage
ments which surround Us, specifying the points to-
ward 'iich our efforts, as @ Christian Church,
should be directed, ana pointing out the dlfciences
which re4dire instan. correction and amead ueut.
No moment seems TO pr0giious for the Performance
of this duty, as that 10 which we are beginning a
new lie in the Church, and are preparing 10
stamp ourselves upon the world Tor good Tor vii.
Our highest encouragement Id derived from the
fact that we hold the sacred trust of the Faith once
delivered 10 the saints, aud hat bold i, in con-
necton with ministry whose accession irem Christ
and His Apostles Is undOuDteJ, and with fOlm of
worship simple and pure yet sublime and scIptoral
These arc gifts 10 make boast Of, but TO for
the glory OF God aud the advancement OF Christ =
kingdom. Far from filing US with vain glory their
possession should humble Us 10 The dust, unless we
approve ourselves faithful stewards Of such iuestim-
able treasures To whom much has been committed
from him viii much be required aud j. remains for
us to prove whether we have deserved 70 spiritual
sn Inheritance. Bot possessing them, we may right.
fully feel that We enter upon our warfare with the
world, the flesh, and tie devil, having all the
strength that Divine Truth aud Divine Commission
can give US. We press on without any doubts
resting upon our hearts 10 tho truth which we are
teaching as to the validity Of tie sacIaments which
We are administering, 10 the authority Of the
Orders which we are transmitting. UpOn all these
points we are secure, and we eau 90 forward, Offer
ing to all men, with boldness and Confidence, tie
Gospel Of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship
OF the saints. Whatever hindrsnces we may EJECT,
or whatever contradiction of men we may en-
counter we can rest assured that truth will finally
prevail and that God will Set Ills Son upon His
holy hill Of Zion.
Our next source Ct announcement il that we
enter upon our work with DiOceses fully organ
lied and with tie means which Chf1st has instl-
tuted in His Church we'll Distributed thrOGghou out tue
Confederate States. Wien we remember the very
different auspices under which the venersted
Fathers Of the Amencan Church began their work,
aud mark how IL has grown aud prospered, we
should indeed take courage and feel no te4r for tue
future In their case al t4eir ecclesiastical arrange