Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-11-11
rnE EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SLAVERY
BISHOPS HOPKINS AND POTTER.

In 1861 Bishop Hopkins, of the
Diocese of Vermont, wrote n letter
containing "Bible View ofSlavery,"
which sustained the institution as one
sanctioned by the Bible, More re-
Gently the letter was extensively re-
/ published, and the attention which
| it attracted aroused the Church party
hostile to Bishop Hopkins views to
the pitch of controversy. Bishop
Potter, of the Diocese of Pennsyva-
MIA, and number Of clcrgymen and
|laymcn, published in September, a
protest against the "Blbe View Of
Slavery in the following words:
PROTEST..
'The subscribers deeply regret that the
fact OF the extensive circulation through
this Diocese of letter by John Henry
Hopkins, Bishop Of the Diocese OF Yer
mont, in defense of Southern slavery,
compels them to make this public protes B.
1t is not their province to mix in any
political canvass. But as ministers of
Christ, in the Protestant Episcopal
Church, it becomes them to deny any
completely or sympathy with such a de-
fense.
This attempt 10 apologize not only
for slavery in the abstract, but TO advocate
it as it exists in the cotton, States and in
States which sell men and women in the
open market as their staple product, is,
in their Judgment. unworthy Of any ser
want Of Jesus Christ. As an effort to sus-
tain, on Bible principles, The States in
rebellion against the Government, in the
wicked attempt to establish by force of
arms n tyranny under the name of
republic, whose corner stone shall be
the perpetual bondage of the African, it
challenges their indignant reprobation.
| PhRddeiphia, September, 1863 "
In October Bishop Hopkins replied to
this protest as follows:
A Warning against Infidelity in the
Church-PastOral Letter Of the Right
Rev. Bishop Hopkins, Bishop of the
Diocese Of Vermont, Presiding Bishop
of the Protestant Episcopal Church in
the United states.
7o the Right Rev. ALoSzo Potter, Of tie
Diocese Of PennSyivn,ia and the Seeding
Clergy Of Philadelphia: .....
have seen, with great
amazement, protest against my letter on
y,
you and a long list of your clergy. in
which you condemn it as "lm,oortiy Of any
servant Of Jesus Christ" As IAN effort to
sustain, on Bible principles, the States in
rebellion against the Government in the
wicked attempt to establish 10y force of
arms, tyranny in the name OF repub-
lie, whose corner stone shall be the per-
petual bondage of the African" and as
such you say that it challenges your
" indignant reproJatioa."
Now, my Right Reverend brother am
sorry to be obliged to charge you, not
only with gross insult against your SEN
ior, but with the more SCI ious offence of a
false accusation. Ny letter was first pIb-
lished in January, 1861 more than three
months before the war began, at time
when no one could anticipate the form of
government which the Southern States
should adopt, or the course which Con-
gress might take in reference to their
secession. And when ! consented to its
publication, | did not suppose that it
would he used in the service OF any polit-
ical party, although ! had no right TO
complain, if il were so used, because the
letter. once published. became public
property. But in its present form there
is nothing Whatever in it which bears on
the question of rebellion" or Of the
perpetual bondage of the African" or OF
"tyranny under the name of a republic"
of which slavery should be tho corner
stone" On the contrary, ! referred, on
the last page, to my lecture published in
Buffalo in 1850, and 10 my hook called
The American Citizen" published in
New York in 1857, where set forth the
same views on the subject Of slavery, ad-
ding, however, plan for its gradual a5oh-
ton, whenever the South should consent,
and the whole strength of the Govern
ment could aid in its accomplishment -
Sooner or later" | added, al believe
,kat some measure Of that character must
b be adopted But it belongs to The slave
States themselves to take the lead in such
movement. And meanwhile their legal
rights and natural feelings must be res
pected, if we would hope for unity and
peace"
With these facts before your eyes, ana
totally at loss to imagine how even the
extravaganza Of party zeal could frame
against me so bitter denunciaton. The
whole object Of my letter was to prove,
g from the BiJlc that in the relation of master
and slave there was necessarily no sin
2 whatever. The sin, il there were any. lay
in the treatment Of the slave, and not in the
relation itself OF course is was liable tc
abuse, as all human relations must be-
But while it was certain that thousands
+ of our Christian brethren who held slaves
were treating them with kindness ano
: justice, according TO the Apostles rule
: and earnestly laboring to improve tht
8 comforts and ameliorate the hardships O
the institution, / held it TO be a cruel anc
= absurd charge to accuse them as sinner
: against the Divine law, when they were
only doing what the Word OF God allowed
under the Constitution and established
, code of !heir country.
a do not know whether your band o
|, indignant reprobationists ever saw N,
v book. published in 1857, but you read 4
|, because sent you n copy, and hav'
your letter of acknowledgment in which