Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-02-25
CHURCH AND STATE.
MILITARY CONTROL OF CHURCH AFFAIRS

From the ST. Louis Republican Of February 2lst
We print below short communication prefaclng let
ter written by President LINCOLN to prominent Union
citizen of ST. Louis though the of the latter is sup
pressed at his request The Presidents letter bears spe
chc reference to the Of Rev Dr. McPheeters butt
not from this fact that it derives its chief interest and
Significance Mr. LINCOLN writes, it will be observed
under date of December 3d. 1868 We call attention to
the circumstance that the 3Oh of November preced
ng-nst three weeks STANTON signed
circular order of which the following is copy:
WAR DEPARTMENT
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE
Washington November 80 1863
To the Generals commanding the Departments of the Mis-
sour, the Tennessee and the Gull and all Generals and
ofhcers commanding armies, detachments, and corps,
and posts, and all officers in the service Of the United
States In the above mentioned Departments
You are hereby directed to place the disposal of Rev
Bishop Ames all houses of worship belonging to the Me-
thods Episcopal Church South in which loyal minister,
VINO mas been appointed by loyal Bishop of said church.
does not now oHicate
II matter of great Importance to the Government
IN It's efforts to restore tranquility to the community and
peace to the nation that christian ministers should by
and precept support and foster the loyal sentiment
of the people
Bishop Ames enjoys the entire confidence of this Ds-
partmenf, and no doubt entertained that all ministers
who may be appointed by him will be entirely loyal You
are expected to give him all the aid countenance and
support practicable III the execution of his important
mission.
You also authorized and directed to furnish Bishop
Ames and his clerk with and subsistence
when it can be done without prejudice to the service and
Wll afford them courtesy, assistance, and protection.
by order OF the Secretary of War:
E d. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adutant General.
Nothing is palmer from comparison Of the above with
the letter of Mr. Lincoln than that the President
rey ignorant of the delegation by the Secretary of War;
to Bishop Ames of the powers and privileges enumerated
We do not remember to have the Bishops creden
tails published until encountered the order in
respondence of the Chicago Times from Memphis under
date Of the 9th instant Not only was the President
wholly unadvsed of Mr. Stantons action, but it ia concl
sive from his letter of December 23d that he utterly dis
approves of that action and do not see how he
avoid resembling and annulhug Bishop Ames's commission
upon coming to knowledge of the arbitrary and despotc
authority that the War Department has sought to
1t appears that long ago the I'd of January 1863
Mr. Lincoln wrote to G. Curtis then in command here
saying that the Government must not attempted by
order of Provost Marshal Dick undertake to run The
churches" and further that it will not do for the United
States to appoint trustees superors other agents "
Yet this precisely what Secretary Stanton has under
taken to do in reference to the Methodist Episcopal
Church South he appointed Bishop Ames superior
and agent to reoganze Southern churches and to
pute what preachers he pleased to minister congrega
tons. Under bis order, Gen. Veatch turned the Rev
Mr.. Allen out Of Wesley Chapel at Memphis and Bishop
Ames put in clergyman from Indiana who was right
the slavery question:" though there no charge
against Mr. Allen except that he had not been appointed
by loyal Bishop" There other cases 10 which the
authority has been exercised at New Orleans and
elsewhere.
1t transpires that ignorant has President Lin
coin been Of the instructions under which these proceed
ngs have taken place that in his letter published to-day
he says, with marked and peculiar emphasis
81 have meyer interfered thought of interfering
to who shall shall not preach In any church have
knowingly beevin9y tolerated any else so
terfere by my authority If any interfering by
color Of my authority, would like to have it specifically
made known to me-"
It is true that Mr. Stanton has not nterered by color
Of the Presidents authority directly though it is implied
that Cabinet Minister would not assume such grave and
extraordinary powers without consultation with the Exec
utve whose Secretary he is This natural inference is
natly dsproved by what have quoted the words we
have cited above conveying Of the psnest most per-
spcuous and uneqavoca ebukes perhaps that any public
officer received at the hands Of his superior