, 1864-10-27

curing q practical uniformity, but much
more 70 be sure; that imposed no word of
.snpplicatlon below the desires, or In conflict
VITO me personal privileges Of Wotshippers
~ ~ nur e1urchea. think 1may add that my
sn nmcl4 course in these fespeets, and In all
approved BY mY brethren OF the clergy, and
me ia'ge proportion Of the laity OF tbs do
cese. At lesst IN any relation to which I
coq1a 5ield attentions hare never heszd It
seriously Questioned.
! have lent ny humble sanction to the vol
nntafy peneVoience that the war has worked.
~ special pastoral letters, commended to
al the churches, In ita earlier state the Sani-
taTy Commission, and collections for It were
generally made. have on the other public
occasions recommended collections for sick
and wounded soldiers, and for the aid OF
their fAmlllss. I know Of nothing in which
have failed in my obedience and denonstra-
tive loyalty aB q Bishop In the church Of
God These things st least haye done I
may have left many uudone In the es.tmata
OF Individual feeling, and If questioned BY
thai, II might be obliged to answer As the
good Bishop Griswold once did to rude IN
1uiry in stage coach, " Whether he thought
be had religion" s.Not much, Sir, to boast
ot."
But haya felt moro and more in times
like those through which VIC are p.ssiug, that
for the present md the future, there 1as d
growing necessity to guard sith more ylgi-
liant reticence the conservatism Inherent Ia
certain orders of society, which constitute
the great rcserye force of order aud equity,
truth and love, when s:clety Is tossed
| BY the demands aid impulses Of 4
temporary convulsion; Letdlng IN tals
the Church, and am grateful to tnd M o va
| humble conviction sustained 80 fully by the
| prudeltial agreement OF your learned bench.
| What you feel IS Judge, 1 feel as Bishop.
| and On the same principle have urged tue
| same on my clergy. 1have charged that OUT
VOWS and Offices and the sacred claims upon
US should deepen our sobrlet5. cnasten on;
| Influences, separate Us more from the world
In manifested consecratlon to the cure aud
| love Of eou1a. I have felt that the "stiu
| small voice" Of the pulpit In the midst o1
the exhausting din without Of the fire. the
earthquake aud the Storm" should DO that
Of the pure, simple, tender, a1 applying gos'
| pe1. That the House of God should be sab
!! bath refuge for the weary and tossed, the
excited and intense, where the depressed
might find peace, and the agitated find
| rtpcsc; where all may be drawn In quietnese
| and strength to Its " shadow, as that Of
great rock In weary land" As the Impulse
! Of patriotism became our common air; as
the great topics OF national duty, anxiety
| and partisan strife have been 80 popularl9
discussed, as the passions OF the worldly
nature as well as the principles Of the truer,
have been triumpbautly secured for the sys-
| tens Of relief which beneSolcnce has con-
triVed for the woes Of war, have felt that
still less was there need that the pulpit
| should be absorbed in the popular impulses.
| / hare craged more and more deyout sec1u.
zion, and that the church shonld stand, even
| IT lonely and reViled, the intercessor with
| God, the conso1er OF the harassed, the teach
| er Of all the Christian graces, to subdue way.
|, vardness and restrain excess, bow In pent"
tence and inspire with truth; and be the
living model through the upheaVtng and lac
| taatlon OF the conventional and temporal,
~ot the kingdom and laws which are eternal.
| In the Scottish church, In by+gone time, 1t
| was made tie duty Of its clergy to preach
| during the year some sermons on the times.
| in the conTocation all present on certaIn
occaEion reported the fu1hllment OF this duty
except Leighton, and when rebuked for the
neglect. be contented himself with the reply:
| t'If all the good and talented are preaching
| for the 17mts, one poor brother, at least, may
be permitted to preach for Eternity"
l remain, with high consideration,
Your obedient servant,
HENRY j. WH1rEnoCsE,
Bishop Of the Diocese OF Illinois.