Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-03-24

1t Wasea beautiful evening in the summer of 1868 -
The sky was cloudless The nearly setting
It's bright, santing rays passing through curtalned
window, lightened up room, III which the incident
now about to be related occurring. In plain
but spacions mansion bad long lived and was dying,
the great and good Bishop Meade, Bishop OF the Pre-
It slant Episcopal Church, of the Diocese OF Virginia
Full of years and ripe with the good works of more
than hall century, that good about changing
time for eternity. His last baite was fought, victory
was his, and be ow receiving his discharge from
earth's battle fields .oaver 1t was sad but beaut'
ful scene calm but holy serenity, ghteped UP his
touptpnance Friends were there and strangers too,
10 witness be death OF the good ard holy man, and
ALMOST breauisss they g1zed upon the solemn scene,
TIE felt that :. h. chamber where The good man NEE
Fills falea btsstd hey end he common walks OF life,
fq4,fe. on the verge o! Heaven - ....,.
His h1u: had come. With holy seltnJ. but feeble
vJce ne bade, last adieu to all, both friend and
stlpger p bus room, except one and to each his
dying charge: 1he1 exception referred to was that
great ana good man. at the head of forces in
I Virginia. Gen. Robert Lee He approached the bed
side OF the dying Bishop, and sank upon his knees.-
He was woepng: Bishop Meade thus addressed him
"Gen. Lee, am dying, and from this stand point OF
time, III sight Ct eternity, permit me 70 give you my
! last injunction.
+ :" For considerable period thought this war an
unjust one, and waa for maintaining the Union But
I when I saw Iincoln's proclamation, my eyes were
r onened and saw nothing remained to the South but
deepest degradation or to the bitter end. Since
that time have done all in my power for the Conted
I crate arms Bot can do 20 more. God calls and
Il 90 at his summons Gen. Lee, you are engaged in
f holy cause.-the cause Of bertythe cause OF unborn
millions. see it now as have never seen it before
You ale at the head of mighty army, to which mil
fEhons look with untold anxety and hope. You are 6
T christian soldier. God thus far owes and
I tksses you IN your Efforts for the cause OF thu
+ South Trust 10 God Gen Lee with all your heart,
and placing bis aisied hands on the Generaps head h
Eadi l. in voice never be forgotten BY the bystand
lers, "yoi tot nevsr be oUsreome-you e'n neVer b
} louercon1e "a ! .-!>,--~ -''' :.
The dying m IN tased to speak and slowly removed
: bis hands from Gen. Lees head He arose from hi
Il kneeng posture, bis eyes swimming IN tears 1her
we're no dry eyes ir that room 1t Was jacob olessin!
bis aa be ceesed to speak be ceased to live
Bishop Meade lay there corpse fe me not ye skep
tics that it senthusiasm, when boldly assert that
firmly believe that BY that &C, Of Bishop Meade Ger
LIE was renderedinvincbie The dying blessings OF tina
holy man win rest upon him throughout this war Var
BEE millions howl for his des,tuctiGn and all tn
blood hounds from Lincoln kennel may be turned loos
!. to hunt him down Rivers OF blood may be she'd an
thousands ofiIves sacrificed yea all our fair sunni
= land MY be- ma5e one vast Gogotha, bat amidst
the carnage and blood the crash and havoc OF batti
tGen Lee; as with charmed life, will stand secure n