The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-10-07

f.. ,.-,- rCOLUABIA, October 8. 1860.
7ofae ~9s andLaig ef ese Proses-
aa~t Apiscspal Gasum in Tie Asooesc
Of SoEtA Carolisa. i a
B1oyED. BREfHRzx: An absence
from home OF six weeks in q part of
the State where mail facilities are
few, accounts, partially, for the delay
of this address.
I came to this city some days ago,
for the purpose of having an opera
ton for cataract performed upon my
remaining eye. This has been done
with'pertsssst, skill ana success by MY
excellent / friend and physician, DR.,
Julian J. Chisolm. The cataract has
been extracted, and the eye is rapidly
healing; but I regret to have to say
that there is little prospect of any
efectual relief. Ny chief satisfaction
is in the sense Of duty discharged.
I am still under medical treatment,
and though my present condition is
not favorable for such an effort, I
must no longer defer this communica-
ton.
You are aware that Our annual Dio-
cesan Council, which was by appoint
mect to have met at Camden in May
last, failed for want of quorum.
There being, therefore, no specific
direction for the meeting Of the next
Diocesan Council, it will take place,
under our constitutional enactment,
in tho city of Charleston, on the
second Wednesday of February next.
The resolution on the pages of the
journal of our last regular Council,
held in Spartanburg, does not affect
this provision. It stipulates the
month of May as the time, but being
passed at one Council only, it has not
become the constitutional law of the
church.
I have not called a special Council
Of the Diocese, partly because I
thought its meeting impracticable in
the present state of the country, but,
chiefly, because I concluded that its
principal object could be otherwise
attained. That object was the ap-
pointment of delegates to our Gene
raj Council, which is to assemble in
Mobile in November. Upon care
full examination of the subject myself,
and after a full consultation Of the
highest legal authority, I am entirely
convinced that the delegates elected
at our last Council in Spartanburg
are entitled to represent the Diocese
IN the approaching General Council
at Mobile. This conclusion will, I
trust, be at once received as correct,
and said delegates will hold them
selves responsible for the discharge of
their duty. It is greatly to be de-
sired that this Diocese should be fully
represented at that meeting; and I
earnestly implore such of my brethren
as have been selected for the purpose
to be present, if possible, on the oc-
casion.
The Council of Southern Bishops,
which was expected to assemble last
week at Augusta, did not meet, the
appointment for the same having been
withdrawn.
[ have not deemed it necessary to
address you on the subject of our
sending delegates to the Convention
of the Church of the United States
now in session at Philadelphia. With
our own acts constituting portion of
the Southern Church still in force,
and our authoritative General Council
awaiting its meeting in Mobile, I did
not consider this matter of debate.
Our ecclesiastical position being de-
Eberaialy assumed, did itself define
our course of duty. The subject of
our ecclesiastical relations is, there
fore, now open before us, and de-
mands our most serious thoughts and
prayers. Permit me to say a few
words expressive of my own convic-
tons.
No sound mind can suppose that
the separation of the Southern from