Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-10
The Funera Sermon Of bishop Polk
Views OF Another ne be 4 Bishop.

-ttews 81 auotncr tAcDfh hssa"p'
The Christian Wines. BOSTON, has received
from friend in the army. Who found h at Sa
vann.h, the sermon on the late lighting Bishop
and rebel. General Polk. delivered by Bishop FL.
lott, OF Georgia Itisa curious specimen Of
special pleading and OF rebel bombast. Polk,
Otey and Meade are mentioned a. the "mar'yred
Bishop" though ther all. excepting Polk, died
quietly at home. and in the regular course of
nature Jefferson Davis. says Bishop Elliott.
selected Polk for the army At critical moment
The people OF Mississippi. Arkansas and
Louisiana we're clsmoring for a leader, and. un-
less ope vas furnished them. might abate their
enthusiasm, and make bot faint resistance 60 In
vasion Al this critical moment the President
bethoUghl him OF this man, whom he remem
bered "a Il young soldier Of the academy, whom
he knew Bishop Of the Church. whose lofty
qualities he had marked through life. and whose
vide acd commanding influence in the valley OF
the Mississippi be we'll understood. An unusual
sphere Ia which TO seek for General; but with
his usual pronptness and sagscity, he marked his
man, and asked the Commissioners II Bishop
Polk would NEE, the wishes of the people of the
valley. The reply was AZ prompt as the nomi
nation. 1.-The very man; no one whom you
could name, OF all at your command, would be
so acceptable" Then arose the important ques
tiou: "Can he be persuaded. 10 this moment Of
bis countrys peril. when all eyes are turned upon
him, and all hearts are yearning for him; when
his home, his diocese, the church, the sheep
intrusted 60 bis keeping and for whom Christ
had died, are threatened not only with TEN
poral. but with spiritual destruction; when
hordes of iu6del foreigners. spawning upon our
shores from their hotbcds of inhdelity and IN
goodness. are coming to preach blood and license
to the slaves he vas lsboring to bumsnize and
christianize; eau he be persuaded, Was the inter
estng question. TO resume the sword which he
had laid in youth upon the altar Of God, aud use
Il in their defenseg There Il lay where he had
placed il in the prime Of life virgin and an
sullied sword Not a stain had dimmed its
brightness; not a drop Of blood had marred
| it, purity IL was consecrated 70 his Saviour
votise Offering which he had made in the days Of
| his early love. Can il be resumed with honor to
his church-wth safety TO bis soule? For vain
ambition. no. For worldly distinction, no. For
| the preservation OF property, or even life under
ordinary circumstances. mol Bat for the defense
| of his church. the spouse and bride Of Christ for
the purity Of the affairs to which he had been
bound as a sacrifice. for the care of the sheep
bought with Gbrist's death and committed TO bis
charge, for the maintenance OF the sacred trust
| Of slavery, yesl-a thousand times. yes,
1.-The mode in which Bishop Polk accepted
the responsibility which was laid upon him wss
| emnently Characteristic of him. When he had
determined TO assume the military rank with
which the President thought it to invest him. he
wrote to me to inform me OF the step. Il did
not consult you beforehand were his words TOT
| 1 felt il was a matter to be decided between my
Master and myself | knew how il would startle
the church: how much criticism and obloquy il
might fetch down; and determined that all the
responsibility should rest upon myself. When
bad fully made up nv mind TO the step, went
| 20 the valley aud paid visit TO our venerable
Father Meade. feeling it TO be my duty TO lei
him know. as the presiding Bishop of our flock
what had determined upon. / told him dis
tnctly that had not come 10 consult him;
had come to communicate a decision and TO ash
| his blessing His answer was: Had you consult
ed me. might not have advised you to assume
the Office of General; but knowing you to be
a sincere, earnest, God-fearing man, believing
you to have come to your decision after earnest
prayer for light aud for direction, i will no
blame you. but will send you to the field with ny
blessing"
Bishop Elliot closed his discourse with a dra
matte appeal to the bishops and clergy OF th,
Northern Church TO meet Us at the judgm
seat of Christ-that awful tribunal where you
brute force will avail you nothing He alst
accuses them Of violating women and 'seducinl
slaves. ard then 'consigning them to misery
and finally ends with glowing picture of 'th
country made independent through his POLK
devotion and self sacrifice.