The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-07
7 METHODIST Ne: Il o. CHURCH SOUTH i
Pastoral Letter ofa4.the Bishop,
BISHOP, ANDREws' PASTORAL, LEFrERg

;ro1i BISHOP andrews PASTORAL, LETTER sd
8 DEAR BRETHREN: The events of, thei last 4
few months have placed both the church and
the country in greatly altered circumstances
and hence 1t becomes necessary Ito adapt our .
selves to four altered relations Gun hope
of Obtaining,da distinct nationality as o.,
people has been frustrated, )1 and; 70 the
providence OF God seems to have orr
dained that we shall 5tbe again united
in civil compact with our former associates
OF the North. The Stars and stripes again
wave over us as in former days, and 1t Is now,
our national flag, and should Ibe respected ac-
+ cordingly.3 We have with our verydnadequate
means fought through a bloody war but have
at length been overwhelmed by superior num-
bers, and have been compelled to yield. j Our
armies have fought braVely and we have lost
no honor in the conflict and now that the
struggle is over, let lis at once and resolutely,
apply ourselves to the peaceful :azocations Of
ne me. 'Lst the young men; of,ithe country
seek to engage the earliest moment DOS
si6le, in some honest business, % and by
|. all means ayoi6 all tenp6ations te .idleness.s
Let all our paroled soldiers carefully avoid,
all concerned 9inl 9#hacktng or euerilla
warfare. oifhese are: wrong ia principle and
practice, and WhateFsf seeming 4pOI0ey there
might have been, for ak6 practice lduifne the
war, there can certainly be none now. It be-
comes us all now to SEEK by all practical,
means, to promote the retuIn 70f peace and
good neighborhood among the various sections
Of the United States Let us strive, as fat as
Pranticahle, to forget the wrongs which we
have suffered, and earnestly address ourselves
TO the task Of reconstructing the Government,
and promoting its peace and unity. The brood
Ing over our altered fortunes, and making them
the theme Of conversation, viii tend, greatly
70 increase our, bitterness of feeling, and
drive from our. hearts 3 that peace 81 Ged
without which onr religion ,is mere stink
Ling cymbal. There are among us; at various
points, Federal soldiers, who, SO far as /, have
learned, deport themselves in very orderly
manner. Let Us not by any action of ours ic-
fiuence them to . different course of Conduct,
but let us extend to them all the tourtesies of
life; invite them to your churches, that they
may miHgle with you in the services of reli-
gion, for doubtless many Of them before
/ they left their homes 8 were members
of the church ~ and consistent q Chris.
tians. Let such 8 feel = at u home with
pyou in the house of God. And, finally.
if you wish to live quiet and peaeeable lives. in
all goodness and honestly before God, it is your
duty to pray earnestly and, constantly to God
that he may give to our rulers wisdom and in
tegrity, that they may be able to bear rule un-
der the fear of God. And now, dear brethren.
may God pour out upon Us in abundance the
fear of His holy name, and the influence of
His spirit to guide rs Alright In all things: "a
"a Val =. =. JAMES o. ANDREW, 50
| - - I'll Bishop NJ e. Church South. -
[ . MOBILE lime u iQ65 =. $1,000 81. ~.