Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-11-23
! Address to the south.

A<Au0hC4D ~ amO 1Ouths
{s'Nothing could set forth more admira-.
bly,n says the Church Journal, "the result OF
the Episcopal General Convention than the
following circular letter." 49, I'VE
hope that Sit NAV receive the widest possi-
Bile Circulation, both In the religious and
secular press"
The letter Is issued by the three Southern
bishops who took their seats In the Upper
House of the Convention, and is addressed
| To oar Brethren IN The Southern D Dfoceses~e =
In resilniing our seats In the General Con-
ventioh OF the Gharohlin the United States,
we have taken a step in advance of those
with whom we have been for some years
associated. We were aware that we ventur-
ed much; but we4werepreparedt to venture
much in order to- >obviate the evils, which
were likely to grow up in the absence OF
frank and personal conference.
1t seems proper that. we should now make
known to you what has happened during
this memorable session.
| We demanded no formal guarantees. The
| assembled bishops offered usFn0 pledge
Save that Of tstheif honor and their 4ove..'' 7
AS O house and as individdals, they well
coined us with cordial greeting. AS-St@ .
There has been in the House of Bishops a
careful avoidance of what, might give us
| pain. Painful Things Were sometimes
| spoken, but even then the speakers used
! studied moderation and self-restraint.
.sThe resnlts arrived at areas foll0wsi IA q
Bishop Lay, although he held that the
erection of Arkansas into diocese, and his
\ election as diocesan, were valid acts, pre-
iterred to waive that question. BY the ca
| lIlamties of war, the Church In that State has
been so soenfeebled' that 10 isno longer able
Ito exhibit an organization. He therefore
answered to his name, and was received by
tire House as Missionary Bishop of the
In the matter Of Bishop Wilmer, no off,
cial documents were before the Convention,
and the case was complicated by an unhap-
py conflict between the military and the
ecclesiastical authorities in the State of Ala
bama. And yet, atteran ielaborate discus
sion, his conservation was ratified, on con-
ditions not liable to objection, unanimously
in the House Of Bishops, and with only one
negative vote in the House of Deputies,
which vote was subsequently withdrawn.
The Bishop elect of Tennessee was &C.
cepted with great ulianimity and dconsecrat-
| ed' without delay to his high office. I, d II 4
In celebrating thanksgiving, the Con-
vention abstained from disputed topics, and
contneuaits expression of gratitude TO the
mercies which we recognize In common.
viz: peace in the country and unity in the
i Church.
= In devising7 measures to, provide relief
| forsufferers in the South, the action Of the
Church was marked by sympathy and deli
cacy.
In establishing a: system for, the. .instruc-
tion of the freedmen, our advise was sought
and Episcopal authority duly respected.
/ InSgeneraL while the Bishops and other
members Of the Convention have in no wise
denied or concealed their sentiments on the
qnestions, political and social, brought, by
the war to practical solution, they have
not required of Us any expression of Opin-
ion On these topics. They have carefully
Disseminated between the political and ec-
clesiastical aspects of these questions, and
have confined their express judgment. and
their action to the latter. They are content
! with the assurance that we render tor con-
science sake, allegiance honest and sincere,
to the Government of the United States,
and will teach others so to do. - ll,.Ia
We see nothing now tohmder the renew
alof the relations formerly existing in the
Church. ..Yi
We feel bound to acknowledge that we
have been greatly indebted to many of the
Bishops for the warm fraternal feeling man
ifested by them, and for their generous ex-
posure of themselves to censure, because
nor ought we to withhold our conviction
timt thegreat body of the House of Depu-
ties have deserved well of the Church, be-
cause Of the imanliness with which they
have encountered reproach, and perhaps
| subjected themselves to suffering in the
cause of peace and holy moderation.
In conclusion, we desire to record our
deep conviction and our reverent acknowl-
edgment that the results now related are
the doing not of man but of God. Our
profound gratitude is due to Him who, as
we trust, in this perilOus juncture, has in
terposed effectually to heal the divisions of
the Church, and to calm thepassions which
threatened to rend it asuuder.s-,- yer
THOMAS ATKINsoN,f -.
''9S4 Bishop of North Carolina.
Fiitn -JdKJ HENRY c. LAY,
r @ Missionary Bishop of the Southwest.
House Of Bishops, Philadelphia, Oct. 20,
..'. u.s. - rfliH ~ sl9daT