Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-24
CORRESPONDENCE.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Daily Commercial
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, October 81. 1865.

WASHINGTON, October 81 1865.
The extraordinary interest and importance of the
Triennal Convention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church of the United States, now in session at the
City of Brothery Love- drew me off from the pass
ing events at the National Metropolis, and | have
Just returned from short visit to Philadelphia
1t is not too much to say that without any cousop
or even dcsign,-wthout the slightest reference in
KIND or degree, to any political purpose whatever Or
any object outside of their purely ecclesiastical func-
tons beyond the single end of maintaining National
Peace and National Union. the proceedings of this
great National Council of Christians yet actually
contributing in the greatest measure TO give efficacy
TO the reconstruction on policy of President johnson.
Nhlle the Chief Magistrate is going on steadily and
reSolutey to bring about reunion Of the hearts and
minds OF our countrymen-the only sound basis for
permanent and undistuTbed political unOn-while he
Is perseverng in this patriotic and benefcent pur
SUIT needless OF attacks from enemies, remonsranceS
from selfish partisuns, and the misconstructons of
perhaps honest riendsthat great ecclesiastical body
which was the last to exhibit any want of harmony
ana iraternal actonsbetween its members in the two
sections ol our country, is the first after the close of
the war, to help him in his noble work by lending
their best efforts to concord and love through
OUT all the States. From no quarter, indeed, has
frcsuent johnson received nor is he receiving more
hearty cooperation, or substantial SUPPORT than
hcnsive National policy. This countenance and as
sStaEce are such couldnOt be proptiaed by power
nor purchased by patronage, and has been valued ac
cordngly -
The iniquitous and trueulent spirit Of sS4sUsisan
press has seldom been more fagranty exhibited than
in the tone INDUCED by certain Philadelphia journals
towards this assemblage of Christian men The
grossest misrepresentation Of the feelings the mo-
yes and the action Of both houses of the Convention
have been industriOusly put forth by of these
par tisan organs and sent by their confederate
he ,cires to every part Of the country.
When the full and official report of the proceedings
shall be published, as taken down by the impartial
and sklliul stenographcrs employed for that purpose
all honorable minds will be shocked at the shameless
pcrvcrsions of the character and spirit of the debe
raOns and decisions of this National Council Of the
Episcopal Church, which were audaciously promul-
gated through the newspapers alluded to. No elias;
OF men have greater reason to complain Of these mis-
rcpresen tat0ns than the earnest friends and advo-
Gates of Pres ident JOhnsons plans for establishing
union OF the people us well as Union of the States
had the satisa ction and advantage of attending
the Thanksgiving services on Tuesday for the rcSto
ration of peace and the Union. Would to Heaven
that every man. woman and child in America could
have witnessed them. From the organ gallery had
grand view of the Right Reverend Fathers they
entered in process on and filed the capaciouS chan
eel; of the immense congregation occupying every
place below and above; and of the pAiy,c Choir Of
Revercnds, imp revised for the occasion from the
clerical delegates The spectacle, the chanting of
the Psalter the singing the swell of voices in the re
sponscs, combined to produce emotions in the highest
| degree affecting and sublime.
The form of Thank giving prepared by the Bishops
was nearly perfect any human composition
No objection taken TO what it actually contained
| and | believe that vast majority of the whole
people of the United States, if they would read it.
| would say that it really wanted nothing. 1t
| thanksgiving wherein all Christian citizens of the
United States in every section might heartily jon
with devout gratitude for the restoration of peace
and the Union: and strong representations of them
by both clergy and laity. did actually unite, like
band of loving brothers.
| OF course, it would have been quite repugnant to
| the sacredncss of the Episcopal function-and q
| would tan hope to the taste and sense of sober
| minded and cultivated men in general-to have in
serted stump SPEECH about the causes Of the war
into the body Of this solemn prayer and thanksgiving
to the great DiSposer of Events. The refusal of the
House OF Clerical and Lay Delegates dictate to the
| House of Bishops such amendment y of their de-
| yout and comprehensive form of THANKSGIVING was
the real cause of the ire of the angry and smarting
partizans, who have put forth their spieful cbulli
tions against the Episcopal Convention
The hospitality Of Philadelphia is proYerbial. To
| the members Of the Convention and their families
| all houses seemed to be open; and during my brief
| sojourn saw numberess evidences Of the kind and
delicate consideration of the residents for their
| guests, as well those examples of generous and
profuse hospitality which may always be expected III
large and wealthy city.
On the evening Of the day Of the Thanksgiving
! there was a reception at the house of Mr.. William
welsh. in Spruce street, gentleman equally dis
tnguishcd by his pure, devout and elevated charac-
ter, his sound practical sense, and constant dcdca-
| ton of his abilities time and ample means, to- the
| advancement of the temporal and eternal interests
of his fellow creatures. There Bishops. Clergy and
| Baymen from every portion of our wide spread
| country met and intcrchungcd, around the social
| board, and in the elegant drawing rooms, those sen
| timentS of dccp-seatcd, raterfal affection which
really make us United People; and without which
all laws and regulations looking to lOitcd union
| would be comparatively vain and nugatory. VI.