The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-05
Address OF Bishops Atkinson, Lay
md QuiMtRrd.

yp oar S5TcInren IN Me i>o,NRcf>a3 L9ca-
ceses In resuming our seats in the
General Convention of the Church in
the United States, we have taken a
step in advance of those with whom
we have been for some years associ-
ated We were aware that we ventured
much but we were prepared to ven
ture much, in order to secure the
reunion Of the Church, and to obviate
the evils which were likely to grow
up in the absence of frank and per-.
sonal conference.
It seems proper that we should now
make known to you what has hap
pened during this memorable session.
We demanded no formal guaran
tees. The assembled Bishops offered
us no pledge save that of their
honor and love" AS house, and as
individuals, they welcomed us with
cordial greeting.
There has been in the House of
Bishops careful avoidance of what
might give us pain. Painful things
were sometimes spoken, but even
then the speakers used studied mode
ration and self-restraint. The results
arrived at are as follows:
Bishop Lay, although he held that
the erection of ARKANSAS into q diocese,
and his election as diocesan, were valid
acts, preferred to waive that question.
By the calamities of war, the Church
in that State has been so enfeebled
that it is no longer able to exhibit an
organization. He, therefore, answer
ed to his name, and wes received by
the House as Missionary Bishop of
the Southwest.
In the matter of Bishop Wilmer, no
official documents were before the
Convention, and the case was COM
picated by an unhappy conflict be-
tween the military and the ecclesias-
teal authorities in the State of Ala
bama. And yet, after an elaborate
discussion, his conservation was rati-
fed on conditions not liable to objec-
ton, 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vote was subsequently withdrawn.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
accepted with great unanimity, and
consecrated without delay to his high
Office.
In celebrating q thanksgiving, the
Convention abstained from disputed
topics, and confined its expressions of
gratitude to the mercies which we
recognize in common, viz: peace in
the country and unity in the Church.
In devislng means to provide relief
for sufferers of the South, the action
of the Church was marked by SYM
pathy and deicacy.
In establishing . system for the in
struction of the freedmen, our advice
was sought, and Episcopal authority
duly respected.
In general, while the Bishops and
other members of the Convention
have in no wise denied or concealed
their sentiments on the questions,
political and social, brought by the
war to a practical solution, they have
not required of us any expression of
opinion on these topics. They have
carefully Disseminated between the
political and the ecclesiastical aspects
Of these questions, and have confined
their expressed judgments and their
action to the latter. They are content
with the assurance that we render for
conscience sake allegiance, honest and
sincere, to the Government of the
United States, and will teach others
to do so.
We see nothing now to hinder the
renewal of the relations formerly ex-
isting in the Church.
We feel bound to acknowledge that
we have been greatly indebted to
many of the Bishops for the warm
fraternal feeling manifested by them,
and for their generous exposure OF
themselves to censure because of their
efforts to promote peace AMI unity
nor ought we to withhold our convic.
ton that the great body of the House
of Dan11fias haya dasaruad uoIl of III Z