The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-20
Re.Untg,n or the EpisoOpaI cGorch

The prospects. Of re union between re-
ligious bodies North and South is not,
generally speaking, very favorable. The
Congregational Church, being in its very
organization hostile to slavery, never had
any existence in the South the schism in
the Presbyterian church on tie slavery
question had resulted in open rupture be-
fore the war 81 all relations between
Baptis.s, Methodists and EpiscopsliAns,
and other religious societies, North and
South, were. of course, suspended upon
its breaking out Now, while the mass of
the Southern Bsptists, Methodists and
PresbyteriRns are declaring themselves
hostile to ecclesiastical union with the
Northern churches, the Episcorslians of
the South are taking steps for re union.
The General Convention of that church,
trienniAl gathering, meets this year at
Philadelphia, in october. It is composed
of 8 House of Bishops and House of
Clerical and Lay Deputies, elected by the
conventions of each diocese. 1t is probable
that the Southern bishops and delegations
from all the Southern dioceses will present
themselves for admission to this conven-
ton Tennessee, which never joined the
Confederate Episcopal Church, and has,
therefore, no secession ordinance to rescind,
has already held Diocesan Convention
and chosen the usual number of delegates
to the General Convention. The diocese
of Texas has rsscknUwl1dged tho authority
of the General Convention of the Protes-
tsnt Episcopal Church of. the United
States, and has elected delegates thereto.
Bishop Elliott, of Georgia, the Presiding
Bishop of the Confederate Episcopal
Church,-one of the warmest champions
of the rebslion among the Southern clergy,
is also in favor of reunion, but objects to
the separate action of the separate action
of the various dioceses in the matter
and insists that the reunion shall be
brought about by joint agreement,
through Committees of the Confeder-
ate Episcopal Church with the Epis-
copsl Church of the ULited States, thus
recognizing TIE existence and validity OF
the tormer organization. He demands,
also, as condition of reunion, that the
General Convention of the United States
shall acknowledge the official acts of the
Church OF the Confederate States. This
will probably be the position taken by the
Church South generally. It has been en-
dorsed by the the Diocesan Convention Of
Georgia, and sssented to by the Bishops Of
North Carolina and Arkansas.
Thus far, only two of the Southern
bishops, those of Mississippi and Alabama
have declared their preference for the con-
tinuance of separate organization of the
Southern Church; but they will yield to
any resolutions passed by the approaching
General Council of the Southern Church.
That the msjority of this Council will in.
dorse the views of Bishop Elliott, admits
of hardly any doubt. -..-.
In the loyal States, the prevailing opin.
ion seems to be in favor of receiving back
the Southern bishops and dicceses without
imposing any conditions or asking any
questions. Still, there will not be una.
nimity on this subject There will be del.
egates in Philadelphis who will take the
ground that, with the views of the South
ern bishops and dioeeses of the Rebellion
and on Slavery unchanged, it will be profit
able neither for the churches in the loyal
States nor for those in the late Confederate,
TO show an undue HASTEN communicating the
reunion. AT all events, the proceedings Of
the Convention at Philadelphia on this
subject promise to be of a very interesting
character.