New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-09
PRAYERS FOR THE PRESIDENT

being true, III Is lne uuts vi q Di'""P w 80
we'll his words, and to utter nothing by which
his great Office may be brought into public con-
tempt. We are sorry to say it, but we nave
rarely read prettier piece of pettlioggng Soph'
istry and of befogging special pleading than the
address of the Bishop of Alabama to the Prot
estant Epscopalans of his diocese. Inc Con
federacy is gone, but he still claims independ-
ence for the Church in the Confederacy-ah
independence of the very power which out OF
plain priest made him Father IN God ms
defiance of ecclesiastical authority-thiS spirit
nal secession in which Bishop Wilmer persists,
il is not within our province to discuss Dut we
have a right to consider and we have O
call most emphatcally to condemn the
tepidarean style in which this shepherd
grudgngly permits his flock to pray Tor the
President of the United States when the time
comes. He is quick to remind his children that
the Church has nothing to do with politics.
We take issue here. We make bold to assure
the Bishop of Alabama that but for politics. but
for the ambition Of politicians, but for the insti
tuition of Slavery politically considered, but for
secular controversies in Congress and out OF 1t,
there would never have been division OF his
church at all. AS division, just so far as 1t
has ceased to he portion Of the old Episcopal
Church in America, it represents political dill
ferenees and nothing else. How could 1t be
otherwise Busy as the Devil is in promoting
dissension, there was here no question OF doc
feuds aggravated by legitimate points OF con-
science. The Episcopal Church was rent in
twain. and so was the National Democratic
Convention, and both through influences pre-
cisely the same.
The main question discussed by Bishop
Wilmer in this pastoral, is that of prayers forthe
President Of the United States. lie Is good
enough to permit his clergy to offer these sup
plications-at some future time His dis.
tinctions are ludcrously nice. His argument
is that Alabama is now under military authorl-
~. Therefore" says his Right Reverence,
1.-THE prayer (for those in civil authority Is al
together inappropriate and inapplicable to the
present condition of things, when no ciyli
authority exists in the exercise OF its functions
This is childish and what is worse, II Is inter-
ally false The "civil authority OF the United
States. has never for a moment ceased 10
exist in Alabama The assumptions of the
Bishop that in exercising freely the MILL
tary functions of his Office, the President has
in the least discarded those which are
simply "civil," is purely gatuitous. Nor
does the seryce-book make any distinction.
The prayer is "for the President of the United
States. both as he is a civil magistrate and as
he is a Commandcr-in- Chief. In both these
capacities. civil and military, he is "in au-
thority" in Alabama to-day. and all the reasons
which may exist for praying for him six months
hence, exist in full force at this very hour. How
absurd, then, how utterly illogical is the follow
ing summing up ofthe Bishop of Alabama:
Nv conclusion is therefore and my direction. which
hereby give that when civil authority she'll be re-
stored in the State Of Alabama the clergy shall use the
form entitled prayer for the President OF the United
States and all in civil authority" as it stands IN the
Book Of Common Prayer.
A Bishop denuded of his yestments, standing
naked and shivering upon the brink of river
protesting with a frigid chatter that he really
means to take the leap, though at present he
cannot muster the courage would not, to our
eyes, present a very awful object of contempla-
ton. shepherd declaring to his hungry and
thirsty flock that in the course OF few weeks
it should be conducted to the green pastures
and the still waters might endure the mortif-
cation of seeing the sheep walking independ-
emily away to help themselves. Why will not
the Bishop of Alabama, and all other Bishops
Priests. Deacons and Doctors of Divinity at
the South, be a little reasonable Why is it
not Just as much Christian duty TO pray for
the restoration as to pray for the perpetnatlon
of the "civil authority ," And how is the
:. civil authority" ever to be reinstated in all
tits pristine strength and virtue, if contempt is
to be cast upon it from the altar, and if reluc-
tant citizens are to. he confirmed by their re-
ligious leaders in their reluctance Yet the
Bishop advises his people to take the oath of
allegiance to n Government for the head of
which he advises them not to pray at
present They are t. recognize the Presi'
dent in their oaths but not in their prayers at
the polls, but not in church as citizens, but not
rs Christians! These are subtleties which to us
seem fraught with mischief They keep the
public mind of the South in condition of
chronic irritation-they fan the fires of passion
which are smoldering but not extinguished-
they tear open wounds which should be closing,
and freshen hatreds which should be subsdng.