Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-11-12
rnE EprscoPAL cmURcH.
Christian ActioR Of the Late ConUentioR
T0Wdrd the Southern Churches.


To our Brethren IN he Southern Dioceses
In assuming our seats in the General
Convention of the Church of the United
we have taken a step in advance
of those With whom we have been for
Years associated. We were awar that
we ventured much but we were pre-
pared TO venture much in order to secure
The reunion Of the church, n to Obvi-
ate the evils which were likely to grow
I'D 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 Us no
pledges save that of "their honor and
their love-" As a house and as indi-
viduals they welcomed US with a cordial
greeting.
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.
The results arrived at are as follows:
Bishop Lay, although he held that the
erection Of Arkansas into a 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 80 enfeebled that it is nc
longer able to exhibit an organization.
/ He therefore answered TO his name, and
was received by the house as Missionary
| Bishop of the Southwest.
In the matter Of Bishop Wilmer, nc
official documents were before the Con
vention, and the case vas complicated
bv an unhappy conflict between the mil
| itary and the ecclesiastical authorities in
| the State of Alabama. And yet, after an
elaborate discussion, his conservation
was ratified on conditions not liable tC
objection, unanimously in the House Of
Bishops, and with only negative vote
in the House of Deputies, which vote was
subsequently, withdrawn.
The Bishop elect of Tennessee was &C
cepted with great unanimity, and conse-
Grated without delay 10 his high office
In celebrating a thanksgiving, tho
! Convention abstained from disputed
topics, and confined its expressions o
gratitude to the mercies which we recog-
nize in common, viz: peace in the coun
try and unity in the church.
In devising measures to provide relic
for sufferers in the South, the action O
the church was marked by sympathy
and delicacy.
In establishing a system for the in
tructiOn of the freedmen, advice wa
sought, and Episcopal authority duly re
spected.
In general. while the BishOpsan Othe
members of the convention have in NJ
wise denied or concealed their sentiment
on the questions political and sOcia
brought by the war to apractical solution
they have not required Of us any expires
sion of opinion on these topics. The,
have carefully Disseminated between tn,
political and the ecclesiastical aspects O
these questions, and have confined thei
expressed judgments and their action {
the latter. They are content with tn
assurance that we render for cOnscienc
sake, allegiance, honest and sincere, Z
the government of the United States, ant
will each others so to do.
We see nothing now to hinder the re
newal Of the relations formerly existing
in the church.
We feel bound to acknowledge that W
have been greatly indebted TO many q
the bishops for the warm fraternal feel
ing manifested by them, and for thei
generous exposure Of themselves to cen
sure, because of their efforts to promot
peace and unity nor ought We TO with
hold our conviction that the great bod,
Of the house of deputies have deserve
well of the church, because of the mani
ness with which they have encountere
reproach, and perhaps subjected them
selves to sufferlngi in the cause Of peac
and holy moderation.
In conclusion, we desire to record OF
deep conviction and N reyerent &C
knowledgement, that the results nov
related are are things not Of man but @
God. Our profound gratitude is due {
Him who, as we trust, in this perilou
iuncture, has interposad ettectually t
heal the divisions of the church, and {
calm the passions which threatened I
render il asundeT.
THOMAS ATKINSON,
bishop Of North Carolina
HENRY c. LAY,
Missionary Bishop OF the southwest.
House OF Bishops, Philadelphia, Oct. -, 1915.
HOUsE OF BISHOPS,
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. -, lS53.
In all the statements and conclusion
of the bishops Of North Carolina, and th
Southwest, / must heartily concur; an
+ with them desire to record my deep col
viction that the results related are III
doing, not Of man, but of God.
CHARLES TODD QUINTARD,
Bishop Of Tennessee.