The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-24
AND STEAMBOAT NEWS
Bishop Elect of Louisiana.

The Protestant Episcopal Convention
have unanimously chosen the Rev. J.
P. B. Wilmer, of Virginia, temporarily
residing in Maryland, to be successor oil
the late Right Rev. Leonidas Polk, as
Bishop of Louisiana The Clergy had
the right of nomination and after six,
teen Intellectual efforts to agree, so
learned and distinguished were the
choices of various members of the Con.
vention, they nominated DR.. Wilmer
by vote of eighteen, to four for DR..
Mahan, of Baltimore; and one for the
Missionary Bishop Lay of Arkansas.
The Laity confirmed this choice by a
majority of twelve parishes-se7enteen
voting aye and five nay. The choice
was then made unanimous by q vote of
the whole convention, and so declared,
and Immediately afterwards all the
members, clergy and laity, and numer-
GUS visitors, united in singing the 'Glo-
ria In EXcelsis."
The Bishop of Louisiana elect is a
native of Alexandria, Va, and has
spent most of his life in that State
He belongs to the well known family
of that name from which comes his
cousin, Bishop Wilmer of Alabama,
and is said to be faithful pastor, an
eloquent preacher, learned man, and
from his personal acquaintance with
the Protestant Episcopal Seminary at
Alexandria, familiar with the work of
organizing and carrying on public insti-
tutions of learning. Heis still Young
\
large fortune, which he freely uses for
the advancement of the Christian
Church, and is personally known to
most of the Southern Bishops, by whom
he was strongly recommended for this
high Office
After his ordination, DR.. Wilmer had
charge Of two parishes in the lower
part of his native State, in what is
called the "Old Dominion" where he
gained much distinction for the energy
and faithfulness with which he per
formed his pastoral duties, and his
sound and eloquent preaching. lie
was, also, very much beloved in general
society for the affability and grace OF
his manners. His noble qualities and
fitness to take a more responsible charge
becoming known to the people of Phil
adelphia, where he occasionally minis
tered, he was chosen rector of the old
Church of st. Marks in that city, and
continued the able and beloved pastor
of that large and elegant congregation
till the outbreak of the late war.
Being a native of Virginia, DR.. Viii
mer's sympathies during the late strug-
gle were entirely with the Confeder-
ates, and when the war had actually
broken out, he resigned his charge in
| Philadelphia and returned to his
family, then in Albemarle county,
Va Soon after, he became a chaplain
in the Confederate army, and espe-
cially was very devoted in his attend
auce upon hospitals near which he
| CHANGED to bestationed.
At later day he was chosen by the
clergy Of Virginia to 60 abroad to pur-
| chase Bibles and Testaments for the
/ Confederate army, then in this respect
very destitute. He executed his COM
/ mission in England well, but in at,
| tempting to run the blockade he was
captured by Federal cruisers in the
! Chesapeake and'taken to the Old Capt.
| tol prison. After his release he re.
turned South and continued TO do re.
| ligious duties as before in the army, till
| the surrender of Gen. Lee at AppOmat.
| tex Court House Subsequently he
was invited to take charge of the parish
at Elk Ridge, Nd, near atimore,
where'he has the last year resided.
DR.. Wilmer graduated at the Univer-
sity of Virginia, in his academical
course, and at the Protestant Episcopal
Seminary, near Alexandria, in mis- the
! illogical He is q man of commanding
appearance, an eloquent preacher, and
! accomplished in society. His early. ex.
perience IN the country parishes OF
| Virginia will have fitted him for similar
work in the country parishes of Loui-
siana, while his profound learning and
varied accomplishments will make him
at home IN the responsible work that
lies before him in the great city OF
New Orleans.
The future proceedings in obtaining
the consent of the church to his Conse
Grafton are, by the csnons thereof, as
follows:
A testimonial Of his election and fit
ness for the office of Bishop, signed by
the clergy and lay delegates will first
be transmitted to the standing commit
tees Of the various dioceses, and when
a majority of them shall have given
| their consent, their declaration to that
effect will be communicated to the
Bishops, and if a majority of them
shall find him worthy, it will be the
duty of the presiding Bishop, { Hopkins
of Vermont with two other Bishops
to proceed, as soon as possible, 10 hii
consecration.-N D. PteIysms.