The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-22
Rev. MIR. Cheney-An Address OF Sym.
Dathy and Reply Of Bishop Johns,
of Virginia.


AS part of the history of this difficulty,
we publish the follow .ng official papers, the
first being an address of sympathy, now
being circulated for signatures, taken from
the EpiScOpGldn, the other being the an
swer of the Kt. Rev. Bishop j. Johns, of
Of Virginia. to the application for his sig
nature to such document, taken from the
Southern Churohnsan:
MEMORIAL ADDRESS TO REV. MR.. CHENEY.
We, the subscribers, desire, as requested
by some brethren, TO express ourselves in
regard to the recent trial to which the Rev.
MIR. Cheney has been subjected: We feel
constrained to declare that we look upo.l
that trial, in its initiation and consumma-
ton, as great wrong done to loyal son
of our Church and its ministry. We re-
gard the whole measure asincOnsistent With
the spirit and practice of our Church and
with the proper Interpretation and under
standing of the clerical subscription made
at ordination. We deeply sympathse,
therefore, with our brother in his terrible
afflictiol, and earnestly pray God to COM
fort and guide him in the hard measure
dealt out to him, unprecedented rs it is in
the history Of this Church. And ut the
same time we would give utterance to yet
protounder sympathy with the Church and
ministry to which we belong, that such
case of misrlllc should occur among us,
boding, as it does, so much i'll to our future.
Rev. VIM. Sparrow, u. d., Rev. c. A.
Andrews, ID. d., Rev. II. Dyer, ID. d., Rev.
W. Il. Nicholson, ID. d., Rev. Thoml, w.
Humes, ID. D., kcv. +. L. Perkins, ID. D.,
Rev. Messrs. j. Howard Smith, George D,
Miles, A. Dalton, Reese +. Alsop, X. NJ.
Postlethwaite, K. c. Matlack, Charles Gull
lis, Nj. D., j. Z. Hubbard.
REPLY OF BISHOP JOHNS, OF VIRGINIA.
AS circulars have been sent to the clergy
and laity of Virginia, soliciting them to
annex their names to Il paper Intended to
give TO the Rev. Mr. Cheney ''al the moral
support possible" ''iu his terrible atfiic.
ton" and to condemn the whole measure
of his recent trial-hnd, lis IN earnest desire
has been expressed to know the answer
which the bishop of the diocese returned
several weeks ago to i similar application
for his signature, he has furnished the fol-
lowing copy OF his reply
Req. and Dear Brother : have received
aud read with careful consideration your
letter. of June 14th, 1871, and the accompa-
nying printed document sent for my sigma
ture. The Rev. MIR. Chcney's case has, |
assure you, given me no little concern.
do not hesitate 10 state to you my feelings
and position in regard to it. His views and
my own in reference to doctrinal truth are,
l suppose, very SIMILAR. OF his personal
pielv, professional qualifications, and min
istcriul usefulness, Il have been led to en-
,teptain high estimate. therefore lament
Ycry greatly the trouble i'll which he has
been involved, sympathise with him IN the
calamity, and deplore the loss OF his ser.
vices 1teiaour branch of the Church OF
Christ. Eub L differ from him decided
,ly, in his Interpretation OF the term
which has occasioned his difficulty, and
dissent from his opinion, that Us 1t
is used in the Prayer Book, it teaches false
doctrine. That it is liable to misapprehen-
sion cannot, with the evidence before me,
undertake to deny. Such liability, after
what has appeared in the Church OF Eng
land and our own, may constitute good
and sufficient reason for 4 slight change OF
phraseology, or the provision OF an alter
nate form of expression, which, without
affecting the validity OF the sacrament or
implying that the term as now used neces-
sarily iavors error, might tend to the pre-
servatlon of the peace and unity OF the
Church and the cutting of occasion from
those that seek occasion of cavil or quarrel
against her liturgy" Preface TO Book OF
Common Prayer. :" 'f--'.
With regard to the printed document, [
name-whatever may be thought OF the
judicial action in Illinois, a combination to
censure it by such IL publication as is pro-
posed does not commend itself to my sense
of propriety. AS a precedent, could not
but regard it as fraught with evils d1sas-
trous to the order and peace of the Church,
even more to be deprecated than the al
legged wrong which it is designed to abate.
If the Bishop of Illinois has prosecuted
and oppressed an innocent presbyter, leu
those who have the proof arrange it for
presentment, that the cause may be canon
ically adjudicated. Any other combination
to neutrulze the reputed injustice, in my
Judgment. would partake of the character
of the evil it was designed to correct
am fully aware that other views OF this
melancholy case Rre held by many whom
respect and love. But this is not matter
in which personal considerations are al
miss lbe. / have, therefore, felt constraln-
ed in responding to your appeal to be gov
e.ned, not bv sympathy, but by my own
conviction of what is right. -
'r5-l Truly yours. rar >. JOHNS.
Maluern, June g, 1871. -