The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-19
AN incident of tssc late Bishop nesi'
nafns,s Lice.

an Incident Oh TIC MSatc b'~a
yaine's Life.
REVIVAL or RELIGION At WEST POINT M
noSvxsnoS OF BISHOP {GESrHA'1 POLK, REV
nm. woonsRIrGg, REV. GENERAL W. y
feNpLEToN, AND OTHERS.
,r..,, Letter In the Cincinnati Commorciail
T., ,.nu.rv 1928 .tac Rev. Charles T. Nc
Yl,aine was appointed to West Point. he
was then in the prime Of iie--spicna'd IL
lace and tall and graceful ID uniform. easy
e., manners, fine and perfect In Gcstscnlation
and powerfully meodious and searching il
voice.
Of manhood, from Washington, when unt
where oratory was In It's prime, and wa,
made point and appreciated. 1t was ia,
DAYS of Webster and uayne, Burgess ant
Calhoun. Mr.. McIlvaiue was an Intelligence
himself. and an adept in the art, and In t',i>
school in these times be made himself the
best,
Leonidas Polk was q remarkable man. j
knew him as cadet and during Ms career
os bishop. He was always the same con-
,scientious, consistent, perSeferlnS' aai,l'-
man. He came rs cadet from the south
n bow of fine presence, fine form, graceful
hearing mot unlike Bishop McIlvaine wasl,
full of life, ready for ANYTHING, generous,
consistent. What be believed right he would
do. He could not resist action under The
convictions Of bis mind. and would follow it
at every hazard and sacrifice. In those days
he and all others were intensely slavery.
II was a part Of their life, and its pro.
priety was part Of their creed Of belief,
about the propriety Of which there
was not as much doubt as there might
even be in the Bible. To all appearance
Leonidas Polk, then, was the last man to he
affected by preaching. knew Lecuidas
Polk at New Orleans during all his career as
a bishop. A purcr Christian, n more jealous,
conscientious man never brcathed. hegr.!
of him as a warrior. His private life there
was never inconsistent with his Christian
character. With the convictions Of Bishop
Polk about the war, its causes, and purposes,
he could not resist the justice, the right; ard
his view Of his duty to change his robes fo;
the uniform then was the same feeling that
caused him IN his former times to change his
uniform for his gown Of Epi-cOpacy. lit
wac high, consistent character, and has
goue TO his rest. RpguiescdiW pace.
At the fist Sunday ut West Point the ca
diets went 10 chapel, as usual, armed with
books to read or take advantage Of the spare
time TO sleep, taking no interest in The scr
mon. But had the bu%ic-call been helrd in
the chapel they woGia net have s!rai9lI,eErl
up quicker. Books were dropped; a;tsn-
ton was ryctcd; sleep passed awjv. There
was surprise. qualification. impression. This
was not as it had been in former times. This
went on from month to month, and former
times never returned. Spurocon and others
say it is not the man; 1t is the spirit Of
God" There is 10 doubt Of this in part.
but the spirit only will or docs much @!
such work through the mau Of tile right
stamp or caibre. And were we
more diligcnt in seeking such right
men, instead Of seeking any nan--a
few McIlvaines-with tue Esprit working
through them" would he productive Of
grand results to the cause OF religion. The
matter went on for q short time thus at West
Point, when the barracks Of the cadets were
Weakened up Us with thunder-clap when it
was announced that Lconldas Polk had been
converted as well rs others, and that Polk
was going to lead "prayinS squad" for
prayer to the prison, which, being the only
llnoccupied and quiet room in tue barracks.
they had tie Use of. aud many others ap-
pearcd on the stoop 10 see the squad 20 by.
and to see who they were. Polk, calm, fca.le.:,
with earnest amXiousneSS in his look, headed
the sumo appearance. From day TO Gay the
number increased, and finally was so large Is
to adjourn for room to the chapel. Now
was o revolution in the barracks and corps of
cadets indeed. There WAS quiet, ANXIOUS
feelings with very uany WHO did not, had
not, the courage perhaps to join tae squad Of
prayer. Seine jeered the whole thing aud
fastened tue prison Doors on the prayers: but
the doors were opened and they got ont.
The Rev. Mr.. Mclivalue began January IS.
1875. and ended December 81, 1877. lie
passed out of this field for Brooklyn. Now
for the result:
In 1888 the people were called together at
Christ church, Cincinnati, to witness the or.
dination Of Leonidas Polk as Bishop OF
Texas. Bishop Mcilyaiue was greatly ri;
fected, and gave Il feeling narrative of thC
events which brought Leonidas Polk bcfcr,
him for the then purpose. Professor .. NJ
Mitchell and two others sat listening to TIN
narrative with great interest, and could hay,
told of private feelings the events had, b
which the Bishop knew not. 1t was q wide
spread private influence making Cblistini
men throughout life of warriors aud civil
ians Of near half that corps who listened t,
the preaching. This was Il movement Of tn
spirit, indeed.
tne folloWlES list SHOWS tDo5c VINO 1OlnCC
the Episcopal Church almost on graduation
all but one, and presenting the dates of era
duation, resignation, ard becoming preach
ers. AS before stated, lei 1t De remembered
that the records show no one leaving the
army to become preacher, uutil the year:
Bishop Mcllvaine's influence began during
all the years before and but two for long
years after. There can, then, lie no doub;
that the liet is all to be credited TO this rcs!-
val of Bishop Mcliyaiuc's aud the Split
through him. 1t may be said here that :
very large number, under the same irnu
ence, became professors Of religion and
Christian officers:
LIST.
Gradaatn. Rssign'a. Clergyne1A