The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-01
A Wilder Department..
LETTER FROM BISHOP vvkLLEs.


upon any pretext whatever, to impair
the good reputation of his fellow-man
by misrepresentation. whether made
malicio"sly, or through haste and
want of consideration. When, there
fore, we were called upon to publish
the statement concerning Hon. E. T.
Wilder's conduct in the Protestant
Episcopal Convention of 1865, and
perceived that, by 80 doing, we must
necessarily impeach the veracity of
Judge Wilder, DR.. Sweeney, Mr.. Hodg.
son and others, we felt that it was our
duty to publish with the accusation,
whatever explanation of such conduct
could be made to screen the reputa-
ton of these gentlemen. We accord
ingly wrote to Bishop Welles, a dele
gate with Judge Wilder in the con-
veiltlon, stating briefly our dilemma
and asking such explanation. AL
though an entire stranger to us the
bishop very kindly furnished prompt
rep!y, which we give fellow. Poll
tcians may criticize our conduct un-
favorlbly, but they should remember
that fright is always right. and wrong
is never excusable." Political neces-
stiles cannot justify outrages upon
the private character of even candi-
dates for office.
MILWAUKEE, Oct. 9th, 1876.
Ny Dear Mr.. Young-Without be-
ing able to recall any distinct. CONVEX
satiOn with Judge E. T. Wilder, on
the subject of the Binney resolutions,
referred to in your letter of the 25th
of Oct. I have in mind many well-re-
membered utterances of Judge Wilder,
previous to the General Convention
of 1865 and during the session of that
Council, in which his views were
clearly and frankly stated: that he
thought it the wisdom and the duty
of the church, in her Councils, to
avoid all unnecessary consideration
Of any question of political charac-
ter; and Judge Wilder was not alone
in regarding the introduction of the
Binney resolutions as very clearly I'M
necessary.
If am not mistaken, two series Of
resolutions were introduced into the
General Convention Of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, during its session
in 1865, by Mr.. Horace Binney, OF
Philadelphia, both of which were laid
upon the table by the vote of the
House, on the ground that the subject
of these resolutions had already been
considered and acted upon by the
House, first by resolution offering
its gratitude to God for the presence
in Council of deputies from a number
OF the Southern States, and recognize
ing in their presence a token Of the
restoration of peace; and secondly, by
agreeing to unite CORDIALLY" in the
thanksgiving services, appointed by
the House Of Bishops, for the restOra-
ton of national peace and union.
It was after this service of thanks
giving, in which the bishops and dep
uties mad united that the second Sc
ries of Mr.. Binney's resolutions, (the
series generally referred to as the
"Binney resolutions,") were offered.
and were voted against by very many
from the simple feeling-whlch I
know was my own-that the Church
had already expressed her thankful
ness for peace and restored Union,
and any other expression by resolu-
ton was unnecessary.
ance with such feeling, the vote of
the entire Minnesota deputation pre-
sent that morning was cast; and l do
not think that amy one ever doubted
the patriotism, or the loyalty Of the
late DIR. Manney of Faribault, or of
the late DIR. McMasters, of St. Paul.
because they voted to lay the Binnev
resolutions on the table. 1t any citi-
zen Of Philadelphia could have been
named during the war, vino was pre-
eminently active III all the good works
OF that great city, in sustaining the
government and ministering to the
wants of the Union soldiers, it was
Mr.. Binney's colleague in this Church
Council, Mr.. VIM. Welsh, and Mr..
Welsh was one, as l well remember,
who voted to lay these resolutions on
the table.
Surely in the case of Mr.. Welsh. or
of the late Gov. Hunt, of New York,
who also voted against these resolu-
ti0ns, it was not the prompting Of dis
loyalty, but simply the feeling
same which influenced Judge Wilder
that the Church, in her service of
thanksgiving, had made fit and proper
expression Of gratitude to God for
great national blessings, and that fur
ther expression was uncalled tor.
I recall very wildly in this con-
nection the speech of Rev. DR.. Ker-
fort, now Bishop of Pittsburg. dep
uty in this council from the diocese of
Connecticut, but who, through all the
war, had been a firm, outspoken Union