Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-13
BISHOP WILMER.


 bama. was an interesting feature of the recent trlennial assembly at Minneapolis He bears his years well, retaining the vivacity and eloquence which have dis tinquished him as pulpit orator for mere than fifty years. Some of the Northern papers, alluding to his striking personality, have mentioned the connec- tion with his history an event which ere ated some stir just at the close of the civil war. when these States were held as satrapies and had a bare sem blance of civil law. This event has been Tor the most part misrepresented, and hence we reproduce from the venerable bishops "reminiscences, entitled "The Re cent Past a true account of what ac- tuafly occurred and the reasons for his action. It is interesting to know that these "reminiscences are addressed to his grandchildren, the children of MT. and Mrs. Harvey E. Jones. They are replete with interest and are written in that ele- gant and varied style for which the ser mons of the bishop are noted. The bish- ops account of the interference with his church by the military power is as fol- lows:
 "Just after the civil war, which reduced the State of Alabama to the condition of military province, your grandfather became the object of a military order which closed the churches of his diocese and subjected him to a notoriety which he neither desired nor anticipated. It is a long story, with which I will not bur den these pages.
 You will find in the journals of my dio- cese a very full statement of the whole matter You will also find brief synopi- cal view in the Centennial History Of the Church of America Let it suffice for me to say that even at this hour, as l stand upon the border of time, there Is not word put down in the history of those events which I regret or would recall. have in this matter the answer of a good conscience towards God and man. give you here the briefest outline. When the war ended found the civil government of the State subverted. her constitution abrogated, her Governor deposed and held under duress, her whole civil power annlhllated, the drumhead the only trl" bunal of justice.
 The first practical question that pressed upon me for decision was that relating to the use of the prayer for all those in civil authority, as formulated in the book of common prayer I looked around and found no vestge of any such authority. was under no ecclesiastical obligation to use the prayer as 1t stood in the prayer book, for when I was consecrated bish- op had made declaration of conform ity' to the constitution of the Confeder- ate States
 Some of the generals of the federal army were kind enough to step forward and attempt to solve all my doubts upon the question, but they did not succeed in settling my difficulty. Prayer ought to be very real and sincere thing, and could not find 1t in my heart to send up a prayer to heaven for blessing on what had no existence nor could I make up my mind to pray under dictation. But was bound by a higher obligation than any which man can impose, to pray for our rulers of whatever sort. The fact that they were holding us in slavish subjec- ton did not release us from that obliga- ,tion. Nor did we desire any such release. The fact that they had abrogated all the sanctions of cur former legislative, judi cial and executive government, only in
 
 prayers unto God that He would give grace to these soldiers who held us under the bayonet to execute justice and maintain truth" But when it came to ask the Almighty to give health, pros perity and long life to the commander in-chief of this body of men, who had settled down upon our whole country. and when officers with sword at their sides came to demand it, l, for one, had TO doubt or misgiving as to what course should pursue. l wish that some of my brethren who will not consent to Catholicize cur prayers-the prayer for the president is the one uncatholic spot in our regular liturgy-could have seen fhe necessity as I then saw it. The word ing of this prayer will have to be changed. The troubles in this country have not ended. We will have to go through all the diseases incident to a nations childhood We will have--we have already nearly had-rival presi- dents-elect. It may be we shall have a president of Knights of Labor with men of brawn and muscle to make good their pretensions. Then will come the strain; then timid people will palter with the Almighty in a double sense: then feeble brethren, at the nod of a soldier, will wing heavenward their extorted little prayers (which are insults to heavenl, with protests attached to them. l have known that to be done. and it may hap pen again.
 He studies history to little purpose who does not now provide for all the contin- gencies likely to arise in the course of events. What endless trouble came upon the people of England during the usurpa- ton of Cromwell. The loyal men of the realm felt bound in conscience to pray for the king; and the powers that were forbade it, and sent the offenders to pris- on or into exile.
 A state of things may exist in this country when rude soldier shall step up to the officiating minister and demand to know which president of the United States he refers to in his prayer; and it may even happen that one clergyman may be praying in one church for one president and another in a neighboring church may be invoking long life and prosperity upon another claimant to the office. He has read history very super