Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-03-04
PARTED BY WAR
Civil Strife Caused Separation
Of Noted churchmen.
Missionary Centennial Recalls Rfse-
ton Between Bishop heIiVsine and
Bishop Polk, Or Opposing SIDES.

A striking memory II Civil war his
tory j. awakened IN connection with
the centenary q the Episcopal Ms
siOnsfy society falling this year.
which centers about two deyout bish-
ops u the church. Bishop Mcnysine
Of Ohio and Bishop LeOnidas Polk Of
Tennessee. lifelong friends. whose
conScieuces made them enemies when
the war divided the country.
Bishop McIlvsine vas the elder II
the tw0 and Wa chaplain at West
Point when young Polk, scion Of the
family which gave President 10 the
United States, arrived al the academy
bent On military career. At the end
If four years poIk was graduated into
the army; but 30 marked wss the IN
naence that McIlvaine had exerted
that, few years later. the chaplain
having IN the meantime been elevated
20 the episcODacy, Polk resigned from
the army and tOok clerical orders.
With the passage Of the years fl
fell out that McIlvsine and Polk be-
came identified as leaders in the move
ment within the church which resulted
IN the dispatch u missionary bishops
into the unsettled areas 81 the coun-
try, and brought about those triumphs
which are being acclaimed nov 10 the
missionary centennial. Polk was made
the first missionary bishop Of Arkan-
sas ami later first bishop Of louisiana
Then came he var between the
states. which arrayed father against
sOn and brother against brother. and
these tEo degout men of the church
I'D not escape the perplexities Of the
situation. Bishop McIlyaine answered
the rail- 81 Lincoln and went 70 Eng
land with Archbishop Hughes. Henry
Ward Beecher and Thurlow Weed TO
exert their influence against British
recognition " the COnfederacy. Bish-
~ polk answered the call og Jefferson
Davis and became a general 10 the
Confederate army.
Thus actively aligned on opposite
sides 10 the conflict, the stage was
set for one " the most dramatic cpl
sOdes Of the war Back IN the West
Point days the two men had entered
into solemn compact that when they
separated, wherever they might be.
they would pray, each for the other
by name. every Sunday morning. And
now, the one fighting In the field for
the South. and the other engaged In
a delicate diplomatic mission for the
North, enemies a. to the political
principle which vas Involved. their
solemn compact WAS sacredly carried
out until the end came with the death
VI Bishop Polk at the battle Of Pine
mountain.
History tells Of the success Of the
mission 10 England. ~ which Bishop
Acilvalne vas part
The kind of soldier Bishop Polk
was ~ related in the general orders
issued by Gen. J. Il Johnston. com
Inandiug The army Of Tennessee on
June a. 1864, the day Polk fell. II
read
Comrades. You are called to mourn
your first captain. your oldest com
panion ln-arms. Lieut. Gen Polk fell
today az the outpost ~ Ellis armv-fhe
army he raised and commanded Ia ali
Of whose trials he shared 70 al ~
whose victories he contributed. In
this distinguished leader we have lost
the most courteous Of gentlemen. the
most gallant of soldiers. The Chris
tian, patriot soldier has neither lived
nor died IN vain Hls example Is he
fore you his mnntie rests with You"
There Is st striking picture. too. Of
this warrior-bishop contained In n LET
ter he wrote 20 his wife less lhan a
month before he fell.
"You will be Interested" ne wrote
In hearing that the first night Of my
arrival with the army / baptized
Lieut.. Gen Hood II was Oh The eve
OF an expected battle The scene was
touching one he. with one leg
leaning on his crutches. Aeternn In
the midst Of his md nay officers aud
the officiating minister. Ills henri
was fully In IT,"
Few nights later he also baptized
General Johnston