Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1922-01-12
PARTED BY WAR
Civil Strife Caused Separation
Of Noted ChurGhmen.
Missionary Centennial Recalls Alice
tlon Between Bishop McIlvaine and
Blshop Polk, on Opposing Sides

! Missionary Centennial Recalls Affee
tlon Between Bishop McIIvaine and
Blshos Polk, on Opposing sides
A striking memory of Cvi1 war his.
tory Is Awakened in connection with
the centenary Of the Episcopal Mis-
si0nsry society, falling this year,
which ceRters about two deyout bish-
ops Of the church. Bishop Ncnyaine
Of Ohio and Bishop LeOnIdas Polk Of
Tennessee, lifelong friends, whose
cOnsciences made them enemies when
the war divided the country.
Bishsp HcIlvalne was the elder Of
the two and was chaplain at West
Point when young Polk, scion of the
family which gave q President to the
United States, arrived at the academy
bent on military career. At the end
Of four years Polk was graduated into
the army; but so marked was the In
fuence that McIlvaine had e1erted
that, few years later, the chaplain
faving in the meantime been elevated
to the episcopacy, Polk resigned from
the army and took clerical orders.
With the passage of the years II
fell out that McIlYaine and Polk be
came identified as leaders in the move
ment within the church which resulteC
in the dispatch of missionary bishop
into the unsettled areas of the couE
try, and brought about those triumph.
which are being acclaimed now In IN,
missionary centennial. Polk was mad
the first missionary bishop of Arkar
sas and later first bishop of Louislani
Then came the war between IL
states, which arrayed father agains
son and brother against brother; an.
these two devout men of the churC'
did not escape the perplexities Of IL
the call Of Lincoln and went TO Ems
land with Archbishop Hughes, Henr
Ward Beecher and ThurlOw Weed I
exert their influence against BIRTHS
recognition of the Confederacy. Bisl
op Polk answered the call OF Jeffers0.
Davis and became general in tn,
Confederate army.
Thus actively aligned on opposit'
sides in the conflict, the stage wa
set for one Of the most dramatic epi
sodes Of the war. Back in the Yves
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 lighting in the field FOR
the South, and the other engaged IL
4 delicate diplomatic mission for tho
North, enemies as to the politica'
principle which was involved, theII
solemn compact was sacredly carried
out until the end came with the dealt
Of Bishop Polk at the battle Of Pine
History tells Of the success Of the
sIcIlvaine was a part.
The kind Of soldier Bishop Poll |
was is related in the general order |
issued by Gen. J. f. Johnston, com
the army of Tennessee OF |
June IA, 1854, the day Polk fell. II |
read:
Comrades: You are called to mourn |
TOur FIRST captain, your oldest com
Lieut.. Gen. Polk fell /
odny at the outpost of Us army-th,
,rmy he raised and commanded, in al
II whose trials he shared, to al ri
whose victories he contributed. II
his distinguished leader we have los
he most courteous of gentlemen, the
most gallant Of soldiers. The Chris
ian, patriot, soldier has neither live,
Tor died In vain. His example is be
ore you; his mantle rests with you
There Is striking picture, too, OF
his wnrrior-bishop contained In q let
er he wrote to his wife less than q
month before he fell.
You will be Interested" he wrote
In hearing that the first night Of my
rival with the army l baptized
lieut.. Gen. Hood. 1t was on the ave
4 an expected battle. The scene was
touching one--he, with one leg
Gaming on his crutches, a veteran In
he midst Of his and my officers and
he officiating minister His heart
res fully In It,"
A few nights later he also baptized
ieneral Johnston.