Year: 1861

| the odium of the Unionists, it is refreshing to read such documents as that we append from so exalted a source. Let every Chris tian read and reflect, and then say if we can be far or at all wrong, in the efforts we have and will continue to make for the secession of our State. As speaking not only for his own noble State, but for the whole South, Bishop Polk has entitled himself to the gratitude of every southern man. He takes strong grounds for the South with whole -heartedness, which we recommend to the attention of our | fellow citizens:

 Pastoral Letter. fss

 To Me Clergy and Laity of Me Protestant

 Episcopal CAurch in the Diocese o,f Louis | tdna

 My BELOVED BRETHREN: The State of Louisiana having, by formal ordinance, through her delegates in convention as sembled, withdrawn herselffrom all further connection with the United States of Amerca, and constituted herself a separate sovereignty, has, by that act, removed our Diocese from within the pale of ''the Prot estant Episcopal Church in the United States" We have, therefore, an inde- pendent Diocesan existence.

 Of the circumstances which have occa- stoned this act, it may not be necessary now to speak. They are familiar to you all. It IS, however, our happiness to know that in canvassing the sum of the political grievances of which we have complained, we find no contribution made to it by brethren of our own household. Our church in the nonslaveholding States, as everywhere, has been loyal to the constitu- tion and the laws. Her sound conserva- tive teaching and her well-ordered organi- zation, have held her steadily to her proper work, and she has confined herself simply to preaching and teaching the Gospel of Christ. Surrounded by strong pressure on every side, she has successfully resisted its power, and has refused to lend the aid of her conventions, her pulpi:s and her presses to the radical and unscriptual pro- pagandism which has so degraded christi anity, and plunged our country into its unhappy condition.

 In withdrawing ourselves, therefore, from all political connection with the Union to which our brethren belong, we do so with hearts filled with sorrow at the pros- pect of its forcing termination of our ecclesiastical connection with them also. and that we shall be separated from those, whose intelligence, patriotism, christian integrity and piety, we have long known, ana TOT whom we entertain sincere respect and affection. Unfortunately the class they represent was numerically too small to control their section. They have been over- borne, and silenced, and different descrip- ton ot mind and character is in the ascend ant. The principles and purposes of this party have long been the subject of careful observation by the people oi the southern States, and they have watched it's rise and progress with anxious solicitude. They thought they saw in it the seeds of all the evil from which our country is now suffer- ing, and have not failed to employ all the resources at their command to avert it. Their efforts have been fruitess, and they have seen no way of escape from the conse- quences to themselves and their posterity. other than that they have taken. Of the justice of our cause, we have no doubt. of the wisdom of the measures we have adopted to maintain it, we may judge from the character of the men who are engaged in supporting them. With here and there an exception, they represent the intelligence, the character, and the wealth of the State. We haue taken our stand, oe hun,bIy t,2tst. iga the Jear of God, and under C sense of the duty aOe oaUe to mankind

 Our separation from our brethren of "the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States" has been effected, because we must follow our nationality. Not because there has been any difference of opinion as to christian doctrine or catholic usage. Upon these points we are still one. With us, it IS separation, not division-certainly not alienation. And there is no reason why, Il we should find the union of our diocese under one national church mpracticable, we should cease to feel for each other the respect and regard with which purity of manners, high principle, and manly de- votion to truth, never fail to inspire gener- ous minds. Our relations to each other hereafter will be the relations we both now hold to the men of our mother church of England.

 But the time has not arrived for entering fully into the discussion of the questions suggested by this occasion; and I have so far remarked upon them, because some notice of our relations to the national church from which we have separated, seemed called for by the event, snd because of the necessity that event creates for certain alterations in the services of our book of common prayer.

 In pursuance of this necessity, and under the authority of my office, I appoint, for the present, the following changes, and request my brethren of the clergy to observe them on all occasions of public worship:

 In the prayer for those in civil authority, for the words ''the President of the United States,' use the words ''the Governor of this State.

 In the prayer for Congress, for the words "the people of the United States in general, and especially for their Senator and Repre- sentatives in Congress assembled" sub stitute the words, "the people of this State in general, and especially for their legisla- ture now in session."

 l also appoint the following prayer to be used during the session of the conven- tion of this State, and during the session of the convention to be composed of such other States as have withdrawn from the late federal Union, and propose to join Louisiana in the formation of separate government.

 l remain very truly your obedient ser want Tn Christ, LEoN;DAs POLK. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the

 Diocese of Louisiana.