22

Urging him to accept to commission of Major General in the Confederate
Army. Everywhere he turned his friends urged him to accept the
appointment. It was a very hard struggle for the Bishop to arrive
at a decision. He wrote : "No man is more deeply impressed with the
importance of our success in this movement nor more filled with {added and struckthrough: more}
apprehension at the prospect of its failure but what my duty may be
I have not yet determined. {Struckthrough: I cannot ignore what I Know.} I cannot
forget {struckthrough: what I have learned nor can I forget} that I have been educated
by the country for its service in certain contingencies." Believing
the cause of the south to be a righteous one, he never for a moment
doubted that to draw the sword in its defencse would be consistent
with his vows to the Church. He felt that duty required him to take
up arms if his services were really{underlined} needed{underlined}. That was the one question on
which he prayed for a direct answer and on which he sought advice. All
the rest lay betwen him and his God. Upon the right or the wrong
of the step{added: ,} as a matter of conscience{added: ,} he never consulted any man.
Bishop {illegible x-ed out} {struckthrough: Murray} {added: Meade} of Va. stated that while he could not approve{underlined} his
action neither could he condemn{underlined} it{underlined}. In a letter to Bishop Elliott
Polk stated "I believe most solemnly that it is for constitutional
liberty{added: ,} which seems to have fled to us for refuge, for our hearth stones
and our altars that we strike. I hope I shall be supported in the work
and have grace to do what seem{struckthrough: ed; added: s} the{underlined} duty{underlined} next{underlined} me{underlined}.

Having decided where his duty lay he communicated his decision
to Mr. Davis stating that he would serve until another{added: ,} better qualified{added: ,}
could be found. His commission as Major-General was issued on June 25,
1861 and he set out to take command of his Department at Memphis.
{added: add bottom of 9b}
Because he expected soon to be relieved of his army duties he resigned
neither his office nor his jurisdiction. He arranged for Bishop{added: s}
Elliott, Otey and Lay to visit his Parishes. He never again