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Polk Letters: July 23, 1856
1856, July 23
Bishop Polk, New Orleans, La., to Bishop Elliott, re: a letter he is sending to all the Bishops and Clergy in the Southern Dioceses on the subject of establishing a church which would rival the establishments at Harvard, or Yale, or that of Virginia at Charlottesville, saying that "a movement of some kind is indispensable, to rally and unite us to develop our resources, and demonstrate our power"; asking him to take this into consideration and to let him hear his opinion on the matter. 3 pp. (1 Photostat copy and 1 typed copy). NOTE: This letter is dated July 1, 1856. It is published in pamphlet form in the EARLY PAPERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH in a folder marked: 1856, July 1, Letter from the Bishop of Louisiana to the Southern Bishops. (vertical files.)
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(Letter from Leonidas Polk to Brother Elliott July 23, 1856)
(I3)
New Orleans, July 23, 1856
My dear Elliott: I send you herewith a letter I have taken the liberty to address to you and others of our Brethren in Southern Dioceses, publicly, as a subject which very nearly concerns us all and which I trust will find favor with you. The letter will explain itself. And I am satisfied {underscore}now{underscore closed} is our time. If we unite we can accomplish all we want. We have strength enough in the Church. But for such purposes, and under such auspices, we shall not want help from those who are without. Whatever is done should be done judiciously, but upon the most liberal scale. There is no reason why in such hands, and under such supervision we might not in five years, have a Church University which would rival the establishments at Harvard, or Yale, or that of Virginia at Charlottesville. I am perfectly and increasingly satisfied that nothing short of that will save us as a church, and as a Southern Church in particular. A movement of some kind is indispensable, to rally and unite us to develop our resources, and demonstrate our power. We must rise above mere diocesan considerations and look at the good of the while. The good of the whole too, in this case, is our individual good. Separately we are powerless, and we can gain efficiency only by combination. Take the whole matter, my dear brother, into your serious consideration and let me hear what you think of it.
I regret the number of errors inflicted upon it in its passage through the press. I wrote it on the eve of my departure for a visitation from which I have just returned, and left it to another to read the proofs, and the rascal had the audacity to say he could not read my writing.
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(Letter from Leonidas Polk to Brother Elliott July 23, 1856.)
Please present my kind and respectful regards to your good wife, who I understand we shall have the pleasure of having, with you, under the same roof with us in Oct. at Pha. as guests of our Brother Potter. I shall my two oldest girls with me, and regret the impossibility of taking my wife with me also.
Let me hear from you.
Very truly and aff. yours
Leonidas Polk