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PASTORAL LETTER,
To the Clergy and People in the P. E. Church, of the Diocese of Mississippi :
DEAR BRETHREN : I rejoice to see that our worthy Governor, in view of the present alarming condition of our country, has, by proclamation, appointed the 31st day of the present month as a day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer. In doing this, he has only anticipated, by a few hours, that which, during my recent absence, I had determined to bring to your serious attention, so soon as I should reach my home. And well may we humble ourselves before our Heavenly Father, and ask His counsel, in this trying hour of our national existance ; for never, since the formation of our Federal Compact, has so dark a cloud obscured the prospects of our people. But a few years since, surrounded as we were by the manifold and countless blessings which a gracious God permitted us to enjoy, it might with truth be said, "He hath not dealt so with any nation." Now, through a restless and ruthless spirit of fanaticism, the various sections of our beloved country are arrayed in hostile attitude against each other, and we look around with amazement, as well as sorrow, upon a deranged currency, the destruction of public credit, the depreciation of property, the depression of every kind of business, the suspension of all public enterprizes, the obstruction of trade and commerce, and we see a large portion of our citizens with arms in their hands, demanding a severance of those federal ties which have hitherto bound us together as one people. It would not become me, in this place, to enter into a detail of the causes which have led to this state of general agitation and alarm. But, whilst I forbear to view the present state of our country with a politician's eye, I cannot, as a member of an injured and suffering community, deny that there is good cause both for alarm and complaint, in that portion of our land in which our lot has been cast. In addition to many previous assaults upon our rights, as secured to us by our excellent Constitution, our fellow-citizens of the North and West have recently, by their suffrages, inaugurated a policy which, though in conformity with the forms of the Constitution, is supposed by many to endanger our lives and our liberties, as well as our property, and to threaten us with all the horrors of civil war. In view of these past acts of unjust interference with our domestic and social institutions, and the prospect of further injury and insult, the spirit of our Southern people is rising like the spirit of one man, to proclaim the utter futility of all further argument, or compromise, or attempts at conciliation, and to resolve that self-preservation, no less than patriotism and honor, demands a prompt and decisive remedy for these existing evils. Whether that remedy is to be found in a full and hearty concession of our just demands on the part of our aggressors, or in the establishment among us of a separate, independent, national government, it is for our fellow-citizens, through their constituted Representatives, soon to decide. And Oh ! how momentous a decision will that be ! Who can foretell the good or evil which it may entail upon us ? What Christian or patriot but looks with painful anxiety to the result ? The dismemberment of a great nation is a thing that cannot be regarded but in the most serious light. I will not, therefore, withhold, on this occasion, the expression of my hearty desire that an overruling Providence may yet, in its wisdom and goodness, devise the means of keeping us a united people. My fears, however, I must confess, prevail over my hopes. The restless, insubordinate, and overbearing spirit of Puritanism, still raging in our public councils, as well as among a large portion of our people, furnishes excuse, if it does not fully justify our fellow-citizens in pronouncing, with almost one voice, that our differences are irreconcilable. May He who can turn the hearts of men as he turns the rivers in their course, so overrule the wills and affections of all parties, as may be best for our good and His glory.
And now, beloved Brethren, what, in these present trying circumstances, does it become us, as men, as patriots and as Christians, to do ? Most wisely and commendably has our Executive thought fit to request the citizens of our Commonwealth to approach the coming issue with prayer and fasting, and in a spirit of humiliation, on account of our national and individual sins. Can any true patriot, or professed servant of God fail to approve and comply with this call ? Will any Minister of our holy religion refrain, on that day, from gathering together {illegible due to hole in manuscript} and invoking them to unite their common supplications to Almighty God, that He will take from the several sections of our country the spirit of fanaticism and aggression on the one part, and of rashness and revenge on the other, that peace and brotherly love may evermore prevail throughout our borders ; that the voice of party strife may give way to a thoughtful and calm consideration of the difficulties which surround us, and of the work that is before us ; and that a spirit of wisdom and moderation may characterize the counsels of the approaching Representative Convention of our citizens.
In compliance, therefore with the Executive will, as well as under a sense of duty to a still higher power, I now request both the Clergy and Laity of my Diocese to observe the above named day in the manner pointed out in the proclamation, and in such other private devotions as may be most likely to draw down upon use the blessing of the God of all nations and the giver of all good.
In addition to the usual services of such occasions, I recommend the use of the following prayer, on that day and during the session of the Convention. Your loving Pastor under Christ,
Jackson, December 17th, 1860. W. M. GREEN.
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Prayer.
ALMIGHTY GOD, The Ruler and Governor of all the nations upon the earth, look, we beseech Thee, in Thy wonted compassion, upon Thy servants, who now humbly bow before Thy Throne. We acknowledge Thee as the Author and Giver of all the good we enjoy. We feel our entire dependence upon Thee. We confess our unworthiness of the least of Thy mercies. And we humbly thank Thee for the manifold blessings which, as a people, we have heretofore received at Thy hand.
Continue, we entreat Thee, to look upon us in mercy. Forgive our national sins. Make us truly penitent on account of them, for they are many and great. Pardon also the offences which we have committed against each other, as well as against Thee. Restore a spirit of unity and brotherly love among our people. Repress in every heart the feeling of injustice and oppression, of recrimination and revenge. Give Thy guidance and blessing to the Governor of our Commonwealth, and to all in authority under him. Endue our citizens with a love of law and order, and of enlightened liberty, and reward their honest labors with the bounties of Thy kind Providence. And we especially implore Thy blessing, Oh, Heavenly Father, upon their Representatives, soon in Convention to be assembled.* Do Thou, in Thy goodness and wisdom, preside over their deliberations. Give them the Spirit of counsel and understanding. Let nothing be done by them but what is acceptable in Thy sight. And do thou overrule all their doings to the good of Thy people and the glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ or Lord. AMEN.
* During the session of the Convention, in place of the words "soon in Convention to be assembled," say, "now in Convention assembled."