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EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL. FROM THE BISHOP'S ADDRESS. (Pages 37 to 44)
Beloved Brethren: A kind Providence once more permits us to assemble in Council, but amid curcumstances well calculated to lesson our self-dependence and to call for deep searchings of heart. The dark cloud which lowered over the land when we last met together has since burst in all its furym and almost every portion of our Confederacy is filled with war and war's alarms. A crual and unrelenting foe is pressing us on every side; and best blood of our people has been copiously poured out on the altar of our country; and many a home, and many a heart, that lately rejoiced in the living father, husband, brother, and son, now mourns a veteran leader fallen, and our little band misses this day a younger brother from our side. A few weeks since, the public prints annouced the painful intelligence of the death of the venerable and truly excellent Bishop of Virginia, who for more than half a century had faithfully served in the Ministery of Christ. Few men have been more laborious or successful in their work. NOne have been more justly loved and esteemed; nor had the death of any servant of God ever been more feelingly deplored than that of Bishop Meade. As long as his declining powers lasteed his labors were continued, and the last act of his life was to give our sister Diocese of Alabama an overseer every way fitted to superintent the work of God in that important field.
Far different were the dying circumstances of our young soldiers-brother, Weller. His spirit went up on high from the midst of the battle-field; but he was not unprepared for that rude and sudden call. He had gone into the ranks, and had patiently borne the toild and privations of the common soldier, for the purpose of getting nearer to te hearts of his comrades in arms. After distinguishing himslef for uncommon bravery and faithful performances of all his dutied, he was appointed Chaplain of his regiment, with th prospect of much usefulness before him. But the measure of his days was near its end. On the memarable field of Shiloh
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he fell amid the thickest of the fight. Thus passed from amongst us a man in whom were blended te simplicity of the child, the purity and gentleness of woman, the dauntless courage of the soldier, and the unaffected piety of the Christian. May the God of the widow and the fatherless temper this fearful blow to the heart of his aged and doting mother.
From this saddening record I passon to the details of my labors for the past years.
Immediately after the adjournment of out last Convention, I accompanied the Rev. Dr. Savage to the Chapel of the Cross....
On the following Sunday, May 5th, I preached on the Deer Creek in the forenoon to a full congregation, and in the afternoon to a very large number of blacks.
Friday 17th, I baptized at the house of Mrs. Ann Barrow twenty-nine of the children of her slaves--their mistres standing as sponsor for all of them. Would to God that more of their masters and mistresses amongst us would thus prove to the world that they recognise a higher duty to their slaves than that of merely providing for their bodily wants. In the eye of God the relation of master and servant comes next, in its aweful responsibilities, to that of parent and child.
The next day, the 20th (June), I set out to attend the primary Convention of the Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Confederate States, which had been appointed to meet at the Montgomery, Alabama, on the 3rd of July. That Convention, you will remember, was held at the recommendation of two of our older Confederate Bishops for the purpose of considering and arranging our relations to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. It was truly gratifying to see how prompt and full was the answer to this call; and still more with what hearttiness and unanimity out deliberations were conducted. All was done which the occasion demanded, and which our delegated powers would permit us to do. A printed copy of our proceedings is herewith laid upon your table. The only cause for regret on that occasion was the absence of some of the older as wel as younger of the Bishops of our Confederacy-and absence, however, excusably accounted for by the "wars and rumors of wars" that then filled the land.
Wednesday, August 21st, I confirmed, in St. Andrew's Church, Jackson, one person. That person was a mere youth who was in a few hours to set off for the field of war, two of his brothers having preceded him. These three sons were the best offering which your Bishop couls make to the service of his country. To this he has daily added the incense of heartfult supplication for the speedy and successful termination of our present struggle.
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On the following day (Sept. 2d), In compliance with an invitation from the Standing Committee of Alabama, I sent out to perform such official acts in that Diocese as my other obligations would allow. In this work I was laboriously engages until the meeting of our ajourned Convention, in Columbia, South Carolina, on the 16th of October. During the tendays previous to that time I was occupied with the Committee appointed in preparing a Constitution and Canons for the action of the Convention. Of the members composing that Convention, of the wisdom and good feeling which characterised their deliberations, and of the work which they performed, I need not here speak, as their Journal has been widely disseminated and now lies upon your table. The Constitution of our Church in the Confederate States is now laid before you for your consideration and ratification. Whilst I cordially approve its general provisions, and acknowlege its superiority over that by which we have heretofore been guided, I cannot but deeply regret that in giving as name or title to out new organisation, one has not been chosen expressive of out Apostolic and Catholic character in the place of that which seemingly ranks us as one among the many sects of which the last three centuries have been so prolific. If any form or phrase of Chritianity on this Continent deserves the name of Catholic, it is our own Anti-Roman, Anti-Sectarian Branch of Christ's Church.
