The conventions and general councils of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America

DEPARTMENT OF STATE BEN W. FORTSBN, JR. SECRETARY OF STATE ATLANTA 3, OEORQIA

ConfedeBate States of America Churches, J^iscopal. History
"The Conventions and General Councils of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the

Reel No. 327 Positive' filed in

Confederate States of America." 9pp. Typewritten with bibliography

Date unknown, author not given.

In-possession of: St. Paul's I^jiseopal Church Augusta, Ga.

Date microfilmed: Feb. 9, i960

MICROFILMED BYI HCACE _ MEWBORN_

Georgia Department OF Microfilm Division 1516 Peachtree ST,, HE Atlanta 9, Georgia.

Archlvea

and History

IHC CONV!jTIOMS ANU QhNSSAL OOUNCHiS OF THE PHOTESTANI EPISCOPAL CHUHCH IN THE CONFERERATS STATES OF AMEKXCA
Tlw hori-'livad IIT* of th* Im atatM that saoedsd froa the United Statea aaa not without aountarpart in the Chureh, Zhla ana tha diocese whlob oonpoaed the Protestant ^piaaopal Chureh in the Confererata Stataa of Aaariea. Tha two branshaa^ (Starch and Statdf are aeparate and yet in thia caaaaioa^ thayare ao cloaaly ralatad. Iha (Starch in both tha North and South reaaiaad froa of plolitleal antangleaant. tat whan tha atatoa of tha South began their seoeaalon (South (Sirolina being tha first oa Doeanbor 20f 1S60)( the problen of reaainlng loyal to the Episcopal Church la tha (Jtsltod Stataa arosa. This began to be of great conoam for soaa of the Southern Hishops*
It was Bishop Leonidas Polk who first aade the bots toward a uaitad and Indepand* ent Churoh in the Donfedarata States. At tha tlsM of hla declaration of latentloaf ha was the Bishop of Louisiana, la bis pastoral latter to his dloeasa on January 30, 1861, ha stated, *Our separation froa our brethren of the Protestant i^lsoopal Churoh la tha Uhitad States has baaa affeetad baoauaa we oust follow nationality. Hot beeausa them has bean any difference of opialea as to Christian doctrine or Catholic usage. Upon thasa points wa are still one. With us tl is separation, not dlTisloa, certainly not alienation. And there is no raaaca idiy, if we ebould find tha union of our dloeaaas under one National Church impracticable wa should cease to feel for each other tha respect and regard with which purity of Banners, high principle, and nanly darotlon to truth, narar fall to inspire genoroua Binds." It was the Bishop's contention that tha separation had coae fron the outside and not froa the inside. A phrase which wtlaasau,sedsaipnarhatiasdp, ansotot rdallTlldeatdte*r. becaas a watchword for tha state of tha Chureh at that
Bishop Polk of Louisiana and Bishop Stephan Elliott of (Jsorgia, tha senior aeabars of the episcopate among the Southen dloaasas, net in the Spring of 1861 at tha Unirarslty of the South and composed a latter to be sent to all the bishops of the Southam dloaasas and to the Standing Claalttaa of the Vloeess of Alabama whlah had bean without a bishop since January of that yaar. In tha latter, they rseowaadad a proposal be made to the Diocesan (k>BTantioa of each diocese to sand three clsrleal and Uiraa lay deputies to a aseting in Hoatgoasry the following July 3rd, for tha purpose of conferring with other delegates froa the Southern dioceses on tha state of the Church. This began the formation of the Protestant f^lscopal Chureh In the confederate Statea of America.
THE dONIOOMEXI KEEIINO, JULI 3-6, 1861 In response, on July 3, 1861, the Bishops of Caorgla, Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina were present along with fourteen clargyaan and lAraa layaan ropreaantlng the dioceses of South Carollaa, Qsorgla, Florida, Mississippi, Alahaws, and Louisiana.Bishopa, clergy and layaaa sat together in one dallbartiTS bo4y. Bishop Elliott was chosen to praalda orer the aseting after haring baaa noalnatad by Bishop Rutlsdgs. *010 proeaadiaga ware brief, sensible and aaikad by parfeet haraony and good feeling. It was in tha nature of a conference, all orders sitting togethsr and dlseuasing frealy tha few topics introduced." (l) On the notion of Bishop Qraan of Mississippi, who had bean appointed ahainaa of tha eoNaittaa to propose business, it was rasolrad, "tbat tha sacasslca of tha states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carollaa, Caorgla, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Issas, Arkansas, and Tanaassae, fm tha United States, and the foimatlon by thaa of a asw goramaant, called tha C^adarata Stataa of Aaerlea, renders it nacessaxy and espadlant that the Dioegggg within thasa states should fox* aadag thansalras an independent organisation." Iha ooaalttaa also racoaaandad to tha conrantlen that it not consider a pamanent organisation of tha Church uhtll tha Suwiar of 1862, but that all aation taken at tha noaant be only in regard to tha foral^ and doaastlc alsslonaxy work of tha Church in tha Southern statas.

It thla tlM, th Bst. Dr. A. P. Bunanl urged that a conatitutlon be drawn up for the Chursh in the Confederaey whleh would not be too different froB that of the Conatltutioa of the Church In the United Statea, *It wae reaolred finally that a coaalttea of three blshopa, three preabytera, and three layman be appointed to prepare and report to an adjenmed aaetlng of a conatitutlon and a body of canonaj under whiah aueh an orfanlnatien night be affected, and that tho aoelealaatlcal authorltlea af all the dlooeaes within the Confederate Stataa, not at preaent repreaentad, be Inrltad to taka atopa toward partialpatlon. Blahopa dlllott, Qreen, and iiutladgo} Dr. Barnard, the Bar. Paul Irapler, and the Rev. Henry NUaa Plereai the Hon. R. P. W. AUaton, Mr, A, W. SUerbe, and the Hon, Qeorga S. Oulon ware appointed aa the conmlttae." (2)

The new Church which waa In the prooaaa of forming itaelf waa a alaalonaty minded

Choreh, from the

It waa conaeloua of Ita duty to thoae who were without the

doapel, Conaaquently, Nr. Jacob K. Saaa and Hr, Henry Traecott, both of Charlaaton,

ware appointed treaauran reapaotlTely for foreign and domeetlc mlaalona and ware glren

the authority to aend remuneratlona to miaalenarloa aa they ware allocated by the

blahopa. It waa alao agreed that the work of Blahopa ly and Qregg In the Southwaat

and Texaa be aupported by the Southern dloeaaaa.

Ihe meeting at Montgomery than aeooq^llahadi a draft of the conatitutlon and oanonai a prorlalon waa made for the collection of mlaalonary funda to bo uaed In the South and Southwaat for Blahopa Cay and Oragg raapectlrely} and It waa r aaolrad, on the motion of Blahop Green, that alnca the atatea had formod an Independent atata, tho Church In theaa atatea ahould alao form an organliatlon Independent of the ^huroh In the United Stataa.

Before adjourning, it waa prorlded that aaetlng be held In Columbia, South Carolina, Cotober 16, l86l. After a brief meeting of three daya, the prollmlnapy meeting adjoumod.

It waa the opinion of aoma of the Northern Clergy that the prooeodlmga at the Hontgoaary Convention brought no actual change In the Cnruoh. Many felt that the effort of the alx Southern blahopa to make a change waa not affected for It waa not In their power "to change, nor to annul her lawa, nor nullify the obligation of their pronlaaa". (3$

THB CODIMBU HEI1N0, OCIUBGR 16-2U, l86l

Xhla oonTantlon In Columbia wae an adjourned meeting of the one In Hoatgomazy, AlabaHt. Qy thla time all the dloeaaaa In the South participated In tho prooaedlnga. At the roll call tan blahopa anawered. Ihagr warai Meade, Otay, RUiott, Jobna, Green, Rutladgo, Darla, Atklnaon, Qregg, and Cgy, Clerical and lay daputloa from aaren atatea wore alao preaent. Aa had been dona at Hontgoneiy, the blahopa, clarloal and lay daputlaa aat together with Blahop Maada aa the preaidant alnca ha waa tho aanlor blahop In the South,

The

bualneaa of thla aaetlng uaa the adoption of a Conatltutioa for the

SouthezB Chureh. The adoption of canona waa put off to another meeting of the dlocaaoa.

On the aocond day. Bishop Elliott proaantod a draft of the conatitutlon to the aaaembly)

and on the alrth day It waa adopted, ^hajia qq notable changea la the conatitutlon

oasapt fori (a) Ganaral or Dlooeaaa Conrantloa waa changed to the Oamaral or Dlooeaan

Council and (b) the name of the Church waa changed from the Proteataat Bplaoopnl Church

la the United Statea to tha Protectant i^lacopal Church In the Confederate Statea of

Amarlea. Ibaro waa also tha introdcatlan of the Prorlnelal Sjntom which waa tha moat

important eteaga In the Confederate Conatitutlon. Thla ayatam provided for two dlooeaes

existing In tha sam state to unite and fom a province if they oheae to do so. Since

thla addition to tha Conatitutlon, It has alao bean tha procedure for the Constitution

of the Church In the United States,

Hm CoasttlMlon also raduoad tha ambar of praabytara and ialf>aupportlaf parlahas raquirad to font a dlooaaa. Ihla mb naeaaaary action dua bo tha ralatiwaljr Xaa aaabara in tha South. Tha atrangth of tha Chuiah laid in tha North. The HouM at BlAopa and tha Houm at Daputlaa vara alao put on tha aaaa laual in aattaiv of lagialatiaa. *ZhM with ratf inoonaidarablo altaxatiaMf tha Conatitution reaainad aa It had baan bafora. Thera appeared to be no eager daaira for change or for aaphaalalag tha fact of aaparatioa. Nothing Ma attavptad in tha way of lagialatlon at thia tiM. It Ma fait that, aatil tha Conatitution had been ratified and adopted by the Oiaaaaaa, there oould be aa proper baaia for aanonieal aatiaai and so tha whole body of Caaoaa, prepared and reported along with the Conatitutioa to tha Conrantion of Oatobar, 1861, was ordarad ta be printed and waa refarrad ta the first Qaneral Council to bs held under tha Coaatitution whan adopted.* (U)

Curiag tha discussion pertaining ta tha nuM of tha Church in tha Coafadaracy there waa a disirs on the part of tha bishaps of Tannassaa, Miaaissippi, and North Carolina, and the dioossss of Tannassea and Florida, the lay rota of the latter being diTidad, that tha naaa *Protastant f^iseopal* be discarded in favor of the nana *Bafomad Catholic*. There was alao an andsavor to strike out the word "Protestant* and which was supported alone by Bishops Otay and Qraan, along with the diooase of Tennassea, the clerical rsprasantation from Plorlda and tha lay dalagablon frtm ilabaaa. This attanpt was loot with an ovsrwhalning najorlty.

IssioTnhaaiyrepeoffrot rotfotfhethecoCnmhulrtcthsamapspgoiivnetendfuartthHeorntgsuomppsoiyrtfoanrdthreeqcuaersrtyedingthaouHt aosfanth.a Sass and Trascott to continue as tiwasurars of hone and foreign nisslona, appropriating aonay according to tha rate of appropriation which had been set for that year by tha Protestant Episcopal Church in tha United Statea.

Of particular note in this oaeting is the Church's expressed conosra for the wU.fara of tha Negro race. In a motion bgr tha Bav. Rlohard H. UUmar it was rasolTad "that tha Conrantion, in view of tha present elrouastances of tha oountry, raaeniaa with peculiar solannity the duty of tha Church toMrds tha people of the ifrlsan rsM within our borders, and earnestly urge vqmn the olnistiy and laynsn of the Church inoraasad effort for the spiritual iaprovanont of this people.*

At tha dMth of hishpp Cobbs, tha dloaese of Alabana was without a diocesan. Appllsatlon MS nada bo the convention as to its advice concamlng the alsetlon of a aan to tha episcopate of tha diocese. A eoMlttee of three. Bishop HmAs, Bishop Otay. and Bishop ^oltt, was appointed to consider the request. It suggested that the Diocaaa of AlabaM prooaad in tha usual wannsr of sleeting a bishop and the the results should bs approved by the standing coMittees and bishops of the Church in tha ConfedO erats States. After the necessary eonfiTMtien and approval of the alastloa, it was assuaad that the presiding bishop would be tha consaorator.

As it happensd, the diocese of AlabaM Mt and sleeted tha Bar. Rishard Hooker Wllaer as its dlocsMn. Ha ms conseerated at St. Haul's Church, BiehMsd, Harsh 6, 1861. by Bishops Heads, Johns, and Elliott.

Before the convention adjourned, tha Bev. Blchard H. UUaer proposed and it was rssolved, "that this convention reeoaasnd to the sederal dioceses within ths Uonfsdarate States, until aore psmansnt action can be taken, the provisional adopties of tha body of canons known as the "Canons of tbs Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of AMrlea*, so far as they are not in conflict with tha polltlaal relations of the Confederate States, and do not Interfere with ths necessities of our condition."

"Having thus prepared a constitution for ths Confederate

dioceses, ths con-

vention ordered copies sent to ths dioceses for their ratification. Viihaa sovaw or

aore had ratified it, the organisation of the Church and ths union at tbs ooasantlng

dloeanes, would be considered ooq>lste. As Bishop Cheshire Mid, 'this saeond gener-

al asetl^ of thsChureh in the Confederate States adjourned, having done its work dil-

igently, faithfully, and wall. So afr as can be jud^ by the record, and so far as

tradition has testified of their words and of their spirit it is hard to find a bleaish

In tba work o thoM pntlsnt and godly an*'* (5) la a tmi aontha aftor Bishop WUasr's soasodration ( Marsh 6, 1S62)( tha Constl-
tutloa of tha Church In tha Confadarata Stataa was adopted by tha dloossss of Vlrglnlay North Carolina, South Carolina, Caorata, Alabaaa, Nlsalsslppl, and Zaaas. Batlfleatiaa Sana froa Arkansas In Horaabar I8w and from florlda In Daeaabar 1863. 7ha dloaosa of Loulalana and Tannassaa wars aairar abla to baooas full aaabara of the Churoh In tha Confadarata Stataa bacausa tholr stataa ware oecuplsd by /adaral raraaa. Ihey had boon unable to hold any dloessan eoBToatlons due to this. Isnaasaoa eontlnusd to roeognino tha Bplacopal Churoh In tha United States, however, whan Its Standing Coamittaa gava Ita canonical asaaah to tha eoaaaeratlon of tha Her. Ihonas Hubbard Vail to be tha Bishop of Kansas on October 3, 186t(.
Its FIBSr OliMKSAL COUNCIL, HOVlMBfB 12-2U, 1362 On Saptasbar 19, 1862, Bishop SUdott daelarad that tha Constitution of tbs Confadarate Church had baan ratified by seven dloeasasi Virginia, North UaroUaa, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabana, Nlaslsalppl, and laxas. Sines the dloeases of Ua^ Otay and Bishop Polk had boon unabls to ratify the Constitution, It fhll to Bishop BUlott, as tha senior Bishop, to call a Gsnaral Council at St. Paul's Cbumh, Augusta, Osorgla, on tha second Wadnosday la Hovanbar, 1862. (Bishop Heads, the pravlous aan> lor Bishop had died earlier that yaar), Blshgpa Elliott, Johns, Bavin, Atldasoa, lay, WUnar, and Groan wore present with deputlss from seven dlooasas. Ihls was tha only General Couaell whieh ast during the short life of the Confederate Church. Hxieh of Its tins was taken 19 with tha anaetnent of a Body of canons for the routine govamnent and adalnlstiatlon of the Church. At this Bsetlng the Bishops and deputies did not sit as one house as in tha previous aaatings but sat according to their respective houses. The Bavl Br. Uanekal was unanlnously elected president of the House of Deputies and Bishop Elliott presided over tha House of Bishops. tbs address which the Kev. Dr. Hanckal gava to tha House of Oaputlas aftar ha took tha Chair Is Indicative of the spirit whlah prevailed anong the Churehaan In tha South. It is fins in Its emphasis that a new Church was not being fonMd. tha aaln part of his spaaeh Is as follows! *Va have entered, brethren, upon a very important and Interesting stage In the olstoiy of our Church on this continent. We are a bout, not to dataeh ourselves fron tha Chiuuh Catholic, byt to put forth a new bud from tha parent stock. Indeed, by our proceeding thus far, we have already davelopad ths elaneats of a full, perfect and conpleta branch, which I trust, ncy grow and spread till it cover tha whole land, and reach, and bless, by Its precious Influences, ths roaotost parts of esir Confederate States. We ala at no change In tha faith, and polity of the Church Catholic) nor even In the worship and discipline of our beloved Chnreh, ancapt what our paeuldAr condition nay rafulra. And herein, we are doing no aero than our forefathers did, whan they orgalntad our Chureh In the old United States. We are only elalaing and eacarslng the privilege which they claiaed and exercised.* (6) It was this saas spirit which pervaded the entire actions of the council. It was the spirit of complete Christian charity toward tha "aothar" Church In tha United States. The Oensral Convantioa of tha ^uiuh la tha Ualtad Stataa ast in Oetober lB6t. Bstwaan that tlae and tha opening of tha Gansral Council In Augusta, thsra was held what was sailed "The Primary Convantioa of Aikansas". There were twelve organised parishes thsra at that time, /our elergywen and laynsn froa five parishes oenvensd In Little Hook on Noveaber 1, 1862, and on tha thli4 day, they resolved to fom theaaalvaa into a diocese. Offloars were olaeted for ths forthcoalng General Cewssll and BUiiep Lay was unanlaotisly chosen as their diocesan, Mian they arrived at tha Gsnaml Coensll, than was little dellberctlM. Arkansas was adaittad as a dleeess In ths Cenfaderata Church) the elsotlon of Bishop Lay as tha diocesan was confltwed) and

5"

tha dalagatas froa that dloeaaa war* Mata4.

laau at thla tlaa waa not rapraaanta4 for It ma out off b/ tha hoatlla oaaupatlon of tha Hiaalaalppl Rlyar. Tharo vara, all told, alght blahopa and thxa hondrad and aarantj^flTa olarg/ In union with tha Cbureh In tha Confadaraay and thaaa blahopa and aarantgr^^thraa elargjman ahoae dlooaaaa had baan rapraaantad In tha prarlona aonrantion but vara prarantad b7 tha piograaa of tha var froa ratifying tha Conatltutloa.

Tha first Oanaral Counell of tha Cburdh saa a abort bpt laborious ona. In that parlod, it eonsidarad and adoptad an antlra ooda of Canons irtileh mads fas aodlfloatlons<

Of

Tha noat important ohange vhioh would haua baan aada in tha tha baa of tha Pruyar Book,* Thla aanon had been prardously

oanona was adoptad by

tha tha

onai Oanaral

Coorantion la 1832 and had reaalnad in affeot until tha Oanaral Coarantloa daeidad on a

rwTlsioa in 1901*. Undar tha notion of tha Oanaral Counoil in 1862, tha aanon waa brought

to allow graatar yariaty in tha usa of tha serrioaa of tha Prayar Book in aaah dloeoao

whlah would authorlsa tha aano "by nota of a aajority of both elargy and laity* Thla

aanon also allowad tha blahopa of tha saraial diooasea, ragognialng thalr authority,

to prorlda suoh sarrloaaas, in thair Judgaaant, shall bo raqulrad by tha spiritual naeassitias of any olass or portion of tha population* of tha doleasa* This proTsd to ba

a distinot laproTenant on tha old canon wbieh, in affoet, didn't proTlds for any of thaaa th<ngp aantlonad. But, the coaaittaa on oanona in tha Housa of Daputias and that coa-

alttao in tha Houaa of Bishops didn't report it. Tha whola aubjaot of tha usa of tha

Book of CoBBon Prayar waa onittad froa the canons and tha Prayar Book, as tha Church'a 1w and standard of worship, was laft to rest upon tha constitutional proTision that this

book should be used in those dioceses which should adopt the Constitution* (7)

la turing to tha more practical woric of the Council it oust be noted how well it addressed ItseK to the daraanda of the situation ersn in the midst of the most fateful war of Bodam times. *It is to ba notad first of allp that tha Church in tbs Confederate States did not make its slander resouSwaa, and the oTarwhalalng urgaaay of Ita doaostlo duties, a plea, for contracting its sy^aithlss or narrowing the bounds of its spiritual horlson) nor did it desora to Halt its work within its own dlalnlshing tarrltdry. There is soasthlng truly pathetic, as well as brars and nobla, in the way in which it ralnly triad to claim its part in tha work of tha Master in tha distant flkld of Porelgn Missions, from which in the language of the Pastoral i<attar, 'the policy of nan had shut' it off. To the report of the Coaaittaa on the Stats of the Church ware ^pended tha following rssolutions, which tha Housa of Daputias adopted, as setting forth Iha position of tha Church)

1. tesolTsd, That the Church in this its first Oanaral Uwsawkf Counell, would iweognlsa before the Church unireraal and tha world a dlTina obligation to sn-
gaja In MlsslonaiT laior coaxtanslTa with tha Halts of tallsn huannity.* 2. BssolTsd, That this Church daslrad spaolally to recognise its obligation to
proTida for the spiritual wants of that class of our brethren who in the proridenea of Ood hare baancoaittad to our synpathy and oars in the national Institution of slarery.*

3. Basolwed, That whilst at all tines a darout recognition of our dependsnos on tha spirit of all grace is proper, this first Council of the Church is a n^ fitting tins and place to aaks spaclal and pidille asknowledgaaant of the sanai to ancouraga among our aanbera the cherishing in inersassd dagrae of an habitual sansa of His prassnea and powari and huably and aamsstly to eonaitt to His presldlag inflnsnee tha being, the doings, and the whola future history of this Church, to tha and of tbs world.* (8)

Tha nan who had baan appointed treaanrsrs for Doasstlo and foreign Misaians in July, 1861, aada thair reports, Mr. Heniy Trescott, treasurer for Foreign Nissleas reported that funds had bean racaiTsd and dlsburssd to Bishop Payne la Africa, Bishop Boone in China, and tbs Rst. Hr. in Athens, da also stated that tha bloakada waa cutting off all Southern trade and there was beginaliig to ba difficulty la sanding Bonsy, ate. Hr. J. K. Saas the treasurer of Donastls Missions reported that saraxal thousand dollars

(6)

had baan raaalrad and dlabursad to tba voik of Bdabop Qragg and Bishop Lagr In tbs boas aisslon arsas.

Iha Osnaral CounoU took action In rsgard to tba Prayar Book, dlraetlng that ahara-

Tar tbs word *Dnited*

It to

wOaasnaadrdaaldCtohuantctilb^a.

appaared It IsglslatlTs

bshoodyuldofbtsbasuCpphularcnhtsdbsbjorhtabngsowd ofrrdoa*CoOnsfnaadrsaillatCao*n..raAnltsloon"

Tbs Council also anaotad that a Dsolaratlon of Its iiatlflcatlon

(Prajrar Bood) and Adoption bjr tbs Qsnaiml Council of NoTeabar, 1862, should bs prsfizsd.

Iha Commlttsa on tbs atata of tbs Church suggestsd that a Pastoral Wttar bs prsparddi and in tbs Houss of Bishops, Oaorgla, gtsrtdx Virginia and North Carolina wars appolntad for the sans. Dr. John Pulton has to sayi "Ths Pastoral Lattar of ths ^ouss of Bishops at ths Council in Augusta will nsrsr csase to bs precious to ths Church of Cod. It Is ths noblest epitaph of ths dsad, and, if they needed suoh, it Is ths noblsst Tlndleatlon of tha living, that their dsarest friends could wish." (9)

This Latter was a cclainsd by tha nagasinas of the South as well as tha North. In

it, men rsaliied that the men who conpossd ths Southern Dioosses wars honest in thslr

actions toward founding a "bud^ of tha ^^ly Catholic Church in tha Unltsd Statss. In

quoting ing all

tthhaatsltarisftepwarhaigchraaphzlsotfsdthbsetlwaetteenrthoanetwcaonspecatricoenlvseotfhatheChcroiustnitarny.ohaArnldtynopwervitad-

only rsaains for us to bid you, one and allj an affectionats farswall....,.May Cod's

gracious Providancs guide you in safety to your hones, and praservs then from tha desola-

tions of war. And should wa not be pamlttad to battle together aqy sore for Christ In

the Church Militant, may we be desmsd worthy to be members of the Churdh Trluiq>hant, where

with prophets, apostles, inion and paalss, to Him

mthaarttysrlst,testahinutspoanndtheagTgherlosn, ew, eanmdaytoastchrisbeLamhobn, ofroraenvdegr!lory,UOdo)m-

It beaane apparent that tha cause of the South was doomed. Large areas of tha South were being seised by Federal troops and comunlcatlons were cut off. Arkansas was able to have one council after Its adnisalon as a diocese in tha ^onfadarata Church and Bishop Lay acted as a suparvlsoiy chaplain, going from place to place. Bishop Otey had died on April 23, 1863, and Bishop Polk was killed at the ^attle of Pine Mountain on Juna lU, l86li.

Tha last session of ths Confsrarata Congress continued from Novanbar 7, I861t, toWarch 18, 1865. Disastrous reports were being rsaelved and many were beginning to advocate reunion with the Unltsd States. Tha South was losing heart in Its causa due to the defeats on tha battlafiald. Tba struggle andad in ths Spring of 186$. Tha govammant as wall as tha Church anargad from the war a total wrack. It had saerlflead everything In Its power to aalntaln Its causa.

Shortly after tha and of tha war, peace ovarturas began to be sada by ths North. BlMiop Hopkins of Vsmont, the senior bishop of tha Northern church, took It on hinsalf to cogqwsa a latter which was sent to all tha Southern Bishops Invltlag than to tha QanattharaaanltlfoClfoandtvheatnotiochnoisrodwfiwatnlhawasCflcfhaouonrsct*lhonwawahtiaacihtainwttgaascthhtnoaenbnaat^thtteohldahfIionsrtPShohculoltnahdlenragnlpbOhrlaeant.ahrraeIlnnCatohnndivseanlaatsiuottrnaa.dr ha

Without waiting for official action on the past of tha Confadarata Church, ths

diocaaa of Texas adopted resolutions, resolving that 'ths Constitution of tha Pictast-

ant l^lscopal Church In tha United States of Aaarlca Is hereby acceded to ant racognlsad

and Its authority atknowladged, and that tha nsoessary verbal changes In tba Constitution

Canons, rules and orders of this Diooase be made to conform in tbs Constitution, Canons,

rules and orders of this Dlooasa be nada to oonfom thereto and prlntat aoeordingly under

Uia dlrsetlon of tha Saoratary, by stibstltuting tha word 'Convention' ant 'Ihitod States'

for 'Cownsil* and 'Confetarats States'| ant that deputies, olarlaal, ant lay, ba alact-

at to the Osnaral Convention of ths Aasrlsa, to ba held In October next

P(1ro8t6e5s)t,a'nt

l^lscopal (11)

Church

in

tbs

Unltat

States

of

an

7'

It ma/aeoaptd faet that tha aapaiatlen ot tha Chureh woald ba uaarlaa and inax-

padiaat oadar tha axlatlng elTowatantaa. Blahop Lay of Arkanaatf and Btahop Atldnaon

of lerth Carolina bagan to eonaldar tha poaalblllty of attanding tha Qanaxal Conran-

tioa la miadalphia. Thay eonanltad Bishop niiott who in turn Inrltad tha Southam

Blshopa to Augusta, Qaorgia, to oonfar on tha stata of affairs nithla ths Church. Tha

fast that ha farorad raunlon la supportad by tha stataaant ha aada at tha third an-

nual eouneU of tha Dloeasa of Caorgla at baanual Church In Athana, Qaorgia, August 10,

186$, to tho offset that as soon as tha olTll goramaant bs rasborod, thara should ra-

aaln ao political or oanonleal bindxnaea to reunion with the other dlooesas. *Tha

Oloeosa, ha continued, aust raasabar that aha aust aet 'not only for hersalf, but also

for her sister dioceses with whoa sha was for a tlaa united. She owes it to har own

eharaetar place any

and dignity to keap faith with thaa, of thaa in a worse condition than it

and aay

ptolacaerrahnegresealfr.ou'alon(1w2)hleh

will

not

At this aastlng ha eallad to wind that ha did not dlsapprowa of the action of tho Oloosse of leaks by laaadiataly reantexing tha Church in the Onitod StatM, but the way in whleh it was dona. He stated that ths aantlonsd dloeasa had forgotten that It had aotad in a eartain way with other dlooesas whleh naadad eonflmatlon and raeognltlon and which should not bs left to others without sattlaasnt in ths act of reunion. Ha spselfleally pointed ask to tha eonssoratlon of Bishop WUnsr, ths adwisslon of Arkansas as a dloeasa, and the election of Bishop Lay as diocesan for Arkansas.

At the Oensral ConTsntlon in Philadelphia, October 2-2lt, 186$, Blshopa Atkinson, and Lay were rscalTed with cordiality by that groiQ> of Bishops and deputies asseablsd. At tha beginning of the sessions. It was apparent tha tha actions of ths Church in ths South would bs accapted by the Church In tha United States. The actions whleh ware aceaptad wares the eonseention of Bishop Hllner as diocesan of Alabasa, ths adnlsslon of Arkansas as a dloeasa, and the slsction of Bishop Lay as tbs diocesan of toafsuthuax Areruknainosnaso. f WthisthCthhuarcrhoaind tehlsaaiHeodr,ththanedrelowuatshn.owOnnoa wobeasktaacfletetrothsteanndpsInnintshssews-ay sion of ths Osnsral Conrention in Phlladalphla (October 9, 186$), Bishop Blllott gaTO notice of tha Second Osnsral Council of tha Church In the Confadarats States to nest at St. Paul's Church, Augusta, Oeorgla, at the tins appointed by ths praeaading Council.

THH SBCOND (SNEBAL COUHCIL, NOVfMBEB 8, 186$

On Boraabar 8, 186$, tha second and last Oanaral Council of tha Confadarats Church assawblad. Tha Bishops of Qsorgla, Virginia, Mississippi, and AlabaM, ware present along with clerical and lay daputlas froa Virginia, Qaorgia, Alabaaa, South Carolina, and ona clerical deputy from Mississippi. Virginia was the only dloeasa that had a full dalagatlon. Ths Dloeasa of floiida had no reprsssntatlTS. In all, thara ware alghtasa daputlas at tha Council.

Bish^ Ullott prssldad orsr ths House of Bishops | tha Bar. C. 0. Pleknsy was alsctad as president of tha House of Dsputlsa.

Both Houses of ths Council Joined In a protest against tha action of tha Padarul

troops in ths closing of ths ohurchas la Alabaaa whleh had bean dons under tha order of

Major-Qtasral Qoorga koniy Thonas. Tha final action of ths Council was that the roasoa

for whish tha Church had bean eraatsd bad eoasad to exist. *ln ths praaebls by whleh

ths Council Tirtually dlssolwsd itself, it was declared that tha sersral dloasssa had

basn IJb^Uad by political arants to s aparats in a Isglslatlrs capacity from tbs Prot-

estant Episcopal Church In ths Italtsd States of Anariea, and had dscldsd 'upon grounds

sanetlenad by Holy Scripture and prlnitlTS antiquity' to unite andsdopt for their bat-

teart

goTsmnant in Qaosral

and eora Council)

conranlant astlm a that 'this Church,

conMltutlon and cods of enoas, and so organised, although arising outof

had poli-

tical srants was from that tlaa a duly organiasd branch of ths One Catholic and Apos-

-8toUs ChuTBbf and aa/ of rlg^t ao eoatlana to bt) or aay, through tha aatloa of ita aaraiml dlocaaan eounoUa, form angr othar agrnodieal aaaoolatlona.'* (13)
It aa furthar atatad that tha warn a ttltuda with which tha dalagataa of tha Southam Church had bean raealvad in fhlladalphla, coanandad Itaalf to tha haarta of tha Couaail in Auguata.
Iha raaiUjr algnlfloant and ijq>ortant action takan waa containad in Kaaolutlona I and T of a aarlaa of praaablaa ud laaolutlona adopted Jointly by tha Blahopa and Daputloa. Theaa resolutlona wore aa foUowai
"Veaolwad, 1. That In tha Judgeoant of the CounoU It Is perfectly conslatent with the good faith which whe owea to the Bishops and Uoceses with which she has been in union since 1862, for any Dlocaaa to decide for herself whether she shall any longer be in union with this Council.*
T. That whanowar any dioeese shall dotaraina to withdraw froa this Icalaslaatical Confederation, such withdrawal shall be consldared aa duly aeoo^pllshod when an offielal notice, signed by the bishop and seorstary of such dloeesa, shall haws been glTon to the Bishops of the diooesss rsaaining in connection with this Council.* (lit)
Along with these two iaportant rasklutlons, there were three alnor ones pertaining to the ianedlate life of tha Church. They proridad fori the aubetltutlon of the word *unltad* for the word* Confaderata* wharorar it occurad in the standards of the Church) the foregoing resolution should hare the force of law if At be approred by the diocesan because the change could not be legally completed until the meeting of the next Council) and finally that tha dioceses which remain in tha Confederate Church must remain loyal to the Constitution and Canons of said Church u^til the tine they choose to withdraw into the Church in the United States.
With the passage of these rasolutlons, tha dlooesaa of tha South withdraw from the Connell and reunited thamselTes with the Church in the United States.
The minutes of the Second Uenaral Council were not published. The Confederate Church had achlaTed its and and kept faith under stress and stsain. Its work was done. Political and sectional anlnssltiea lingered on to a greater or less extent for quite a few years) but in the Church, guided by the Spirit of Christian Charity, the principle of brotherhood preralled. Thus the career of the Church in tha South came to a brief, but honorable end, after a commendable career.
CONQLDSIDH Tha question to be consldarad is that of whether or not the Church of the Confadaxmey was Justlflsd by its actions to establish a branch of tha Church in the Confad* erata States. It certainly cannot be regarded as schismatic) for if the actions of the Church in 1789 wars Justified in seperating from the Church of Inland and establishing a new Chureh due to the establlshmant of a separata goTamnant, than tha South waa Justified also by its actions. It seams, further, that tha mere establlshmant of a separata Church for a separata political organisation, la a clear indication of the long standing close ralatlon batwaaa Chureh and Stata which the Church of n)land has so long enjoyed. This eharaotaxistla has bean projected to har daughter Churches and is still maintained to soma extant. Iha organisation of the Church in 1789 followed tha political organisation Af the colonies in that tha Constitution which was adopted was very similar to tha Articles of Condedsratlon. The polity which has resulted within tha Chureh has certainly bean that of a confederation. Bat, one might add, that tha Chureh is behind the actions of tha national gorsmmsnt. There hare bean prorislons for tha

-9-
trtagthaniiic of th* xaoutly*, laglalativa, and Judicial dapartaanta abaxaaa tha Church raaalna In a a tata of oonfadaratlon bound togathar hf co*M)n coaaaab but with the blahop of aach dlooaaa aalntainlng hla own proTllagaa as to tha way ha partlolpataa In tha aotlona of tha Church on a national laral*
Farfaapai tha laadara of tha Church In tha South were at fault for their aetlona in aepamtlng from tha national ohurchi but It cannot go unaald that thalr Intantlona anf goala ware not dlffarant from thoaa of tha aatabllshad Church In tha United Stataa. C^atfhionloicj IInt lthaawUenllitethdaSt tathteesrewwasasotnheas rae^ulnnio/lnnbfaatwitahen tahnad tdwooctgrrionuep.a and tha Church
one

riHis

11) James Blount Cheshire,FOOTThHaOICEShurch In Wie Confederate Stataa. p.35

12) B.L. Pennington, The Orgai^aatlon oT~the Protestant Bplseopal Church In the Con-

fadarata States of Inarle a. n.9

(3) Oiurch Monthly. ^August lF5l, II p.lt2

(U) Cheshire, op. cit., p.U2

(5) E.L. Pennington, op. clt., p.l6

(6) Journal ^ the Prodaadlngs of the General ^unell of the Protestant telseopal

^nreh in the (ionfeSerate States of America. (Augusta, Qa.) Stsamfress

of ChronTcle and Sentinel, 186i, p.l3

(7) Journal, op. cit. g) flhealra, op. cit. p. 58-59

)

W.S.

FairIyh,aHCj^hutorciyh

of In

tha the

^arlwn tiplacopal Church. Confederate States*, p.5h

II article

by John Fulton,

!10) Journal, op. clt.

11) E. L. Pennington, op. cit., p,26

12) E.L. Pennington, op. clt., p.27

13) E.L. Pennington, op. clt., p.28

(lU) Cheshire, op. clt., p.250

BIBLIOQRAPHZ

(1) Jansa Thayer Addison, The Episcopal Church In the United States. 1789-1931,

New fork, Charles Scribner's Sons, 19^, Chapter till

(2) Jamas Blount Cheshire, Tha Church ^ t^ Confader ate States. New Zoik,

Longmans, Green and (!o., 1912

(3) Edgar Legare Pennington, The First General Council of tha Confederate Episcopal

Chureh, (assay wttttsn la reeo^iltion of the|ooth annlrarsary If the found-

Ing of St. Paul's Pariah, Augusta, Oa.)

(k) Elgar Legare Pennington, Tha EBtfmEnaka Organisation of tha Protaetant itolsooeal

Church In tha Confederate States of America! (raprlni from^^torleal tUaa-

sine of tKe Episcopal Church'^ Vo1.~Xfi1i, pp. 308-338)

(5) Pennington, Tha Confederate ^Dlseopal Church and the Southern Soldiersi (reprint

from "Historical Hagaiue of tiie %>ls opal THiuroh, rol.

pp3$6-383

(6) WlUlam Sterans ^erry. Tbs History of the American Episcopal Church. II, Boston

Jamas B. Osgood and Co., ldo^|~ Chapters XXI and zfiXJ monograph TUI (Ar-

ticle by John Fulton, "The Church In tha

t Confederate Stataa*

(7) Jouiwal of the General Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church ^ tha CAnfederate

Elwbds tSTWwrr bhuroh In the Confudeiaia States of Amarlca(18B3

TATC CAPITDL

DEPARTMENT DF STATE BEANTLCWACRN.ETTFAADR3YR, OTOFESROOTRANTBE,IAJR.

DERARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY 1R1R REAOHTREE RTREET, N.W.
ATLANTA 9, OEOROIA

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

This is to certify that the microphotographs appearing on this reel are the accurate, complete and official reproductions of:

IConfedesate States of America

Reel Mo. ^27

Churches, Episcopal. History

Positive

"The Conventions and General Councils of filed in

the Protestant Episcopal Church in the

Confederate States of America." 9pp. Typevnritten uith bibliography

Date unknown, author not given.

In possession of: St. Paul's Episcopal Church

|

Augusta, Ga.

j

Date microfilmed; Feb. 9, I960

As reproduced by the Klcrofllm Division of the Georgia Department of Archives and History, under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Department of State, Ben W. Fortson, Jr,, Secretary of State.
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