body, acting through its highest corporate tribunals, and not its individual members in their capacity as citizens, -made these radical and formal changes BEFORE the "Southern Confederacy" had been recognized as a lawful Civil Power, or admitted into the family of nations, either de jure or de facto, by any Civil Power of the world. And not only was this done while the contest of arms, whose issue should decide the claim of the Confederacy to such consideration, was pending, but it was done at the earliest convenient moment after the opening of the strife; and, in some cases, the initiatory steps of ecclesiastical bodies, which culminated in this more general action, were taken at the very beginning; and, in some others, even before the Southern "Confederate Government" was formed, or the States, out of which it was at length organized, had seceded. Such facts as these, in a most striking manner, illustrate the animus of the Church, and show its tremendous responsibility, not only for its support of the rebellion, but for the lead which the Church took in the cause, under the guidance of those men whose sentiments we have given, who preached, prayed, wrote, labored, and finally fought, for it from the beginning.

As an instance of the Church's course in anticipating the State in its eagerness for secession, it may be noted for illustration, that before the secession of South Carolina, the Presbyterian Synod of that State, by the most deliberate and formal action, under the lead of Rev. Dr. John B. Adger, Professor in the Theological Seminary at Columbia, decided to cast in its fortunes with those of the State in case it should secede from the Union; thus becoming an accessory before the fact to the crime of treason, and giving the influence of the Church, and pledging its support in encouragement of politicians, to commit the highest crime known to the laws.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

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Rev. Dr. Yerkes, in the Danville Review for September, 1861, thus alludes to this proceeding on the part of the Synod of South Carolina:

If the statement made on the floor of the Assembly (at Philadelphia, May, 1861) is to be credited, that Synod approved in advance the act of secession which it was well known the State Convention would pass. They could not wait till the foul deed was done. They were so fondly anxious to baptize the cockatrice, that they could not wait till the cock's egg hatched. They anticipated the monstrous birth, and sanctioned it by a decree of the Church.

ADDRESSES OF SOUTHERN

CHURCHES

SUSTAINING THE

REBELLION.

Besides organizing all the Southern Churches on the basis of supporting the rebellion, and changing their respective corporate titles so as to conform to the name of the rebel Government, the larger religious bodies at the South adopted formal addresses, either to their own. people or to the Christian world at large, vindicating their course in sustaining the rebellion through a disruption of the Church.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Among others, the largest body of Presbyterians at the South put forth an address, from which we have already quoted, entitled, "Address of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America, to all the Churches throughout the Earth," in which they speak as follows:

It is probably known to you, that the Presbyteries and Synods in the Confederate States, which were formerly in connection with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, have renounced the jurisdiction of that body, and dissolved the ties which bound them ecclesiastically with their brethren of the North. *** Commissioners, duly appointed from all the Presbyteries of these Con

federate States, met accordingly in the city of Augusta (Georgia), on the 4th day of December, in the year of our Lord 1861, and then and there proceeded to constitute the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America. The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, that is to say, *** were unanimously and solemnly declared to be the Constitution of the Church in the Confederate States, with no other change than the substitution of "Confederate" for "United," wherever the country is mentioned in the standards. The Church, therefore, in these seceded States, presents now the spectacle of a separate, independent, and complete organization, under the style and title of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America. In thus taking its place among sister Churches of this and other countries, it seems proper that it should set forth the causes which have impelled it to separate from the Church of the North, and to indicate a general view of the course which it feels it incumbent upon it to pursue in the new circumstances in which it is placed. *** A political theory was, to all intents and purposes, propounded, which made secession a crime, the seceding States rebellious, and the citizens who obeyed them traitors. *** The Presbyterians of these Confederate States need no apology for boing to the decree of Providence, which, IN WITHDRAWING THEIR COUNTRY FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES, has at the same time determined that they should withdraw from the Church of their fathers.

THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Another instance is seen in the action of the Episcopal Church, in the form of a "Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church, to the Clergy and Laity of the Church in the Confederate States of America," issued from Augusta, Georgia, November 22, 1862, in which the Bishops say:

Forced by the Providence of God to separate ourselves from the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States,-a Church with whose doctrine, discipline, and worship, we are in entire harmony, and with whose action, up to the time of that separation, we were abundantly satisfied,at a moment when civil strife had dipped its foot in blood, and cruel war was desolating our homes and firesides, we required a double measure of grace to preserve the accustomed moderation of the Church, &c. * * * The Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the

CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

* * *

181

Confederate States, under which we have been exercising our legislative functions, is the same as that from which we have been providentially separated, &c. The Prayer Book we have left untouched in every particular, save where a change of our Civil Government and the formation of a new nation have made alteration essentially requisite. Three words comprise all the amendment which has been deemed necessary in the present emergency. [Among several "sources of encouragement," this is given:] In our case, we go forward with the leading minds of our new Republic cheering us on by their communion with us, and with no prejudications to overcome, save those which arise from a lack of acquaintance with our doctrine and worship. * * *

Another source of encouragement is, that there has been no division in the Church in the Confederate States. Believing, with a wonderful unanimity, that the providence of God had guided our footsteps, and for His own inscrutable purposes had forced us into a separate organization, there has been nothing to embarrass us in the preliminary movements which have conducted us to our present position. * * * Many of the States of this Confederacy are missionary. *** Hitherto has their scanty subsistence been eked out by the common treasury of our united Church. Cut off from that resource by our political action, in which they have heartily acquiesced, they turn to us and pray us to do at least as much for them, as we have been accustomed to do for the Church from which they have been separated by a civil necessity. * * * It is likewise the duty of the Church to press upon the masters of the country their obligation, as Christian men, so to arrange this institution (slavery) as not to necessitate the violation of those sacred relations which God has created, and which man cannot, consistently with Christian duty, annul. The systems of labor which prevail in Europe, and which are, in many respects, more severe than ours, are so arranged as to prevent all necessity for the separation of parents and children, and of husbands and wives; and a very little care upon our part, would rid THE SYSTEM UPON WHICH WE ARE ABOUT TO PLANT OUR NATIONAL LIFE, of these unchristian features.

CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

The Young Men's Christian Association of New Orleans, under date of May 22, 1861, issued an Address "to the Young Men's Christian Associations of North America," in which they say, in their Circular Letter:

* * *

We wish you to feel with us, that there is a terrible responsibility now resting upon us all as Christians, in this trying time of our country. We in the South are satisfied in our judgments, AND IN OUR HEARTS [their own capitals], that the political severance of the Southern from the Northern States is permanent, and SHOULD BE SATISFACTORY. We believe that reason, history, and knowledge of human nature, will suggest the folly and futility of a war to re-establish a political union between the severed sections. * * * Has it not occurred to you, brethren, that the hand of God MAY BE in this political division, that both Governments may more effectually work out His designs in the regeneration of the world? While such a possibility may exist, let His people be careful not to war against His will. It is not pretended that the war is to maintain religious freedom, or extend the kingdom of Christ. Then, God's people should beware how they wage or encourage it. In the name of Christ and His divine teachings, we protest against the war which the Government at Washington is waging against the territory and people of the Southern States; and we call upon all the Young Men's Christian Associations, in the North, to unite with us in this solemn protest.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Southern Baptist Convention, a body representing a constituency of six or seven hundred thousand Christians," in session at Savannah, Georgia, May 13, 1861, "unanimously" adopted resolutions, in which the following sentences are found:

In view of such premises, this Convention cannot keep silence. Recognizing the necessity that the whole moral influence of the people, in whatever capacity or organization, should be enlisted in aid of the rulers, who, by their suffrages, have been called to defend the endangered interests of person and property, of honor and liberty, it is bound to utter its voice distinctly, decidedly, emphatically, &c. * * * Resolved, That we most cordially approve of the formation of the Government of the Confederate States of America, and admire and applaud the noble course of that Government up to the present time. * * * Resolved, That we most cordially tender to the President of the Confederate States, to his Cabinet, and to the members of the Congress now convened at Montgomery, the assurances of our sympathy and entire confidence.