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CAN THERE BE RE-UNION
(from THE EPISCOPAL RECORDER, Philidelphia, Vo. XLI, No. 5, p. 17, May 2, 1863)
The following facts, now almost forgotten may be not without a bearing on this point:
On the 4th of July, 1859 {handwritten}x, several Southern Bishops with a number of clergy and laity, met near Chattanooga, in the State of Tennessee, for the purpose of inaugurating the proposed University of the South. The proceedings, according to a report published at Atlanta, Georgia, began as follows:
{handwritten margin note} x Should be 1857 (typographical error). {end note}
The Rt. Rev. Bishop Green, of Mississippi, then rose and said, that it was proper after singing the praise of God, to pause and listen to his hold word --- he would, therefore, read a chapter, not inappropriate to the occasion which called the assembly together.
The chapter selected by the Rt. Rev. Prelate, was the twenty-second of Joshua. It recites how the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, received their inheritance on "the other side of Jordan;" and how, when their enemies were all defeated and they had returned to their homes, they "built there an Altar by Jordan, a great Altar to see to." It describes the indignation of Israel, and the expostulation of their deputed elders against what seemed to be an act fraught with rebellion, and hostile to the peace and unity of brethren, and the
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earnestness with which any such intentions was disclaimed. They had said, "Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifice, but that it may be a witness between us and you and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the Lord --- that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the Lord."
The reader added no comment to this well-chosen Scripture --- already every heart was full. For these first spoken words expressed the thought of all, that not in malice or in mischief, not in rebellion or in disaffection had we come together beneath the blue skys that so far from rearing an altar of discontent, we had met with a just pride in our common heritage, with an abiding devotion in our common faith, with more than a brother's love to the tribes more numerous and more favored that ourselves, separated from us by the hills and streams of our common home.
Such thoughts as these found their utterance in the Te Deum which was next sung by the assembly; for St. Ambrose's words become us well when we realize the communion of the Saints. Prayers were then offered by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Cobbs, of Alabama, and the Gloria in Excelsis was chanted by the company.
The Hon. G. B. Duncan next took the stand, and after some introductory remarks, proceeded to read the Declaration of Independence. He also gave, by request, a
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history of the flag used on the occasion.
The flag, was made, he said, by the ladies of that city where our independence had its birth. The staff was cut by Millard Fillmore when President of the United States, from near the grave of Washington, and presented, at his request, to the owner by Lieut. Gen. Scott. This flag had been borne at the mast of one of our national vessels, it had waved upon the breezes of Europe and of Asia, of the Mediterranean and the Nile; its folds had been displayed upon the lonely Sinai, and amid the sacred localities of Jerusalem.
Such was the banner under which we rallied. At the conclusion of these remarks, "The Star Spangled Banner" was played by the band.
The Rt. Rev. James H. Otey, D. D., Bishop of Tennessee, then stood forth as the Orator of the day; his address appears upon these pages, and forms the most valuable portion of this record.
Various emotions were stirred as the Rt. Rev. Speaker uttered his earnest words. The reference, with which he happily began, to St. Paul's claim to Roman citizenship, reminded us all that the patriot was not of necessity lost in the Christian; that holding aloft the cross of Christ, we need not blush to place it beneath the Stars and Stripes; that after the echoes of the hills had been awaked with the
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loftiest strains of Christian praise, it is not unfitting to bid them presently give back the animating notes of freedom's songs.
No Christian could fail to sympathize with the speaker in his positions, that ours is a government intended for Christian people, not for Mormons and Atheists, and that beneath all law must lay the great foundation of public virtue and the fear of God. None could fail to catch somewhat of his enthusiasm, as he not so much borasted, as confessed with words and gestures of humblest gratitude, the benign and conservative influence which the Church, whose vows are upon us, has always exercised in our land; as he spoke of the work to be done in this nation, and of the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church as the men to do it.
Thus far the flag hung idly from its staff; but when the Bishop began to speak of our country and the love all good men bear it, a breeze came to stir the Stars and Stripes; and still, as he proceeded to denounce the thought, that we would come with holy words upon our lips to plot mischief against our brethren, the flag waved more proudly that before, seeking the person of the speaker, and causing his words to come as it were from the midst of its folds. As the oration progressed, warm tears filled many an eye, and
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would not be repressed. At its close, the band struck up "Hail Columbia," and the company rose to their feet. Many hastened to thank the orator for the just expression he had given to their sentiments, then all dispersed, and might be seen in friendly groups still prolonging the pleasant theme.
Bishop OTEY's address, as printed and circulated by the board contained the following remarkable passages:
If any people upon the earth may refer the distinguished privileges, which they possess, to the favoring hand of God, we are that people. When we review the prominent events of our history , we realize that the hand of the Lord has wrought mightily and wondrously for us;that it was he who endued our counsellors with wisdom, and our warriors with courage, to meet in conflict one of the most formidable powers of the earth, and to pass with success and honor through the dangers of so perilous an encounter, to the achievement of Independence; to the high and glorious distinction of a name and a place among the nations of the earth.
A little more than seventy years (the period allotted to the age of man) have passed away, since the clouds of war rolled darkly over all out land, the thunders of battle reverberated along our hills, and the crimson vesture of the plains showed where brethren had met in mortal strife. A nation's freedom was the prize for which they struggled. The God of armies beheld the contest, discerned its merits, and determined on which standard victory should rest.
These expectations have been largely fulfilled. We are all of us here to-day witnesses for our fathers, that they have done well for us in all that they have done. We are, also, witnesses for God, in the acknowledgment we make of his favor extended to them, and continued to ourselves. If my tongue ever denies this debt of gratitude, "may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth!" If my hand ever refuse to strike in defence of our birthright of civil and religious freedom, secured by the sacrifices of our Fathers and the blessing of God to my countrymen, "may mine arm fall from my shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone!"