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DIOCESE OF MISSISSIPPI.
THE THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL COUNCIL HAVING FAILED TO MEET AT COLUMBUS AT THE TIME APPOINTED AT THE LAST MEETING IN 1863, WAS CONVENCED AT JACKSON, MAY 4TH, 1865.
EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL.
FROM THE BISHOP'S ADDRESS AND JOURNAL FOR 1864 AND 1865
(Pages 53 to 62)
Thursday, May 14th, 1863. On this day the enemy took possession of Jackson. As my residence was immediately in front of the fortifications thrown up for the defense of the city and was likely to recieve the missiles of friends as well as foes, I left it when the roar of musketry indicated that my peacefulhome was, in a few moments, to be converted into a field of balle. My thresholds, it is true, were spared the stain of blood; but theft, and ravage, and wanton destruction marked every room in the house, and every article on the premises. My own books and papers recieved much injury; but I am happy in being able to state that every record of the least importance to the Diocese had been carefully kept out of the way of these destroyers. May God forgive them for all the evil which they did during the two memorable days which they spent among us.
Sunday 31st, preached to the sick and wounded soldiers in a large room of the hospital near my residence.
Sunday, June 7th, preached again to a large number of the convalescent patients assembled under the trees in the hospital yard.
Sunday, 14th, once more had the privilege of speaking in Christ's Name to the sick and wounded soldiers....
Sunday, June 21st, preached in St. Andrew's Church and confired one person, a soldier of our army.
Saturday and Sunday, (July) 5th and 6th, I was to have given to the Chapel of the Cross, but was kept at home by a return of my former disease, the vertigo. Another appointment was made for the following Sunday, but meanwhile I was compelled a second time to fly from my home before the approaching enemy, and seek a temporary refuge within the city. The next morning, amidst the roar
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of battle, and under a shower of shot and shell, I set out with my family to seek a safe retreat at a distance from the then seat of war. In Demopolis, Alabama, it was my good fortun to meet with a most cordial welcome under the roof of a good friend and former pupil from North Carolina, Mrs. Gains Whitfield. From her and her equally kind husband my family recieved every attention that a warm heart and a true hospitality knew how to bestow. May God's blessing rest on that house, a house which has daily poured out its varied stored of plenty on the hungry and way-worn soldier, as well as on the homeless refugee, ever since the war began.
Thursday, October 15th, I went to Jackson to gather togther the remnant of my furniture saved from the rapacity of the enemy.
November 18th, passed up to Holly Springs. Five days were spent in this Parish among the remnant of a lately prosperous people. The footsteps of a barbarous foe might be traced in almost every dwellling, as wellas in the resorts of business and in the instituions of learning. Amidst these marks of a more than savage warfare it was hardly to be expected that the most sacred things or places would escape their violence. I was not, therefore, surprised to find that our place of worship had shared largely in the general ruin. Although much had been done before my arrival to cleanse it from the pollutions of the enemy and to place it in a serviceable condition, it was still a place of small comfort to the little flock that clung to its Altar and hovered around their faithful Pastor. On Sunday, 22d, I preached, confirmed fourteen persons, and administered the Holy Communion.
From Holly Springs I passed over to La Grange, Tenn., to visit a beloved sister; and I would here acknowledge the courtesy and even the kindness of the Federal Commander in charge of that place. Not only was free ingress and egress tendered to me, but permission was granted to visit any of out Parishes within the bounds of his command.
I had made a conditional appointment to be at Early Grove on the following Sunday, the 29th, but owing to the number and the lawless charcter of the enemy's troops in that immediate neighborhood, I relectantly yielded to the advice of friends and declined to meet it.
Having been favored by the Commander of the enemy's forces then in possession of Vicksburg with permission to visit any of the Parishes within the Federal lines, I set out on Saturday the 6th of February (1864), to make my annual visitation of the counties lying on the river. On reaching Meridian I learned that the ene-
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my in full force were rapidly advancing on that place. I deemed it prudent, therefore, to return home and await a more auspicious moment for resuming my visitations. While in Meridian I preached on Sunday, 7th, to a large and attentive congregation, composed chiefly of officers and soldiers, and in the afternoon baptized the infant son of an officer from Tennessee.
Easter Sunday, March 27th, in addition to the other services of that Festal Day, I administered the rite of confirmation to one person, and that person was one of my own soldier boys, thus making glad my heart by the knowledge that all my children were now professed followers of Christ. With renewed confidence I afterwards committed him to the guardianship of a covenant God, on his return to a field that was then threatening, as it has since proved itself to be, a fruitful field of blood.
Thursday (April) 14th, in my own parlor I baptized and confirmed a soldier in the cavalry service who had for some time earnestly desired thus to dedicate himself to God, and thankfully availed himself for that purpose of the few moments allowed to him as he passed through the place. The next day, 15th, e returned, bringing with him one of his fellow-soldiers, wom I, in like manner, by baptism and confrimation, admitted to the fellowship of Christ and his Church.
April 28th. This was the day on which our Diocesan Council was to meet in Columbus. But in consideration of the broken condition of our principal railroads, the general want of private conveyances, the absence from the Diocese of many of the Clergy as well as Laity, and the occupation of a large portion of the State by the forces of the enemy, I took upon me the responsibility of postponing the time of our meeting to some future day when we might assemble with less to hinder and to make us afraid.
Sunday, (May)22d, preached in Jackson in the Senate Chamber of the Capitol which has been kindly allowed for the use of the congregation since their Church was destroyed by the enemy.
Thursday, 26th, baptized at Madison Depot one white and two colored children.
Friday, 27th, officiated at the Chapel of the Cross and confirmed four colored persons.
Wednesday, May 30th, I entered Vicksburg, them in the possession of the Federal authorities and remained five days, during which time I visited all the Church families remaining in the place and preached on Sunday, June 5th. Although I found most of the members of the congregation in a depressed condition, it was no
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little gratification to see that the Church building remained in charge of its trusty old sexton, and was kept in its usual neat and orderly condition, whildt almost every other place of worship had been abused and polluted at the hands of the enemy. I feel bound to acknowledge here the courtesy with which I was treated during my stay by the commanding General and his officers. The day before I left the city I baptized three children in private.
It was my intention after returning to Jackson, to visit the more Southern part of the Diocese; but on reaching that place I found a letter summoning me to attend in Augusta, Georgia, on the 22d, a meeting of the Committee for the revisal of the Prayer Book. I accordingly recalled the rest of my appointments and returned to Columbus. After spending three days with my family and officiating on the 19th,
