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MISSISSIPPI.
Pastoral letter of May 11. 1865.
To the Clergy of the Prot. Episcopal Church in Mississippi.
Dear Brethren: - When we met a few days since in our Diocesan Council, you were ppleased to ask of me some instructions with regard to the use of the Prayer in our Daily Service for the President and all in civil authority.
In compliance with you request, I advised you at that time to abstain from any prayer of the kind until you should be further unstructed by me, or, at the least, until the action of our approaching Legislature should be known. As some of you however, live remote from the principal mail-routes, and may, therefore, be subject to an unpleasant delay in heaing from me, I hasten, as soon as possible after my return home, to relieve you from any doubtfulness as to the course which I wish you to pursue.
As in all civil matters, it becomes good citizens to submit to "the powers that be," so, in matters ecclesiastical, it is the bounden duty of both Priest and People to obey those whomthe lawful authority of the Church has set over them. Especially is this the case with the Clergy, who, by their twofold ordination vows are sworn to obey their Bishop.
Knowing, therefore, that you are reverently looking to me for counsel at this time, I now advise you to use (until it may be
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be further ordered) the following Prayer in place of that now printed in the Prayer Book- a prayer, as I think, expressing more truly the essential wants of those who are prayed for, more in accordance with the spirit and language of the Scripture, and one in which all may join who are willing to comply with the Apostolic injuction to "pray for those in authority."
It is not unknown to you, brethren, that the Prayer as it now stands in our Liturgy, has been objected to by many in our Communion, and that long before our present troubles began, as being better asapted to a hereditary than an elected government, as unsuited to the times of high party excitement among ourselves, and as asking for our rulers three thinds-- "health, prosperity, and a long life," -- which is no place of Scripture we are taught to pray for, and which, in the estimation of many good Christians, are regarded as so many trials rather than blessings.
In recommentin to you, therefore, a substitute for that Prayer, I do no more than becomes me in the present unsettled condition of our ecclesiastical affairs, when each Diocese is virtually thrown back upon its own inherent and independent powers as a full and complete branch of the Church Catholic. I trust, also, that I am consulting the peace of the country, no less than upholding the authority of the Church, by this recom
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mending what cannot reasonably offend any, even if it should fail to give satisfaction to all. But, if the course which I now advise you to pursue should meet with serious opposition from any quarter, remember that it has been marked out to you by that ecclesiastical authority to which alone you are amenable in matters of Discipline and Worship.
Whilst ut will become you, therefore, to exhort your people to peace and quietness, it will be no less your duty to bear in mind that your responsibility in spiritual things is to Christ and is Church, and not to men. In this way only can you fufil the divine command, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's."
The power of the State may very properly forbid treasonable language in the Pulpit or in the Desk, as well as in the street or in the secret conclave, but it has no right whatever to dictate to any man, much les to any portion of Christ's Church, for whom, or for what, or in what words they shall pray. Such a usurpation of power should justly call down the reprobation of all good men, especially of those who rightly value "the free exercise of religion" guaranteed to every citizen by the express term of the Constitution.
I will only add that, if in followin the godly counsel herein given, any undue constrainst should be laid upon you, I trust that both you and your people will solemnly protest a-
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leave the consequesnces in his hands.
I remain, faithfull and affectionately,
Your Pastor under Christ,
W. M. Green,
Bishop of the Diocese of Mississippi.
Columbus, May 11th, 1865.
A PRAYER FOR ALL IN CIVIL AUTHORITY.
O God, by Whom kings reign and princes decree justice, and Who hast taught us in thy Holy Word to make prayers, and supplications, and giving of thanks for all in authority; give grace we beseech Thee, to all thy servants of every station and degree, to whom Thou hast entrusted the welfare and government of our country. Grant to them a right judgement in all things; endue them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, make them examples of virtue and true godliness; and direct all their measures to the maintenance of peace, the furtherance of truth and justice, and the advancement of thy kingdom; so that all their doings, being ordered by thy governance, may be for the good of thy people and the glory of thy great Name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.