A history and record of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of West Virginia, Part 66

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At some future period, and I wish I could think it very near, another division may be proper, which will accord with the wishes of those who have thus, as I think, prematurely proposed it, and Virginia, west of the Alleghany, be a sepa- rate diocese.

7th. It may be well to follow and confirm what has been said as to assistance received from Eastern Virginia by a statistical account. Some passages in the report seem to call for it. It is there stated, that by reason of the residence of the Bishops in Eastern Virginia, their attention is neces-

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sarily given to it in undue proportion to that given to the West; that their visits in the west are few and hurried. Now, whoever will examine the journals of our conventions, will see that our visits are the same in number and duration to all, being triennial; being one and two days at a time, to about two hundred congregations. The few larger towns, being thoroughfares through which we must pass, are nec- essarily sometimes visited oftener than other places, and as there the great body of our people dwell, there surely it might be well for the Bishops to be more frequently. As to the congregations in the country and in the villages of East- ern Virginia, they have the same cause of complaint with those of Western Virginia, and often do complain of the rapid passage of the Bishops through them. The Bishops are quite used to such complaints-all over the church, I suppose,-for on looking over the journals of other dioceses, of small, as well as large, we read of two or three visits to different congregations in the same day, and we are sure that the Episcopal visits in Western Virginia, though far from being as long as we could wish, would compare as to time with three-fourths of the Episcopal visits in the United States. As each of us pays a triennial visit, there are of course two visits in three years. The visits of our Bishops are either annual, biennial, or triennial, so that Virginia has her average number.

Something will now be said as to the aid afforded the west by the Diocesan missionary society. It is stated in the re- port now commented on, that during the last year there were nineteen ministers in all Virginia aided by it only four of whom were in the west; that the aggregate amount expended by the society was $2,254.17, only $450 of which was appropriated to the west. It should be remembered that there are only four in the west who needed and applied for it, the other three being in self-supporting congregations. In order to present this subject in a just light before the public, I have obtained from the secretary of the missionary society a statement of its disbursements, not for one year

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only, but from the time of its formation, in 1836 to 1851. From that I find that they have been as follows: To Eastern Virginia, $9,595.67; to the Valley, $2,550; to Western Vir- ginia, $5,376. To this may be added at least $300 spent many years before on Western Virginia by a society in the valley. It would appear that nearly one-third of all the missionary funds of Virginia have been spent in the West, though near- ly all of them were raised in the East. It appears, also, from the statement sent me, that in some years a larger amount was expended on Western Virginia than on all the rest of the State. The expenditures have varied according to cir- cumstances.

As to the appropriation of Deacons from our Seminary, though I have not the means at hand of making an accurate statement, I feel confident that a most liberal allowance has been made to the west, while the expense of their education was almost entirely by the east. At the last ordination, at the close of our Seminary, I had only two at my disposal, and these were both earnestly solicited for Western Virginia. One of them, through peculiar circumstances, was lost to Virginia, and the other was assigned to one of at least ten applicants from Eastern Virginia. It may here be well to correct a mistake which prevails, at least in the authors of the report, as to the supply of Eastern Virginia. The build- ing of churches and collecting of very small congregations has always been far in advance of the supply of ministers in Eastern as well as Western Virginia. Some ministers have to attend from two to five places in order to keep alive the smaller congregations in Eastern Virginia. There are about 175 congregations in Eastern Virginia, 75 of which would answer to some of those in Western Virginia, of which we have been speaking. They are neither self-supporting now, nor likely to be for a long time to come, even if they all had ministers preaching to them every Sabbath. Both in the east and the west such must be tended by some who have self-supporting congregations, or who are aided by the mis-

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sionary society .* It is the duty of the Bishops to endeavor in all respects to do justice to both. There are other dis- tricts of Virginia, beside that of Western Virginia, which might in like manner and with equal justice complain of neglect-of infrequent and rapid Episcopal visits-of vacant congregations-and where ministers might meet in convoca- tion and pass resolves in favor of division, and believe that they could easily support a Bishop and more missionaries, and attract abundance of pastors from elsewhere. And there are numerous portions of other dioceses in the land which might do the same, but agitation would be the only result.

Sth. I have now a few words to say to those of my breth- ren and friends who, though opposed to the division of the diocese, are very anxious to secure the residence of one of the Bishops in Western Virginia, and seem to think it a reasonable request. I doubt not the sincerity of their belief, and if it were a reasonable thing, I trust there would be a conscientious compliance with it. As to myself, age and in- firmities make me not worth contending for; and if I were, let me beg them to cast only a glance at the map of Virginia, and they will perceive that residing where I do, in the valley of Virginia, I am quite as near to all Western as I am to all Eastern Virginia, and that in a few months, by means of railroad. I can in twelve or fifteen hours be in the heart of Western Virginia. The question, therefore, can only be as to the Assistant Bishop. Setting aside all regard to be paid to his peculiar occupation at the college of William and Mary just at this time, to the disposition of his family in re- spect to a change, and to the reasonable wishes and claims of all Southern Virginia to a resident Bishop, I will suppose him settled at Wheeling, the northwest corner of the State, with twenty-five congregations west of the Alleghany, and one hundred and seventy-five east of it, to be visited once

* It is stated in the report that 109 out 117 of the clergy of Virginia have their fields of labor in the east. It is proper to correct an error here. When we deduct our missionaries in foreign lands. professors, teachers, and those who are unable to perform duty, there remains only about So to tend 175 places,

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in three years, as at present-seven-eighths on one side, and one-eighth on the other. Would our friends in Western Vir- ginia have him take these long journeys for visitation and at- tending conventions two or three times every year, when by residing in the east, where seven-eights of the congrega- tions live, and the conventions meet, one visit over the mountains in each three years would suffice? for, remember, there must be an equal distribution of his services according to numbers. I am confident they would be the first to say we cannot expect so much labor, time, and cost to be ex- pended on us. They will look over all our dioceses, and see that the places chosen by Bishops for their residence are those from which with most convenience they can visit their diocese, and which combine most advantages for the dis- charge of their duties.

9th. In drawing these remarks to a close, let me briefly advert to another objection to this measure felt by myself and many true lovers of the church and State. It has deep- ly grieved the hearts of many of our citizens and fellow- Christians to perceive that for some years past there has been growing up an unhappy jealousy between Eastern and Western Virginia, each charging the other with a desire to claim too much, and sometimes even threatening disunion. In my travels through each portion, I have not only avoided all participation in the strife, but have earnestly endeavored to heal the same. Some years since, when I perceived, as I thought, a disposition to irritate different portions of the church in Virginia against each other, I felt it my duty pub- licly to rebuke it. I fear something of the kind from the measure proposed, and the report commending it. I wish our church to be a bond of union between Eastern and West- ern Virginia. Statesmen have praised the Episcopal church in the United States as being the only ecclesiastical bond of union between North and South, because, while all other denominations have had unhappy sectional differences and separations, ours has thus far been united. So let it be with our church in Virginia. Let the Alleghany and all other

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mountains be forgotten or sink into a plain, when we speak of our church.

When the proper time for division comes, may all political strifes be over, and railroads, canals, and turnpikes, connect every town, village, and county together. The great highway which is now rapidly drawing towards the city of Wheeling will doubtless, ere long facilitate and insure that which our western friends have so long desired. A convention of the diocese will meet in that place and receive its hospitality, and our ministers and members will assure its citizens, and all who shall come to the assembly, that however long the roads and high the mountains which separate them, Virginia Episcopalians have but one heart, and that heart devoted to the welfare of the church of our fathers, and of the noble reformers who shed their blood for its establishment.

Meanwhile, let the convocation, keeping within its proper sphere, do its duty faithfully. Let the brethren meet to- gether in each others' parishes, and in the feebler congrega- tions, and preach the word of God with all zeal and fidelity. Let them exhort the people, one and all, to do their duty; to contribute of their means to the support of missionaries; and especially that they give their sons to the Lord for the service of the sanctuary. Let them promote schools and col- leges for the education of the youth of Western Virginia. Let them in all these ways hasten on the time when they may, without tempting God by bold adventures, propose that measure which I have endeavored to show is now premature and imprudent. It has done good heretofore by the efforts which it has made. The encouraging prospects at Ravens- wood, Graves' Creek and Martinsville, and the increasing zeal and hope, which is at work in other places, are doubt- less, in a measure, the result of its labors. May God add his blessing to this and every other instrumentality employed for the benefit of our Church in Western Virginia, is the prayer of your friend and brother,

W. MEADE.

Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia.

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Postscript .- Since the foregoing was sent to press, the fol- lowing letter has been received. It was also stated that the Vestry of St. Matthew's Church, Wheeling, had adopted a resolution in opposition to the action of the Convention, and designed to state more fully their reasons for so doing: To the Right Reverend William Meade, D. D .:

RIGHT REV. AND DEAR SIR-As the Convocation of North- Western Virginia, at a recent meeting held in Charleston, Kanawha county, adopted and published a report and resolu- tions, which contemplate the formation of a diocese west of the Alleghany Mountains, we, the undersigned Presbyters, beg leave to express to you our entire dissent to the report and resolutions, and most earnestly request that you with- hold your assent to the object contemplated in said report and resolutions.

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, Rector of St. Matthew's Church, Wheeling. E. T. PERKINS, Rector of Trinity Parish, Parkersburg. SAMUEL D. TOMPKINS. Rector of St. Paul's Church, Weston, Va., and Missionary in Western Virginia. December 10th, 1851.

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APPENDIX VIII.

Letter from Bishop Johns to the officiating Clergy and Vestries in the western part of the Diocese of Virginia.

Shepherdstown, July 28th, 1865.

Having received from the Rev. Messrs. Addison, Jacobs and Woods, representations as to the desire of many of our good people west of the Alleghanies, that that part of the Diocese of Virginia should be organized as a separate Dio- cese, and wishing to be more fully informed, that I may take such action as the case may require, I hereby request the different vestries, by representation, and the officiating clergy, in person, to meet in the church at Clarksburg on the 24th day of August next at 9 a. m., to confer concerning the matter, and request them to communicate to me the result of such measures, as, under God's blessing, may conduce to His glory and promote the best interest of His Church.

J. JOHNS, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia.

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APPENDIX IX. Extract from the Journal of the Rev. W. T. Leavell.

"In May, 1866, I attended the Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church, held in Alexandria, Va., the first that had assembled as representing the entire State since the begin- ning of the war, although the clergy at "Richmond and the South Side," I believe, had assembled annually and appointed also delegates to a General Council of the Southern Dioceses, held in some of the Southern States. It was in this Council of Virginia that we resolved to resume our relations with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. The example was soon followed by all the Southern Dioceses. and we were saved the division of the Church.

I remember I was taking tea at the Rev. G. A. Smith's, (an old friend whom I assisted in his school at "Clarens" the last year of my seminary course), with several of the clergy, when I was asked by one of them, "What does the Valley Convoca- tion think of doing in regard to the question of union with the Church in the Northern States?" I replied, that "We had not discussed it at all, that I knew of; but I thought there was but one feeling and sentiment with us on that subject. We thought there was, but one thing to be done. and that was to preserve the unity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in these United States." There were such expres- sions of astonishment and surprise by all present, that "I thought, perhaps, I had spoken rashly and would find my opinions very unpopular, and perhaps in a very small minor- ity." But "I asked what shall we have in the future,-the bitter contentions we see in the other Churches, which have their divisions? or, shall we have peace and concord, as the

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General Canons secure them to the parishes and the dio- ceses ?" Here they seemed puzzled for a reply. And I added, "We need the protection of the Canons of the General Church." But all were in favor, and seemed determined to stand out for separate organization.

Next day the Council was opened, and Bishop Johns read his report, and advised returning to union with the Church in the United States. On that part of his address, a stormy debate arose,-very stormy for a Virginia Council. How would it end? Bishop Meade was dead, and Bishop Johns had not had time and opportunity to get hold upon the lead- ing spirits of the State, and had opposed some of them in their wishes in Council in Richmond in regard to the memo- rial to the General Government, in behalf of President Davis, then a prisoner at Fortress Monroe, and cruelly treated. The Bishop objected to the "Council," as such, taking the step, and advised that, as individuals, he would heartily co-operate with them in their efforts to mitigate his confinement, or re- lieve him from imprisonment. (The Bishop had told me all the particulars, the fall before.) I could see there was per- sonal opposition, almost amounting to disrespect to him, as presiding officer. He called the members to order; they would not yield without appealing to the house. But the most violent clergyman was Rev. Thompson Maury, who afterwards withdrew from the ministry. The Bishop ruled that he was out of order.

"I am not out of order."

Bishop-"Take your seat, Mr. Maury."

Mr. Maury-"I am not out of order, and I will hold the floor. I appeal to the house to say if I am out of order."

The house sustained the Bishop, and Mr. Maury reluctant- ly and, muttering something, took his seat. The debate con- tinued, the Unionists gaining ground by their good temper, as well as by their arguments.

One after another concluded it was expedient to go back. and not attempt to stand simply as the Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia. At last, Major Page, of Hanover, (the

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father of the present author, Thomas Nelson Page, of Rich- mond), got the floor, and said, in his characteristic droll way:

"Mr. President, I am converted,-at least, I think so,-but I do not feel sure about it. I will tell you how I feel, and may be you and the brethren can judge for me. I feel like the man who had been a long time at variance with his neighbor, and neither would speak to the other, but always try to avoid a meeting. At last, one of them attended a protracted meeting, and professed conversion. Shortly after, he met his adversary, who attempted to avoid a meeting, and said to him, 'See here, Tom, old fellow, I want to speak to you. I've been to that meeting and got religion,-at least, I hope so; for I feel so humble that I am willing to shake hands with a dog.' at the same time extending his hand."

This anecdote had the happiest effect. After a good, hearty laugh, in which all seemed to join, the Major continued:

"I came here altogether opposed to union with the Church at the North; but I have listened closely to all the arguments, and I am converted and will vote for the resolution to re- sume union with the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States."

When the vote was taken, soon after, it showed quite a large majority sustaining the recommendation of the Bishop. This, I suppose, was the heaviest strain ever put upon the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia, and the severest trial of Bishop Johns' life, during his episcopate. But he had a clear head, and a wise head, too, in dealing with questions of nice distinctions. It was he who proposed the resolution in the House of Bishops, by which the term "regeneration," as used in the baptismal office, was declared not to determine a moral change. This agreed upon, has seemed to settle that question in the minds of many who wished it dropped from the office altogether. The last time I met him, in Shepherds- town, he seemed to wish me to know that he appreciated my uniform kindness and courtesy to him ever since he had come to the Diocese, adding, "on this visit to your part of the State, you have been especially kind and considerate to me."

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I replied that "I had always tried to do my duty and honor my Bishop. In your case I had the pleasure of voting for you as Assistant Bishop of Virginia, thinking you eminently qual- ified for the office; and you have never disappointed any of my expectations, except when, during the war, I wished to get some new clothes for you from Baltimore, which I thought you needed, and you refused, saying: "I will ask no favor of them." W. T. L.

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APPENDIX X.

Selected Letters of Bishop Peterkin, from the Church News relat- ing chiefly to visitations made in the early years of his work.

August 23d, 1880.

I spent Sunday, August 8th, with Mr. Powers, at Weston, preaching for him Saturday night and Sunday morning and evening (confirming six in the morning), and at the Insane Asylum in the afternoon.

On Tuesday, the 10th, Mr. Dame having joined us, we start- ed for Jacksonville, sixteen miles distant. We had service there at night, and I preached to a good congregation. Be- tween Weston and Jacksonville are three families of our Church-people, and at the latter place, one.

On Wednesday, the 11th, we rode twenty-eight miles to Sutton, Braxton Court-House. Here we had two services, and at both, large congregations. I preached Wednesday night, and Mr. Powers Thursday night. We found one fam- ily of Episcopalians in Sutton, and Mr. Powers baptized four children on Friday, August 13th. We rode up Elk River to Addison, (Webster Court-House). The route was by bridle path all the way, and very rough. The distance is said to be thirty-eight miles, but, as once or twice we lost the way for a time, we had a ride of about forty-two miles. However, as we found a large congregation expecting services, we would not disappoint them, and Mr. Powers preached. On Sunday morning, August 15th, I preached to a very large congrega- tion, the Methodist ministers, conducting the quarterly con- ference meeting, very kindly giving way to us. At Addison, as elsewhere during our entire trip, with the help of about thirty mission service books, which we carried with us, we

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were able to have the full Service, as we believe, to the satis- faction and edification of the people. We had more applica- tions for prayer books than we could supply at the time.

On Monday, August 16th, we rode twelve miles to Bergoo Creek, and camped out some three or four miles from its month, occupying the late evening and early morning in fish- ing for trout, of which delightful fish we obtained enough to supply the demand of our sharpened appetites.

On Tuesday, August 17th, we went on to. Mingo Flats, a distance of abont twenty-five miles, by the road which we took. The main road, which we entered near Mingo, (which is the lower part of Randolph county), was the first road other than a bridle path we had seen since leaving Sutton. At Mingo I preached in the Presbyterian Church to a large congregation.

On Wednesday, August 18th, we rode to Dr. Ligon's, at ('lover Lick, a distance of abont fifteen miles. Here I preached on Thursday, the 19th, and baptized a child. On Thursday evening I rode over to Greenbank, twelve miles, and preached at night in the Methodist Church to a large congregation. The few communicants we have in Pocahon- tas county are so very much scattered, that after you reach the county you have to make quite an extended circuit to visit them.

On Friday, August 20th, I rode five miles to Glenmore and preached in the Presbyterian Church. On Saturday, I rode thirty miles to Hillsboro and preached in the Methodist Church. I preached in the same place Sunday morning, and in the afternoon rode fifteen miles to Huntersville and preached in the Presbyterian Church. Sunday night I spent in the country about three miles from town. at the house of one of our most zealous Church-people. Monday morning I rode into Huntersville and baptized three children, and then went on fifteen miles further to Clover Lick. Providence per- mitting, we go on to-morrow to Mingo, fifteen miles. where I expect to preach, and thence to Buckhannon, thirty miles.

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where I expect to preach Thursday night. On Friday. a ride of fifteen miles will bring us to the railroad, and our pleasant trip will be at an end.

November 10th, 1882.

On Monday, October 2d, I rode twenty miles to Front Hill, (Wayne Court-House), and had service at night. That was my first visit to Wayne, and, as far as I know, the first time any Episcopal minister had visited the county. I found no members of our Church, although I have since heard of one, who failed to make herself known to me. On Tuesday, Octo- ber 3d, I came back to Huntington, and took the train for Milton, where I preached to a large congregation. The time must come soon when we shall have a resident minister at Huntington, and still one at St. Albans, who will have regu- lar services at Hurricane and Milton. From Milton. I rode twenty miles to Hamlin (Lincoln Court-House), where I found the Court in session, and this helped to secure me a good congregation at night. I found the Mission Service Books, with their large print, of great use. Although there never before had been a Service of our Church at Hamlin, yet the responses might have put many old and langnid con- gregation to shame. When I went to gather up the books after service, one old lady, who had sat in the Amen corner and been a devout listener, refused to give up her book, say- ing that she had not read it yet. On Thursday morning, I returned to Milton in time to take the east-bound train. I was riding on this trip a remarkably rough old horse: of this fact I could not but be fully aware, yet I was much amused when a countryman, to whom I was speaking for a moment on the road, said to me. "Stranger, I think you must be rid- ing Squire -'s old Sam, and he's a mighty rough old horse!" I told him that I quite agreed with him.

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A history and record of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of West Virginia, Part 66

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