The Daily Phoenix

Bishop Coxe, of New York, on Reunion of the Episcopal Church.

Having given the Bishop of Georgia's views, we give the following extract from Bishop Coxe's Diocesan Address:

The question arises as to the restoration of legislative unity with our brethren of the South. Essential unity has never been for a minute suspended; and now, it seems to me, that nearly all questions between us and them will be settled by the calling of the roll of the Convention, and by their appearing and answering to their names. The case of the Bishop of Alabama, elected and consecrated during the war, admits of no doubt and presents no great difficulty. The validity of his consecration is acknowledged; but certain measures will be necessary, as in the case of Bishop Seabury, who was consecrated in Scotland, to give the new Bishop a canonical position. In due time, we cannot doubt our Southern brethren will all be found again in their places, and how shall they be received? Can there be any question? How was it in the day when all Israel was restored to David? "Shall there be any man put to death this day in Israel?" If our brethren have erred, surely they have suffered; if any punishment is to be meted out to them, let us rejoice that the State, and not the Church, is the minister of wrath. It is our blessed privilege to forgive, and as Christians, at least, to remember no more what we committed to God's arbitration, and what, in his Providence, is settled and gone by. On the great national questions that divided us, no man felt more deeply, nobody acted more conscientiously, than myself. I felt that there could be but one issue to the war, consistent with truth and justice, the cause of humanity and of our holy religion. But, I trust such convictions were not polluted by resentful impulses, nor by worse instincts of revenge, hatred and malice. And now, when all is over, what can a Christian find within him but a warm revival of old affections and friendships, and a longing for the old fraternal counsels and communing. Let the power of our religion be seen and felt by all our countrymen. Let us address ourselves to the new and trying emergencies created by the new condition of things in the Southern States. Let us feel that such is the highest service we can now render to our country, and that it is in our power, as a Church, to do more, perhaps, than others in this way. And as nature has begun already to cover over the red fields of war with her peaceful harvests and her refreshing verdure, so let grace mantle the past with charity, and make the infirmities of men give place to the fruits of the Spirits.