Sunbury American

Mr Editor—The following extract is taken from the "Register," an Episcopal paper published in Philadelphia It is a part of a letter written by the Bishop of the Diocese of Mississippi, to the editor of "the Flag of the Union," published at Jackson, and appeared in that paper of the 11th ult. Will you be so kind as to give it an insertion in your paper ? As you have published several articles on the subject. I am sure you will willingly give your readers the benefit of it.

W. W. M.

March 4th 1853

When an individual sees fit, from any cause, to withdraw from one portion of the Church of Christ, and unite himself to another, it is too often the case that his late friends and associates turn upon and rend him without mercy. With so unkind and unreasonable a practice I will have nothing to do. If my brother or my neighbor prefer the extreme of Romanism on the one hand. or ultra Protestantism on the other, to the safer middle ground of Primitive Gospel Truth, instead of backbiting and maligning him, I will only pray that the erroneous creed which he has chosen may not prevent him from making his calling and election sure against the last day.

After thus disclaiming all unkind feeling towards my late Brother in the Episcopate. and praying that in the midst of the spiritual dangers which now surround him, his soul may be in the keeping of the Good Shepherd, I must respectfully beg a little further space at your hands, whilst I briefly allude to the cause of Bishop Ives' defection, and its probable effect upon his Diocese. And that your readers may know how far I am qualified to speak on the subject, I will simply mention that twenty-nine years of my ministry were spent in North Carolina—my native State—and that for the far greater part of that time, I was frequently and intimately associated with him who forms the subject of this painful communication.—

When, therefore, accounting for the apostasy of Bishop Ives, I say that I have not for the last five or six years, regarded him as a responsible man, I speak from personal observation; and I use language, however serious, that will be well understood, and will create no surprise in the Diocese of North Carolina nor in any other place where the Bishop has been familiarly known for some time past —

As, in saying this, I but repeat the admission virtually made by his confidential physician, and by one of his most intimate friends to the Convention of his Diocese in 1851

These quotations are from the printed Journal of the Convention of North Carolina, for 1851, and may suffice to show, in the opinion of that body. the irresponsible condition of their Bishop. And to this conclusion my own mind is driven by that charity that "hopeth all things." For could I be induced to look upon my erring Brother in any other light, I would be forced, upon many grounds of personal knowledge, to think of him as I wish not to think of any one who names the name of Christ It would be truly painful to me to be compelled to enter into particulars on this subject. I will only add, that the unsettled condition of Bishop Ives' intellect, or rather of his moral judgment, has been a growing source of pain to his Diocese for several years, so much so as to incline many. both of his Clergy and Laity. to set him aside, or at least. to appoint an "Assistant" to him in the Episcopate. And nothing but his earnest entreaties. and repeated recantations, joined to their own too kind regard for his feelings, prevented them from doing so. on more than one occasion
As to the probable effect of the apostasy of Bishop Ives upon the Diocese, which he has insulted and deserted, the following extracts from letters received within the last few days may suffice

To these extracts I will only add, on my own part, that in passing through North Carolina, in November last. I was grieved at the heart to see the general dissatisfaction of the Diocese toward their Bishop, on account of his inconsistency of conduct, and to hear. on all sides, the wish openly expressed, that he would resign his charge. and thus open the way for a return of that soundness in the faith, and that mutual love and confidence which had been bequeathed to them by the honest and noble-hearted Ravenscroft.

In making this communication, Mr. Editor. I trust that I do no violence to the Law of Charity, either in the intention which prompts me to it, or in the language in which I express myself. I make no attack on Bishop Ives' character; nor do I ascribe to him any impure or unworthy motive in thus renouncing his high and holy commission in the Church of Christ. It is not for me to sit in judgment on his motives. however much I may and do condemn many things in his conduct connected with his abandonment of the true Catholic faith

Thanking you sincerely for the space which you have allowed me, and praying for the spread of Divine truth and love everywhere.

I remain with kind regard, yours,

W.M. GREEN,

Bishop of the Diocese of Mississippi.

Jackson, Feb. 8, 1853