success shall accrue. I may have to stand very much alone as to action. But I must do what the Lord will have me to do; and I pray for wisdom and strength. . . . . I will here give you the Resolution as proposed, and then my changes : 'We, the Bishops of Christ's Holy Catholic Church, professing the faith of the primitive and undivided Church, as defined by the first four General Councils, now assembled by the good Providence of God at the Archiepiscopal Palace at Lambeth, under the presidency of the Primate of all England, desire first to give hearty thanks to Almighty God for having thus brought us together for common counsels. Secondly, we desire to express the deep sorrow with which we view the divided condition of the flock of Christ throughout the world; and lastly, we do here solemnly declare our belief, that the best hope of reunion will be found in our drawing closer to Christ, each of us for ourselves, in much prayer and in the cultivation of charity.' Suggested changes: Line first-leave out 'the.' After 'undivided Church,' put 'as contained in Holy Scripture.' After 'Councils,' put and professed in the Articles and Liturgy of the United Church of England and Ireland, and of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America.' Change now assembled' to 'being assembled.' Instead of 'for common counsels,' put 'in mutual counsels for the interests of the Gospel.' After 'hope of reunion will be found,' put, in place of all that follows, in a closer personal communion of all Christian people, by faith, with our common Lord and Life; in the diligent searching of the Scriptures, with humble reliance on the Holy Ghost, by whose inspiration they were written for our learning; in giving our FAITHFUL NOTICE OF PRESENT PERILS. 281 selves continually to prayer, each for himself, and all for the flock of Christ; and in the cultivation of brotherly fellowship and love, according to the mind of Christ! ON THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION. TO THE SAME, Paris, Aug. 22nd, 1867. My idea is that, even if such a resolution be passed, as I have tried to make it, there ought to be something in the form of a resolution, one or more, having a specific reference to the present perils, noticing Romanism, Ritualism, and Rationalism, and going sufficiently into minuteness, as to make the aim quite unmistakable. Such a paper to be presented, whatever else is done; unless something equivalent be introduced from some other quarter. Such a paper to be easily turned into a protest against the negative action of the Synod, in case nothing of the kind of a satisfactory sort shall be passed. I would not take the limits of the resolution which I gave you, as at all an example in point of length. Better too long than too short, because it will be easier to diminish than enlarge. TO THE SAME, Paris, Sept. 13th, 1867. . . . . I received a letter from the Archbishop, accompanied by a new edition of the paper. The words suggested resolutions' dropped; 'confidential' also. The first Resolution is considerably improved; some of my suggestions substantially adopted. It is certainly a good deal better than the former, but defective still. He expresses the hope, that I will think it improved. Oh for decision and boldness, and a right sense of the value of the truth, before all efforts at union and outside aspect of agreement! ON THE OPENING AND ACTION OF THE CONFERENCE. Winchester House, St. James's Square, Sept. 25th. TO THE SAME, .... We met yesterday. A solemn opening service-seventy-eight bishops present-none else. An amendment was proposed, leaving out Councils and undivided Church, and hopes of reunion, etc. And the dear Bishop of Winchester, when I asked him to move it, consented heartily and solemnly (thanks to God) as a great duty; and has done it, so far as matters proceeded yesterday, admirably, and with great and felt weight. As we are under injunction of confidence, I can say now no more, than that we have got to the 'lastly,' and have lost nothing as yet, and gained more than we expected. The temper is good and moderate. Pray, as you do-The Lord guide and overrule. We go to Norwich on Saturday, and stay a few days there. Bishop's Palace, Norwich, September 30th, 1867. TO THE SAME. How long it seems before we meet in Winchester; and how much we shall have to talk about when we meet! N- and I came here on Saturday night, having stayed in London to attend the public service, which concluded the Conference, in the Church of Lambeth. It was a solemn and edifying service. You will be thankful to know, that by all of us, so far as I hear, our dear Bishop was regarded as a success and a blessing. The first resolution was almost entirely changed-undivided Church was wholly omitted, Councils were cautiously referred to, Scripture had its right place. did not get all we sought in the concluding part; but we got much more than we had any expectation of at first. Our dear Bishop won the admiration of the American Bishops, to whom he was very attentive in his noble hospitality. I do not know what would have We ADMIRABLE SPIRIT OF THE CONFERENCE. 283 become of the Resolution, had not he, with all his personal and official weight, his noble bearing-so full of dignity and anxiety, come forward at the first, and moved the amendment, which took off the head of the Resolution, and opened the way to its utter disruption. How gracefully he did it, and with such adroitness of reasoning! And how unspeakably we are indebted to Him, who aided him and turned the tide of events! I never loved our dear Bishop so much, greatly as I loved him before. I shall bid him adieu with great pain of heart. The Pastoral Letter of the Conference, to be published in Latin and Greek, as well as English, was voted unanimously, all standing. I was on the committee for its preparation, the other members being, so far as I remember, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Bishops of London, Oxford, Gloucester, Ely, Llandaff, St. Andrews, and North Carolina (one or two forgotten). It was a good deal amended in committee. I got some changes, but desired some of them to be a little more positive than they are. However it is a good, dignified, and edifying document. The feeling of the whole meeting, the bearing of all towards one another, the decidedly high tone of manners and spirit, were truly delightful. I could heartily unite in the last resolution of thanks to God for such a meeting, as all did. How little did I expect at one time to be able to do so. I have privately expressed to the Archbishop my thankfulness, and congratulated him on the whole result. But as to particulars, we will talk at Winchester. I should say that a good deal of the programme was not acted on for want of time. Now, about going to you. . . . On Monday, as the Bishop has urged very much, and as it will be our last visit to him, we will stop at Farnham for the night, and on Tuesday, by the morning train, go to dear Winchester and my room. I wish I could get there on Saturday, and be Sunday and Monday with you and dear Mrs. C. I want wings to go to you. The work of Yours most affectionately, C. P. M. The Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Tait), in a letter to Bishop Sumner on the death of Bishop McIlvaine, when feelingly expressing his sense of their loss, alluded to the valuable aid they had received, at this memorable Conference from their departed friend: 'Much will the Bishop's loss be felt in England and America. He was a true bond of union, not only between the two Churches, but also between the two countries; and this union was cemented by his genuine Christian character. How well I remember the important position taken by you and him at the Lambeth Conference, which so much tended to the happy issue of that meeting.' CHAPTER XVI. THE PEABODY TRUST, 1866. THE warm regard which Mr. Peabody had long felt for Bishop McIlvaine, and the high estimation he entertained of his wisdom, ability, and integrity, in fulfilling the responsible and delicate public duties, to which he had been so often called, led him to make the request, that he would act as one of his trustees in the appropriation |