RICHMOND, April 12, 1865.

We, the undersigned, clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the diocese of Virginia, respectfully represent that we continued to use the prayer for the President of the United States (according to our former ritual) for some months after the secession of the States south of us and their formation of a Southern Confederacy. The subsequent secession of Virginia rendered the omission of this prayer necessary and proper; but no new form was inserted in our liturgy, until our ecclesiastical council, duly convened, took action to that effect; the church in each diocese following and never anticipating (as some other denominations had done, years ago) the political relations of the several States. It is a fundamental principle with our Church that, in great civil and political changes, all denominations of Christians are at liberty to arrange their forms of worship in such manner as may conduce most to the edification of the people, provided there be no violation of the laws of the State. But such arrangements are never made by ns as individuals. As in the ritual alterations made since 1861, we were obliged (in accordance with the usage of the Church in all ages) to wait for authority from an ecclesiastical council, so, as there is no union in this country between Church and State, are we obliged to wait at this juncture for authority from a similar council, which will shortly convene, before the insertion of any form which is not in our appointed liturgy. Although according to every constitutional principle of the United States, and of all the States composing the Union, there is no civil power which can prescribe the services of any church or enforce ecclesiastical discipline, yet, in acknowledgment of the political changes which have occurred, we feel authorized to omit a form which is at variance with established order, while, on the other hand, the ecclesiastical authority alone can authorize us to insert a form. We represent these circumstances to the Government in the confident hope that no invidious distinctions will be made between ourselves and other branches of the Holy Catholic Church, and in the belief too, that the course we are pursuing will tend, more than any other, to the preservation of peace and good order.
GEORGE WOODBRJDGE,
Rector of the Monumental Church.
CHR. MINNIGERODE,
Rector of Saint Paul’s Church.
WILLIAM NORWOOD,
Rector of Saint John’s Church.
J. PETERKIN,
Rector of Saint James’ Church.
F. M. BAKER,
Rector of Grace Church.