RICHMOND, VA., April 13, 1865.
His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of the United States:

Mr. PRESIDENT: In consequence of an order from Major-General Weitzel requiring public prayer to be offered for the President of the United States, the clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this city yesterday drew up a memorial, to a copy of which I take the liberty of begging your attention. It was rather informally prepared, because we did not know to whom it ought to be presented. We handed it, however, to General Ord, who very courteously said that he would send it to Washington. It has occurred to me since that we ourselves ought to have forwarded it, but whether to Your Excellency or to the Secretary of State I cannot determine. In this dilemma I have resolved to beg your own personal consideration of this memorial, and all of the clergy I have been able to see heartily approve of my course. We wish to demean ourselves as peaceable citizens, and to do all in our power to allay the excitement growing out of the scenes through which we have just passed; but we are placed in a trying situation....

...The Confederate Government, when in existence here, never attempted to interfere when we deliberated in council about changing the phraseology of the prayer for the President, and, indeed, omitting it altogether. The ecclesiastical sanction for again changing this form to harmonize with the restoration of the Federal Government can, no doubt, be shortly obtained. Until then we simply ask that we may be permitted to conduct our religious services as heretofore, with the understanding that we say and do nothing to interrupt the re establishment of the United States Government over the people of our congregations. We most sincerely believe that this course will conduce more than any other to the diffusion of sentiments of peace and good will among our whole people.

I have the honor to be, Mr. President, Your Excellency’s humble
servant,
JOSHUA PETERKIIN,
Rector of Saint James Church.