FAMILY PRAYERS, Collected from the Sacred Scriptures, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Works of Bishop Wilson de Meade, William - 1834

Alexandria, DC: Wm. M. Morrison, 1834. Hard Cover. Good binding. 12mo. 120, [2 (contents)] pp. First edition. As issued, in maroon cloth with printed paper spine label. Binding is generally soiled and edgeworn with moderately rubbed corners and spine ends. Previous owner name and a number on the endpapers. Otherwise, clean but for some expected foxing. An uncommon title that "had a wide circulation" (DAB) written by Meade, the third bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia. G. MacLaren Brydon, in his entry in the Dictionary of American Biography notes, "Meade was intensely interested in the spiritual condition of the negroes, preaching to the constantly and seeking to arouse interest in their welfare. Early in his ministry he liberated his slaves, although afterwards he believed that this was a mistaken kindness. The American Colonization Society and the establishment of Liberia owed much to him..... Like many leading Virginians he was strongly opposed to secession, but went with the state when the die was cast. As a senior bishop he was the presiding officer of the convention in Columbia, S.C., Oct. 16, 1861, which formulated the constitution of the General Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate State, of which he became presiding bishop." DAB.