Item 1: Henry I. Whitehouse Bishop of Illinois, Bloomington, Illinois, to William Meade, 1857 April 30

Reports that one of the Virginia clergymen had moved into Whitehouse's district and that he had not reported to Bp. Whitehouse; asks Meade's advice.

Item 2: William Meade to the Reverends John Grammar, John Black, William W. Pendleton, and Blair Dabury and Edward Taylor, circa 1857 June-July

Appoints these men as a court of inquiry in the case of the Rev. Mr. Castleman of Staunton, charged with trying "to persuade to sinful conduct" a female parishioner; notes that since the female has no witnesses, that her character must be carefully examined; urges them to fairly examine the charges and report their findings so that it can be determined whether a canonical trial be held.

Item 3: William Meade, Millwood, to Rev. T. T. Castleman, 1857 July 24

Sends Castleman a letter dimmissory which he may present to the Bishop of Illinois

Item 4: W. R. Whittingham, Baltimore, to William Meade, 1857 July 25

Asks Meade for the testimonial required by canon for the transfer of a clergymen from one ecclesiastical district to another.

Item 5: William Meade, Millwood, to Bishop Henry I. Whitehouse, Illinois, 1857 July 26

Transfer T. T. Castleman from the Virginia to the Illinois diocese; notes that he was acquitted of "improper familiarity with a female," but was suspended for six months for falsehoods relating to the same.

Item 6: William Rollinson Whittingham, Baltimore to William Meade, no place, 1857 August 4

Informs him of the receipt of the satisfactory testimonial which Meade sent regarding the transfer of a Virginia cleric to Maryland.

Item 7: William Meade, 1859 Endorsement reads "Statement of Bishop Meade of something that occurred during the administration of communion at Gen. Convention in Richmond by which Bishop McCoskey was offended."

Item 8: William Meade, Alexandria, 1859 April 26

Expresses opinion on the election of vestrymen for St. Paul's Church in Alexandria; argues that since majority were present only for the election of 8 out of 12 vestrymen, that only those 8 should serve; the endorsement [in another hand] reads, "Opinion of Bishop as the lawfulness and expediency of ladies voting at the election of vestrymen."

Item 9: William Meade, Alexandria, to a minister, 1860 May 11 Informs him that he cannot give him a dimmissory note; has asked three presbyters to examine his case and report the findings to Meade.

Item 10: William Rollinson Whittingham, Baltimore, to William Meade, Virginia, 1860 September 8

Notes that he is in receipt of Meade's notice of Rev. G. W. Mayer's six-month suspension; argues that if, as W understand, Mayer was privately and publicly reprimanded, denied a dismissory note, and advised to renounce the ministry all before he was tried, then Mayer was treated unjustly; Whittingham will receive him charitably on any dismissory note.

Item 11: William Meade, Columbia, South Carolina, to anonymous correspondent, 1861 October 29

Complains of bodily pains; reports the efforts of some in the newly-formed Southern Church to convince the convention to change the name to "Reformed Catholic;" North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi bishops strongly advocated it, but it failed to pass, some wanted to denounce all other denominations, but to Meade's relief, that proposition failed; related the efforts of some to return to more "primitive church;" Virginia will be more alone in Southern Church [because of her more liberal views].

Item 12: William Meade, 1861 November

Fragment. According to endorsement "Thoughts of Bishop Meade prepared for the Confederate Convention at Columbia [South Carolina the first Convention after the split of the Southern Church]; laments the factionalism among the Bishops; proposes reform in the Southern Church of the method of electing bishops; notes that the Bishops should not historically replace their own members; expresses desire of Virginia to "cast in their lot" with their Southern Brethren if it can be done without "the sacrifice of principle and right;" notes that the Virginia church is outnumbered by those who disagree with her; asks for charity.

Item 13: William Meade, circa 1861

Discusses representation in various bodies throughout history: Israel, Greece, the Counsel of the Apostles in Acts, the German Confederation, Houses of Lords and Commons in England, American precedents. Asks what would be reaction in Confederate Congress [?] if such is the case with our church representation," he replies.