Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-24
The following circular ha, been handed to

BssrakKx--The undersigned beng
APPOINTED committee, by the Presbyterian
congregation of Wilmington, North Carolina
"a solicit aid for them, in their present ces'-
,ute and afflicted condition, would respect
fully lay before you brief statement oil the
recent and heavy calamity which has recent
~ befallan them. The alarming and desc
hating FIRE, which, on Thursday morning
last. laid in ashes near one ball OF our uhiof-
tunate town. involved in its destroying pro-
sr.ss. the first Presbyterian church ever e.
yected in this place. SO rapid ana so ire
nenduous were its raysges, in the midst oil
dark and gloomy night. that the utmost eSer,
t;on, were insufficient to rescue this new ana
handsome edi6ce from destruction 1t had
been mpleted but few months before al
ter much exertion, difficulty, and discourage
men,. arising from the unusual pressure OF
the times, and the infant state OF the congre-
cation. :,
With heartfelt satisfaction, we hailed the
Say when the house Of God opened tor our
reception and with solemn emotions we
dedicated it 10 His service. Through the past
summer we regularly assembled tor Divine
worship. Our prospects were daily bright
eping-and we looked forward to the peri
cd a. not far distant, when this church would
prove not only en- inestimable blessing TO
ourselves and families, but also an important
accession to the interest oil the Reoeemers
Kingdom in the southern section OF our coun'
try. In The midst Of these fattering hopes,
il pleased the All-wise disposer of events, to
visit u, with this sore, this mysterious Gala
nifty. Our sanctuary is now pile OF smo-
king ruins, We see and feel this oysr"heim-
Ing dispensalion of an overruling Providence,
without the most distant hope Of being able,
of ourselves, 10 rebuild this waste house OF
Zion. The same melancholy event which
laid our church in the dust, has spread
wide scene oil desolation around US; and our
houses many Of them, are reduced to ashes'
and our own resources, OF pccuniarJ ma
ture, taken from Us.
In this impoverished state we should utter
ly despair, did we not confidently believe
that our fellow citizens, our christian friends
abroad, will feel our unprecedented misior-
tunes, and most willingly aid'u in the In'e-
resting and pious design Of rebuilding the
sacred house now in ruins. In this DAY Oh
eur extreme distress We turn from ourselves
20 plead for the church Of tie living God
The call which our affections have compel
led US 20 make on tie charities OF our sister
congregations, is one presented under tie
most affecting circumstances. The hopes OF
our newly organized, yet a2urshins congre-
cation, aust rise or sink, FROM the disposition
manifested by our distant brethren.
Such being our situation, we do indulge the
belief, that we shall not be disappointed IN
our expectations. Every donation which
mar be given by individuals or congrega-
lions, however small, shall be sacredly APP
piled to the object mentioned in this paper,
and remembered with the sincerest gratitude
by our bsreaved people.
lSigned)
Thoraa, Cowan, James Dickson,
Gabriel Holmes, jr. Edrard HiHslos,
Nm. Harris. Jane, r. MRes,
arcs'd NJ. Hooper, .4reh'd Taylor.
Wilmington, N. c. Nov. 9, 1919.
IA collection will be taken up on next Sab
bath afternoon in the second Presbyterian
church icr the Object specified abcve.l
We would call the attention Of our fellow
citizens TO the following article, taken from
the National Intelligencer of W ednesday asst
Although the citizens Of this town have only
in par. the same cause Of complaint, as Il
would appear the citizens Of Washington
have, yet so lar as relates to the print alluded
10 in the address, they have just reason t.
complain, from its havi0g contained some o
the most gross and malicious liSels on the pri
vate character Of some OF our citizens. w.
would charitsbly hope the editor has beer
imposed on-and recomm end 10 him, in fu
ture, to be more circumsP.ct in admitting in
TO his paper communications from this tow
which have reference to private character, 5J
FIRST sscertainiDg the character Of the autho
OF authors.
The following is copy Of a paper which ha
been drawn up, aud signed by as many o
the gentlemen o! this city as have seen II