Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-07-18
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.


inst. to burn Grace Church, and the wide
spread interest which is felt upon the subject,
have induced US TO make inquiry of the pas
tor. Rev Alfred Holmead, who has kindly fur
nished us with the following particulars: :.
H'That Grace Church was fred on the night
Of the 1lth, is Numerically true. That it was
the act Of some incendiary admits Of no doubt
That the incendiary act was fully premedita-
ted and most carefully devised is equally Ger
tain. The point at which the combustible ma
terial was deposited must have been selected
in the daylight. On either side of the church
there are six wooden buttresses. The case
Inent to these, with a single exception, reaches
the ground, and could, therefore, afford no
convenient place of deposit for the combusti-
bic material unless the earth beneath was re
moved or the plank forming the casing torn. in
part, away. Unfortunately, however, in a
single instance the casing did not extend to
the ground, by some two or three inches This
point, therefore, was selected. A ball of can
Ole wick, thoroughly saturated with turpen-
tine, was inserted underneath the casing of
this buttreSs and lighted. This ball of wick,
and portion of the paper in which it was
wrapped Is now IN the possession of the vestry
Of the church.
go The flame thus lighted in the buttress.
quickly communicated with the laths and other
wood work at the southeast corner of the church.
and in q few moments the destruction of the
whole building seemed inevitable But in the
good providence of God, by the active exertion
cf a few faithful men, the flames were kent
under, until the fremen arrived, when they
were extinguiShed by the almost superhuman
efforts Of those brave men, and best guards of
our city welfare. As to the motive which could
have instigated so diabOlical an act, il is. al
most, impossible TO conjecture. The rector.
veStry, and congregation of the church have
given no cause for such display of fiendish-
ness ON the part of any one. The acceptable
ness of the services of the church is fully attes-
ted by the facts, acknowledged of ALL that
here, upon the Island. where few wears ago.
but some three or four church families were
found, without place in which to worship,
now . beautiful and holy house is seen.
with one OF the most important congregations
certainly the second in size of the six well or
ganized and in active being So far as is
known, with all these we have lived and
moved upon the most harmonious and grateful
terms. Never, to our knowledge has one act
been done, or one word spoken by us or our
people. to give offence or to create heart burn
ing The work Of God has been done by us
and our people, quietly, peacefully and low
ingly towards all. To our bret hren of all other
denominations around Us, we hesitate not to
make the open appeal in behalf of the truth
ofthe above statement Had the work of the
ineendiary been accomplished to the full ex-
tent of his hellish purpose, and our church
burnt to the ground, our convictioni Is from the
tokens Of sympathy already in our possession,
that~the other congregations on the Island.
without single exception, would have felt the
shock OF the sad event equally with our peo-
pie. -
g But will the fiery blow which has been
struck be repeated? shall the flame again be
lighted? We hesitate not to say we have cur
fears and misgivinSs. On Sunday last Just
before the church was lighted for evening SER
vice, and while our hesrt-stricken people were
making ready to seek God altar, already de-
faced and eharred by the flames, the chaneel
windows. by some ruthless hand, were par
italy destroyed Upon the assembling of the
Congregation, when this second outrage was
known, the righteous Indignation of the peo-
pie could scarce be suppressed. The perpe-
traitors Of this second act of vandalism, it il
believed, may be discovered 1t is also
thought that the ball of wick, together with a
portion of the paper in which it was folded.
may yet lead TO the detection of the church
burner for whose arrest and conviction the
most searching Investigations are already On
foot. One cannot help connecting the firing of
the church with the breaking of the windows
OF Gods sanctuary under such aggravated
circumstances. The result may yet declare
that TO one and the same source thew are at
tributable. The prayers Of all good people
VIII be for the detection, arrest and conviction
VI NOcIe VI uCSuS 60 lOui-
ExcUEsIoy.-The Good Will Club will give
their first grand moonlight excursion and
pic ME- to the White House Pavilion. to.nor-
row They have chartered the steamer George
Washington, engaged superior brass and
sTing band, and provided for Tefreshme and
supper being furnished by an experience Cd
terer. The reader Is referred to the advertise.
ment In another column, for other particulars
Such an excursion will be welcome to those
who wish TO escape from the almost intolera-
bic heat OF the city. to {! breathe freer ard
deeper the cooling atmosphere of the Poto-
mac, and to enjoy few hours in pleasant COM
pany.
BIBLE PREsESTAFIoS.-Proceed Of an
interesting character took place last nisht at
temperance Hal. A Bible was presented to
Che Northern Liberties Division s. of T. AL
though notice of the contemplated event was
published from five Of the city pulpits and by
advertisement In the newspapers, not more
taan twenty persons were present-one- half of
tnem ladies. Suitable speeches were made
1t Is to be regretted that the number of audi.
tors was so-small. Either the weather was too
warm for our citizens to attend, or there is a
prevalent Indifference To the good cause We
suspect that both these causes operated to keep
people away.
II,
ungulshed organist Of st. Matthew'S Church
oeiIg now absent in Europe, the congregation
o. mat church were delighted, Oh Sunday last,
WITH the performance of the accomplished Mrs
blanchard, who presided at the magnificent
g%ss1n, accompanied by our fellow citizen, A.
1 heiekhofer, Esq, one of the first amateur
ttoilnists in the country. The music for the
1;caslon was Haydn's celebrated third mass.
mrs. blanchard, we learn, has kindly consent
80 perform every Sunday during the at
senee Of Mr.. Palmer.
lIBLic SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS This after
O'I; me pupils Of the first district school, Mr..
Nh heiey teacher, will be examined by the
Lnoie ooart. The school house is situated at
"e corner o; and Fourteenth streets.
.c In the 9th instant, the series of public
TS examinations will be concluded
mo. e ais'libution Of medals, premiums, diplo-
o.. anu me delivery of on annual address,
July P'''' 0i 'ne QUIZ anu 'is' u