Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-12
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

THs UNITARIAN CHURCH CoNTRovRRsY.-
II may perhaps be unknown to some Of the
Stars District readers that during the whole
course Of the ministry Of the Rev. Mr.. Con.
way in this city, his abolition proclivities were
exceedingly repugnant to q majority of his
congregat alton, and that his pertinacious deter
minstion TO convert his pulpit into q place for
spOuting abolition stump speeehe s finally work
ed them up to the pitch Of sending him of
with flea in his ear. For doing tn at 90 sen.
sible and proper act, the congre CATION have
ever since been roundly abused by various
Northern politico-religious publications, tina,
have been mouthing over the charge that they
sent him North to obtain help funds for their
church under the representation that its pull
pit should be Gree" to be converted into q
place for the delivery Of abolition political
TRADES. The recent annual report of the YES
try Of the church in question completely dis
proves this allegation, showing that not q
penny 80 collected has ever reached them,
and that all the false pretences involved IN
Mr.. Conwsy's course when thus raising money,
were his own unauthorized acts, &c. We
quote the financial report Of the vestry as fol-
lows:
II appears by q statement submitted by Mr..
HAYES a member of q former Committee on
Repairs, that about the sum of 81, 867. so wa,
collected By Mr.. Conway for the benefit of this
Society, and that his expenses and charges for
collecting the same were S167 .65-leaving the
net amount 81, o99. 80; which sum, 30 far as
the committee are informed, il still in the
hands Of Mr.. Conway.
Mr.. Conway, through Mr.. Hayes, submitted
at the same time sundry letters addressed to
him, purporting to be answers to letters from
him propounding certain questions as to the
conditions upon which these collections were
made.
IT,. cL..
ters,) by the action Of the Church were order
ed to be referred to the present Committee on
Repairs, and to be printed with the annual
report of the Committee of Management The
committee regret that they were not furnished
with copies Of the letters of Mr.. Conway to
which these are replies. The answers, how
ever, sufficiently indicate the nature Of the
inquiries made, and at the same time exhibit
state of facts as regards Mr.. Conwsy's
course towards the congregation here, in the
matter, which, TO the committee, appears most
extraordinary and inexp. icable. Some of
these letters exhibit tone OF feeling towards
this Society, so unjust and unwarrantable
particular reference is here had to that Of
the Rev. DR.. Weiss. upon whom, it was hoped,
We had some claim for good feeling0 that We
cannot trust ourselves to characterize them as
We think they deserve.
Without psusing, however, to criticize, but
leaving these letters to speak for themselves,
the committee are constrained to make the
following statement by way Of explanation
It Is evident that Mr.. Conway, while at the
North, solicited aid IN the capacity of pastor
Of the First Unitarian Church at Washington
city for that church, and that in such capacity
and in furtherance Of his design of obtaining
aid as mentioned above, made certain prom
ises and pledges for the Society belonging to
that church) promising among other things,
and principally, that the pulpit occupied by
him should be used for the advance of the
Z" Anti sLareyy eaaJe" and that, upon such
promise, funds were contributed. Most of
these letters 20 TO show, that without such
promises, no such aid could have been OBJ
tanned; some 60 to the extent that such aid
was not for the church but for the Anti-slavery
cause, to the aid Of which these funds had
been pledged directly by Mr. Conway. In
some Of these letters the church is accused, in
almost so many words, Of being guilty of fraud,
OF false pretence, land upon the presumption
that the funds have been converted to its own
use y Of having done q base, mean action; in
others orders are given that the funds, if not
already disposed Of, be placed in other hands
through which the end for which they were
contributed, Chat is, the aid Of the Anti
slavery causs,l may be gair I'd But, not to
particulariIs, through the whole Of these let
tiers 1t Is plain to see that especial prominence
il given 10 the fact that the funds, about which
ticular object; that they were given for that
object upon the faith built upen the promises
OF Mr.. Conway that they should be 20 de.
voted, and that that object was primarily the
"Anti-slavery cause 10
If there were any doubt as to what ia meant
by the term "Anti-slavery cause" and the
other terms meaning the same thing that run
throughout these letters, the frequent alIu-
sions to the politics and political parties of the
day suf1ciently clear up all such doubt
Inc committee are at a loss (com pletely)
how to give expression to their surprise At the
course pursued by Mr.. Conway. Did thew
deem 1t necessary they might here show how
ruinous 70 all the hopes and interests of the
congregation would be the fulfillment of such
promises as those given so freely by the pas.
TOR. But no such demonstration is now need.
ed, the Church has been placed in an improper
attitude before thoss who have ever been its
friends, promises have been made for il that
were never authorized, it has had a ereviou,
wrong done it, and it claims an impartial
bearing.
The first tins, during his ministry, tia. Mr.
Conway ever used the pulpit of the Church
distinctly and avowedly for the 4. aufr-,Ia,,yv
cause, ms course met, on all sides with de-.
cided disapproval, and the committee of mar.
agement, In their annual report made about
the time, noticed the sermon, Ia thing without
Parallel,) and expressed their regret at and
disapproval Of the course taken This report
was received and adopted by msjority of
tne congregation, at regular meeting, and a
copy OF 1t was directed to be cent to M Con.
way, thing entirely unusual that be might
from It learn the sentiment Of the copgrees.
CATION; Again, Mr.. Conway, from the pulpit,
replied TO the committee and the conoraoa
ton, resenting their disapproval of his coufs..
announcing his Independence Of the congreps.
ton, and his determination to follow his own
bent, 1nmindful Of either society or commit.
tee. This was followed by the most unmis.
taxable demonstrations Of disapprobation.
many persons left the Church entirely, other.
withdrew for . time, and Of those Who "a.
NAMED the larger number begged the pastor
the pulpit. 'N'0
The committee do not deem il necessary %
gay anything about their own individual az.
Pre''ion', or those Of others, to a great mum.
Der; upon this subject to the pastor They
known that the majority of the c1n.r..,;a