Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-10-20
DE .oIo.,d Chureh QuestIon.
DAYros, Oct l7th, 1859

Ma, bAwRENoE--oH:-ltis is Win regret thal
we see you aud your associates persist in
building in our neighborhuod the negro church
after the slight hint you received few nights
since Now sir, we have resolved that that
church shall not be used by the negroes ~ Day.
ton You were driven fiom Oregon and you
8 ink because we have said but little about II
that we will allow the odi0us thinI to stand In
our neghbofhood. Those window caps were
b okeu by some Of our over Jealous members,
but IL il not our wish TO have the contractors
lose anything by the job, but let them flush
their lob, and hen we will commence OURS
There is an unanimous liberalization on the
part Of the property holders for two squares
around IL, 10 have II come down; aud in one
way aud another IL shall be destroyed. You
may employ men TO watch u, but we will
watch your wRtchmen, and as soon as they let
up in heir vigilance, down goes the church,
IL NAV take years to do il, but rs sure as the
sun rises aud sets, so surety will the thing come
down. You viii make money ty tearing down
what you have already put up,
The above is a true copy Of letter, which
I received yesterday through the Post Office,
relates to house IT worship which some Uui
ted Brethren are building on Ludlow street,
near the Old Grave Yard and the Union Depot.
The congregation, for whose use the church is
intended, has been worshipping for more than
year past, 10 Clayton Chapel on Buckeye
street. II is composed, principally, Of colored
persons. aud myself am the pastor 1t is,
80 far as know, a well behaved congregation;
and, at this time, quite number are inquirng,
earnestly, what they must do TO be saved. The
Sabbath School, connected with the congrega-
ton, has ninety one scholars enrolled, and,
l think, even sn enemy would admit, that 1t is a
quiet, orderly and interesting school. For this
congregation aud Sunday School, and for no
other purpose, we are building the house referred
| to.
| few months since we concluded 20 ask the
friends Of religion and Of man, to aid US in the
erection of a house Of worship. We did so
aud they responded quite literally. A board
Of trustees we're appointed, among VIII m are
Bishop Edwards. who has made his home In
our city, and D X Flikinger. Secretary Of our
Missionary Society. They purchased a lot,
and are now erecting a house TO be snown as
THE Third United Brethren Church, 10 Day,
ton, o."
We want this house to worship God in; and
in bis name, aud for his glory be- build il. We
have missions in Africa and to that distanV
land sehd aome Of our dearest friends; and the
bones Of uany Of the purest men and women, Of
our sister churches. repose in African SOIL
Now, we cannot persuade ourselves that the
colorrd man on the other side of the sea- needs
churches and preaching, while those who wtr.
born aud raised with US, in this country, are
rurorthy of our notice. Nor do we lhiuk II
wise to use all our breath in denouncing the
STAKEHOLDER, aud b"vaiing the condition of tho
slave, to the utter neglect Of the rights aud
wants Of our immediate neighbors.
Now, shall we he allowed to build and wor-
ship pekcesblyH II we cannot do this at the
place ,eleced IN Ludlow we can fud no suita
BILE location in Dayton; because white properly
holders live on every square in the city. The
question is not "Shall we have n church on
LudlowI" but "Shall we have a church in Day
tour" This is the question which we put TO
our Christian brethreu--to the Pre- sbyerian, !,
Lutherans MehodIsts, Eptscopalisns aud Bap
rsts-and to our fellow ciliz-us Of all parties.
The other evening, the stone window caps
Of our house were all broken subj citing the
contractors to the necessity Of buying others;
and, row, men that We have never injured, and
for whom We have only feelings Of ply, threat
en- to destroy our house by mob violence, or The
Incendiary torch.
am sorry 10 appear before the public to ask
protection for my humble church; and | do so
with a reluctance now, because Cannot believe
that such a Necessity does exist IN this free
city aud state. ! was advised. however, by a
member Of another church. aud one Of our most
esteemed citizens, to make public statement
Of our affairs JoHS LAWRENCE.
| (Wil the Gazette and Journal please copyD
| " The extraordinary events at Harpers Fer
y, Virginia. the other day, furnish the princi