Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-08-14
REV. j. T. LEFTWICH.

Leftwich, of Alexandria, Va had his Church clo-
sed against him for timc by the invaders who,
alas still tyrannise in that city The circumstances
having been msrcpresented the following was writ
ten in correction. 1t was published in the Wash
ington Star, accompanied by very coarse and vul-
gar criticism, characteristic however Of its source:
W. D. WALLACE, Esq.-Sir: find in the last is
sue of the Star two letters from your correspon-
dents whose reports of the occurrences of last Sab
bath contain misstatements, which / trust your
love of fairness will afford the of your col
umns to correct shall endeavor to give you mere
ly the pith of the matter In my second prayer
last Sabbath morning in adverting to public affairs,
[ implored, as has been my wont, that God would
avert impending calamties and restore to our eople
the blessings of prosperity and peace; but that if
lie had ordained judgment, and not mercy, and the
sections now in hostile array should meet in the
shock Of battle, lie would if consistent with truth
and right give the victory to our arms. At the
close Of the service, was waited upon by an officer,
who courteously invited me to 60 over and see Col
Hentzleman. Upon arriving at that officers head
quarters he told me that he had learned that hsd
been preaching and praying secession" answer
ed that as regarded my preaching, was studiously
avoiding any ausion to national complications,
but that had prayed for the success of the South
ern arms He said that such proceedings would not
be allowed-that if prayed at all, should not
pray for the South but should pray for the success
Of the United States forces. Iasked him If should
understand that ,oas to be denied thu liberty Of
prayer, to which he replied that should, unless
prayed for the of the United States. told
him as this would conflict with my convictions of
right should never consent to doso Hethen declar-
ed that should then be deprived Of the use of my
pulpit and the doors of the church should be closed
answered that he had the power, and could exsr-
else it but that at the appointed time should pro-
coed to the church, and If permitted to preach,
duct the services as before. When in the evening
the sexton went to light the building, preparatory
to worship, he was stopped by guard stationed at
the door, who told him that he had instructions to
prevent our occupying the church that evening
At a quarter past eight however, half an hour af.
ter the usual time for opening the church, and
quarter of an hour after the congregation should
have been seated and the services commenced, the
Provost Marshal called at my house and very kindly
informed me that the prohibition had been with
drawn, and that could proceed with the services.
But as it was then half an hour after the time and
the sexton had disappeared, and especially, as the
crowd around the church had become too excited
for profitable participation in the services deter
mined after consultation with my elders that there
should be TO preaching that night Thus, sir, for
the first time, perhaps in the history Of the Govern
ment house Of worship has been closed by armed
men, against an uuofending people, because their
minister chose to exercise in his own pulpit the in
alienable liberty Of prayer.
1t remains to be seen whether this act will be
sanctioned as of the necessities of war. Is it
not time for all thoughtful men to pause and con-
slider whittier we are drifting, when conscience is
required to about face at the bidding Of the militia
ry, and our very prayers are guided heavenward by
the point of the bayonetp
As to the alleged division of sentiment in my
church, all that shall say is, that unless the signs
are strangely deceptive my prayers carry weekly
to God the earnest and honest desires of united
and devoted people. If there be more than one sup
porter of the administIa alton in my congregation Il
am yet to learn his name. l am not alone in this
kind of offence, if offence it can be called. As
look at these hills, now whitened With tents feel
assured that beyond them there is scarcely brook
side on which some Jacob is not wrestling for the
results which have invoked, and in all those sweep
ing ranges scarcely mountain from which good
men, with eyes wrapt as were Moses upon Nebo,
are not fondly beholding visions Of success.
JAMES 7. LEFTWICH,.
Pastor Of the I'd Presbyterian Church,
:. "'''i- Alexandria Virginia