New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-29
RECONsTRUCTION OF THE SOUTH
ERN CHURCHES.

me GuuEfItb VI LlIc iDtttutu t1ttlVN hh'' p''h
from the beginning OF the Rebellion among the
most malignant and violent advocates of dis
solution of the Union, and the pcrpetuat!on oil
Slavery. The few isolated Union members
among the clergy were soon discovered and
driven from their posts, and in no class OF South
ern Society has the eIprit dU corps been more
decidedly disloyal and pro-Slayery than among
the clergy. lii Tennessee, Louisiana, and Ark
ansaS a considerable portion of the population
appear to haze now renowned Secession and
sincerely attached themselycSagan to the Union.
But We look in vain for u corresponding move
ment among the churches. They remain in
sullcn opposition both to the National Govern
mcnt and to the church organizations of the
loyal States; and their pulpits, schools and
presses are still used a, far rs the military au-
thoritics will allow them to be, for the dis,em-
inatlou Of dislpyal sentiments.
The Government has long had under con-
sidcratOn the best means to put a stop to the
preaching Of treason. The Secretary of War,
in December 1868, issued an order directing
States to take possession of all the church
cdfceS of tho Methodist Episcopal Church
South in which there were not loyal ministers,
appointed by loyal bishop, officiating; and to
put them in charge of the bishops of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church who, in accordance with
the resolutions passed by the Missionary Board
of this Church, were visiting a number of the
recovered States, for the purpose of reconstruct
ing in them their Church. Subsequently, SINH
lar orders were issued in favor of the Mission
ary Boards of the Baptist, The Old and New
School Presbyterians, and the United PreSby-
teranS. In accordance with these orders, a
number OF Churches, belonging to d.Sloyai or
carnations, have been transferred to loyal
ministers from the North, aud a number Of
houri,hing congregations and schools, princi-
pally among the freedmen, have been organ
lied.
In many quarters the orders of the Secretary
Of War have been understood ~ intending to
give 10 the Methodist, Baptist and PrcsbYte-
rians Of the loyal States, the legal Tenure of all
the church edihccs of the same denominations
in the Rebel States and a number of religious
papers Of the North, adopting this interpreta-
ton, haze declared their disapprobation Of Mr..
Stanton's order, as an undue interference of The
State IN Church matters. The Rebels have
been, of course. ineKpreSoibly indignant, and
the Conferences of the Southern Methodist
Church in Kentucky Missouri, and Tennessee,
hayc recently held a Conference AT Louisville
Ia take the necessary steps for the protection of
the property of their Church. These parties
put however a construction upon Mr.. Stan
tons orders which his words do not war
rant. These not only leave the property !
question undecided. but care has been taken, !
number of Southern Methodist churches, !
in Louisiana, to declare expressly that their
temporary occupation by loyal ministers was in
no way to prejudice the property question. AS
We understand the orders, they only intend 10
stop the preaching of treason, to deprive ayow-
eddy disloyal organizations Of edices which have
been used again and again for disloyal purposes,
and 10 allow loyal ministers the temporary use
Of these edifices for the purpose of collecting
thoroughly loyal congregations. In this SENSE
the orders have been construed by the majority |
of the Northern churches which, while claiming
for the Government the right of confiscating the
property used BY disoyal corporations for dis
loyal ends, would decline the acceptance of the
right of property in these churches.
OfvaStly greater importance than the church !
property question in the Slave States is the
building up of loyal and Anti-Slayery congre- |
cations Hitherto this reconstruction Of the !
Southern Churches has not kept pace with the
movements looking toward reconstruction of
the States, nj least so far rs the native white |
population are concerned. The Freedmen have |
shown themselves in this respect, as in Others, !
the soundest Union element in the South. |
They have large number Of church congrega-
tons and schools devotedly attached to
the Union of the States. Nearly all the mis-
Sonares that have faithfully labored among |
them have met with great success, and The only |
difficulty is 10 find for these people sufficient
number of pastors and teachers. Among the |
white people of the South greater difficulties
will have to be overcome The greatest efforts
in this direction have hitherto been made By the |
Methodist Episcopal Church, which has al !
ready made preparations for founding congrega-
tons in about dozen places in Louisiana and
Arkansas, and proposes to extend its mis- I
sionsry operations ~ soon a. possible 10 every |
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