Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-12-12
Letter Of Rev. 3. Il. Creever.

Letter Of Rev. 3. d. CreeVer,
The following, from the pen of Rev. D. II!
Creever, was published in the New York "Metho-
dist" of Nov 4,h, 1865. Mr.. Creever was ap-
pointed by Bishop Clark, of the Northern Metho-
dist Church, to take charge of the Methodist con-
gregation in Winchester, Va. The Reverend
gentleman made his appeara nee about the 1st OF
September, and took foreible possession of the
Church, supplanting their egular pastor, Rev.
Norval Wilson, high-toned gentleman, devous
Christian, and an able and venerable minister OF
the Ba ltimore Annual Conference, and thus by
foisting himself upon people who did not desire
his services, deprived them of the sacred right Of
worshipping God in Church erected BY their
own means.
The congregation having been turned out OF
their own Church, have ACCEPTED On invitation 10
occupy the commodious Church erected by the
Me hodist Episcopal Church South, where they
have the pleasure of listening TO the word of God
as preached by their beloved pastor, Mr.. Wilson,
m an Of their own choice.
As an evidence of the Christian faith exhibited
by Mr. Creever, and of the ''bowels of mercy"
with which he yesrns towards his erring, but un-
repenting bre: hren, and also to apprise Virginia
Methodists of the kind treatment they may expect
at his hands, we subjoin the following charitable
opinions expressed by him in the letter referred
to-
ssThe attempt of certain ministers, formerly OF
the Baltimore Conference, to occupy her church
ediices in this valley, and to corrupt the minds
of her people, is uuholy effort Of desperate
men to save themselves by the destruction of the
Church. 1t is crni nal conspiracy, limited IN
it's primary and secret agency to q few leading
minds, and generated by the identical spirit that
produced our civil war. These men are SO shamo-
fully involved by public and professional advoca-
cy in the guilt of the rebellion, that no thing less
than repentance and fruits meet for repentancs
could secure for them liberation favor in
thoroughly loyal communities. They are them-
selves profoundly convinced Of this fact. But
they unblushngiy unrepentant, with the fact
staring them in the face that by their work st
Staunton, in 1901, tLsy holy al 10 GOAL The fta of
Virginia, and to precipitate the rebellion Re-
sponsible before heaven for the slaughter OF hun:
dreds, perhaps thousands, Of young men. dsluded
by their sophisries into the rebel ranks, they yet
betray no particle of regret.
''In this condition they acceps the alternative
which is forced upon them, which is to sdhers
sulleny to the fields they have helped to desolate.
! and to the people whose sons they have betrayed
to unhonored graves
'sTo foster the old sectional hate begotten by
sla very is with them, a cardinal virtue, essen-
tial to success. The great feature OF their held
| tactics is TO resist tue invaders-that is, the
coming Of the regular ministry of the NJ. e.
Church. They cannot otherwise bind the people
to themselves than by inhaming the lingering
sparks of the rebellion, branding native loyalty
with reproachful epithets and creating local pre-
Ijudiee against rthern enterprise and thrift.
.tThus we have reinaugurated on Virginia soil
tha Of
the gospel of peace and good will stand at Gods
altar and virtually swear their subjects to undy-
ing enmity Of those who are in reality their best
friends.
s.Some apology might be discovered for their
lamentable church secession while slavery yes
ruled with despotic sway. It were charitable to
believe that they neither foresaw the consequent
ces of that act, nor sought to strengthen the
hands of political criminals who were even then
preparing tc apply the torch to the temple Of our
liberties But to maintain their present attitude,
after the unequalled HORRORS of the past four
, years. shuts out all charitable presumption.
..The christianity and patriotism of this scheme
of building religious institutions the basis Of
sectional prejudice, is only equaed by the mod
esty of those who are seeking its promotion.
Some of them have recently been to Washington
Rebels have been there in great numbers recelv-
ing amnesty for past sins, and swearing ane"
their fealty to the government. AS these gen.
tlemen, however, are not convicted OF sin, they
were not concerned about pardon. What they
wanted was protection. Heaven save the marx!
If their prayers for the success Of the rebellion
I had only been answered--so fervent and SO well
remembered now-they would not have needed
even this f; but as, by some mysterious provl.
: dence. doubtless intended for the trial of their
faith the blessed eonfederacy is in state OF sus-
pended animation, and slavery Is apparently
dead, they find it convenient, for the time beng to
recognize a federal executive.
D ssTheir modest request was that they simply
be prot &c ted in the possession of the property Of
the great and venerable Church whose interests
they have so foully betrayed Thoroughly versed
lin the eonnectional unity of Methodism, knowing
, well that this is the secret of her power as de-
r nomination, and that, to this very end-that lss
, to maintain this unity-her church property 10
secured to the uee of her ministry at large, under
the pastoral control of her bishops, these seceders
vet claim to be the exclusive priests at her altars
s.This would be Cancellation with vengeance.
When loyal and true meE, who are a part OF ev-
ery community, find the doors Of the M. E.
/ Church shu in their faces by the mandate OF the
|, President reconstruction will be complete.
; 'sThe following appointments in the Virgins
district have been made recently under the au-
thorty of Bishop Clark: Berryville circuits Clark
county, John Lloyd; Fredericksburg, J. M
Green Leesburg, and adjacent appointments
Joseph A. Ross Harper's Ferry, with an inter-
esting portion of Loudoun county annexed, Er
Richardson Barkely circuit, George Filmeyer
and ]. Montgomery, in place of g. M. Hobbs,
who, it is understood will go to shepherdstown
/ ssOther places will be supplied as soon as pos
sble. The entire work will doubtless be provi-
ded for at the next session of the Baltimore Cor-
ference. 1t is understood that there good and
true men in portions Of our territory here who
will be found in their places at that session OF the
Conference.
i TIxoxIsxDs, Va
/