The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-07-11
l he Metho list Church, South,
in Court, and its future Des.


tiny.
A case has recently been decided before the
Superior Provost Court in Charleston, Of vast
| Importance to the interests of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, involving no less than
the question Of title to their entire Church pro .
perty: Suit was instituted by rustees (colcr'
ed) Of the Northern Methodist Church, for the
recovery Of certain houses and lots devised to
the NJ. E. Church by the last Will and T-4,a
ment Of John Mckee, who died in 1881 This
property, like all her Church property in the
South, WAS held by the Southern Church from
the time vt the separation of the Church North
aud South, which took place about .SiS. These
colored claimants, although they acQuiesced in
the separation aud followed the Church South,
now say that they had no voice in said sepsra.
ton; that having acquiesced from nee, ssity,
their rights were reserved that having become
reunited with the Methodist Church proper,
they are entitled t, the property Of the Church;
aud that the Southern Method lists, known ~ the
Church South lost all right t. said property by
their act Of secession er separation, from the
Church North.
These grounds, eI raordnary as tfev may
appear, were, after trial of several weeks Gu-
ration, sustained by the Court, and an order
made that possession Of the property in dispute
be gwen to the Plaintiffs.
1t is said that an effort will be made nv the
Defendants to have the case discussed before
the Supreme Court Of the Unied States, and
the following Questions determined First
whether large number of congregat ms of a
religious denomination, lie Iving taat denomina.
ton. lose all right, not only to the general pro-
perty OF the denomination. but also to the par.
ticular property Of the several congregation? ?
Second, whether negroes In a state Of slavery
had any right 6 property Third, whether
the G';l Rights Bill ia constitutional. Fourth,
whether the decisions of Provo.: Courts in civil
matters arc binding in time O. peace {,
After the decision which ha, been made in
Charleston, it may very well be appreh ended
that an attempt will be made to eject thu prea.
chers and congregations Of the Methodist
Church South from their Churches and Par
! sonages, and put them in possession Of the
Northern Church. 1t is grave issue which
the members aud lends Of this denomination
may soon be called upon to meet. and they
should prepare themselves for it. The Worth.
ern Methodist Church, q body as powerful as Il
is corrupt and unscrupulors, will bring all Of
its great resources tn bear in securing dominion
aud DreIeminencp in the South aud 4, .i,r.
ting the negro, though il be a. the expense and
degradation Of the whites. Whatever the con.
sequences may he. we hope that no Southern
Methodist will for a moment entertain any pro.
position looking to a reunion with the Church
No ih. The free Ise Of its influence for TEN.
poral ends, its fanaticism. and its higher law.
sn., are elements uncongrnial to q Southern
mind. and no result can he worse tn ~ UNION
with them. II we must lose our identity as a
Church South, let Us 60 back to the Church
from whence We originally sprung-the Episco
pal Church-bet~een which ard tn. Methodist
Church, South. there are now, really. but lew
denomnational differences mono involving
any cardinal points OF doctrine, and none winch
might not be reconciled by tho exercise Of
Christian conciliation, with.ut any departure
from christian principle. For number Of Years
the line Of dsmarkation between their have
been gradually lessening, and wo hope that the
dav IL not Far distant when the Methodist Epis.
copal Church, South, and the Episcopal Church,
will be one aud indivisible.