The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-12
LETTER FROM EDIsTO.
EDIsTo ISLAND, July 9.


Presbyterian Church Of this Island, and your
anxiety on my own account, I have thought that
| plain statement of the proceedings on Sunday,
the Oath Of June, would be gratifying to you and
other friends.
| You are aware that tho colored persons had
taken possession Of the Church building, and had
been assembling in it for worship from Sabbath
to Sabbath. They. were also occupying it az
school during the week. Several OF the families
OF the congregation having returned to the Island,
the officers Of the Church thought 1t both desir-
| able and proper to reclaim the building and ceme-
terry. This step considered necessary, as
the colored persons, under the guidance and in
fluence Of colored men, protesting themselves to
be regularly ordained Presbyterian Minister'S
sent here as Missionaries by some ecclesiastical
authority at the North, had organized themselyes
into Church, elected Elders, &o., and appeared
to be aiming at holding possession Of the Church
property.
For some eight or ten days previous to the Sab
bath alluded to notice had been publicly given,
by message, to be circulated among the colored
members Of the Church, also by written card
set up at one or more Of the stores that tho aged
Pastor Of the Church would perform religious
services ID. w. in tho Church on the Island, on
Sunday, the 24th OF June, and that he requested
to meet him there on that day, and unite with
him once more in the worship Of God. Notwith-
standing this notice, when the Pastor arrived on
the spot the building was found to be already oc-
oupied, the pews in the body Of the Church filed
with colored persons, and worship commenced
The officers and white members OF the conerega-
tioD, being resolved to proceed peaceably and
kindly made no attempt to interrupt the services
n
officer in command on the Island, that he might
read the order Of Gen. soorr for the restoration
Of the property to the Corporation, it's lawful
owners. After the arrival Of the officer, and some
conversation held on the subject the Pastor (by the
advice Of this oficer) went into the Church inst
before the services being ended, and as there
was an Individual in the pulpit speaking at the
time, he took his seat on bench in the aisle As
| soon as the speaker ceased the Pastor rose, and
| in the name OF the Almighty God, the Father,
! Son, and Holy Ghost, requested to be kindly and
patiently heard. 81.
He stated that he held in his hand document
| signed by General SoorT, by which that part OF
| the property Of the Corporation was restored to
| them. he then read the document, and address.
ing his fellow-members, he aeotionat ely request
ed them to continue in connection with him and
their felow-members. He stated to them zap.
pealing to those OF the older members who were
presently that he had been moro than forty.ive
(45) years their Pastor, had taught and admitted
to Church privileges all who had Joined the Church
up to the close Of 1S61,-that he had visited and
prayed with the sick and the dying in past years,
that he was extremely unwilling to part with
them, when he had grown old among them; but II
they thought they could serve God with more
spiritual benefit to themselves in another orgsni-
IA ~ {ba
to give them certificates Of dismission on their
application. He told them that If they would
separate from him and the Church he requested
them to remember the years that were past, and
as they had lived together in kindness and affec-
ton, let their parting be with the same feelings
He then appealed to their leaders, and, requested
them to obey the authority OF the Government Of
hcer, and restore peaceably and without delay
the property to it's rightful owners. This appeal
answered kindly and courteously from the
pulpit, by two OF the ministers, that they willingly
and readily restored the property to the regular
Pastor and officers of the Church.
The Pastor, during his address, told his colored
friends and brethren in Christ, that those of them
who determined to hold to their regular conneo.
ton, would be expected hereafter to take their
seats, according to former custom, in the CALLER
les, and that il the number should be too large
to be accommodated there, there would be seats
assigned them in the lower part of the building,
on application to the proper officers. The congre-
cation was then dismissed, and the possession Of
the building quietly and peaceably resumed by
officers of the Corporation. In q few minutes
after the Pastor ascended the pulpit, and, after
the singing Of hymn, reading portion Of the
Scriptures, and few remarks, led in o thanks
giving to God, for His goodness in having 30
quietly and peacefully restored to them the place
OF their former worship and that OF their fathers
As member Of the Church, I may have been
more minute on the above subject, possibly, than
I ought to have been. It was, and still is, sub.
ect Of deepest interest to myself and many Others
I will pass, however, to brief consideration Of
thepresent agricultural prospect Of the Island.
It is very gloomy. The general opinion (as far
as have heard it) is, that more than third Of
crop Of cotton cannot be realized, and scarcely
enough Of provisions to support the freedmen
through the winter months. The present system
ofworking the land in patches, each according to
his own judgment, with no one to control him or
direct his industry, is not only ruinoue to the