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


tiny.
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 (co,or.
ed) Of the Northern Methodist Church, for the
recovery OF certain houses and lots devised to
the NJ +. Church by the last Will and T--,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
and South, which took place about !SiS. These
coored claimants, although tR.y acQuiesced in
the separation aud followed the Church South,
now say that they had no voice in said sepsra
ton; that having acquesced 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 Methods lists, known ~ the
Church South, lost all right t. said property hy
their act Of secession er separation, from the
Church North.
These grounds, eI raordnary as tiev NAV
appear, were, after trial Of several weeks Gu-
ration, sustained by the Court, and an order
made that possession Of the property in dispute
bs gwen to the Plaintiffs.
tits said that All effort will be made nv the
Defendants to have the case discussed before
the Supreme Court Of the Uni.ed States. and
the following Questions determined First
whether large number Of congregati. ms Of a
religious denomination, leaving that denomina.
ton. lose all right, not only to the general pro.
Pe'ty OF the denomination, but also to the par.
t'cular property Of the several congregations? J?
Second, whether negroes in a state Of slavery
had any right Of property Third, whether
the G' Rights Bill ia constitutional. Fourth,
whether the decisions Of Provos. Courts in civil
matters are binding in time O. peace
After the decision which h.. been made in
Charleston, it ma, very well be appreh ended
that an attempt will he made to eject ,h. prea.
cheers 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 denomin nation
may soon be called upon to meet, and they
should prepare themselves for it. The Worth.
ern Methodist Church, q body az powerful as I,
is corrupt and unscrupuees, will bring all Of
its great resources To bear in securing dominion
and Dre'emInence in the South and in eleya.
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 sny pro.
position looking TO reunion with the Church
No III. The free uss Of its influence for TEN.
poral ends, its fanaticism. and its higher law.
ls'i., are elements uncongrnial TO Southern
mind. and no result can be worse tn ,n 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 the Methodist
Church, South, there are now, really, but lew
denominational differences mono involving
any cardinal points OF doctrine, and none winch
might not be reconciled by tho exercise of
Christ'an conci'iat'on. without any departure
from christian principle. For number Of years
the line Of dsma arkation between their have
been gradually lessening, and wn hope that the
dav IL not far distant when the Methodist Epis.
copal Church, South, and the Episcopal Church,
will be one and indivisible