Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-11-08
From the New York Watchman.
FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
WnMINaroN, N. c., Oct. 1856,

/ It'd. WATCHMAN: The Right Rev. th
Bishop of Mississippi is here ON shol
visit to the home Of his boyhood. He wa
welcomed by old and young, by the blac
as well as white, for he has that sweet dis
position (as well as voice and manner) tina
marks the true Christian gentleman. Hi
head is whittier, and his step less elastic
than when here before the war; indeed, i
time had not left its mark, affection an,
trouble must have done so, for the goot
bishop has not only parted in this life from
of war all his earthly comforts, his house
his furniture, his library, his all, have beer
utterly destroyed.
The bishop preached at Wrightsville, til,
summer rest of Wilmingtonians, on the sea
side, eight miles distant, Sunday morning
last, and in the afternoon he administered
the rite of confirmation Bishop Atkinson
being in England) in ST. Johns church il
this city. ST. Johns is quite young as
parish, and the church edifce is, therefore
new, having been finished in 1861, but il
manifests much life and spirituality, and is
increasing with healthful growth. It is
perhaps, the most beautiful church edifce
in the State is of the pure early Ed glist
Gothic style of architecture, with clere.
story, recess chancel, stained glass and east
window, and furniture of the native yellow
pine, oiled. It will seat six hundred and
fifty persons. A handsome new organ has
just been erected in the church by Jardine
& Sons, Of New York. It has two banks OF
keys, two octaves of pedals, two fronts of
speaking pipes, in gold and blue, about
five hundred pipes, twenty-five stops, and is
of exquisite tone and finish On the occa-
sion of the bishops visit the service, ex-
%ho onfiro1v oh no
effect was most inspiring and devotional,
and as it is likely to become common
throughout the Episcopal Church within a
few years the rector of st. Johns has occa-
sionally introduced it in his church, and
already is growing love for it manifested
on the part of his congregation. The mu-
sic in this church is of a very high order.
The Sunday following the entrance of
the Federal army into this city, the keys of
this church were seized by order of the
military subsequently the rector's house
was attacked, and fired into at night by
colored troops, and the rector, the Rev
Mr. Terry, was arrested by white guard.
In the evening the bishop preached in
St Jamess church, the Rev. Mr.. Watson
and the Rev. Mr.. Terry reading the service
This is one of the oldest and wealthiest
parishes in the Safe, dating its origin back
20 colonial times. The rector, the Rev. Mr.
Watson, i'll his annual report to the Do
,esan Convention says: Upon the cap
;ure of the city by the Federal forces, in
1865, the keys of the church were relied
Oy military order, emanating, I believe,
1uently the church was seized by order of
Brigadier-G eneral Hawley for a military
hospital This was not the first calamity
n the history of the parish. In 1850, dur
ng the occupation Of Wilmington by the
British troops, the church was stripped of
is pews and furniture, and converted first
MO O. b Jspital, then into q b1ock-house,
md finally into a riding-school for Tarle-
on's dragons. In 1866 the pews were
lgain torn out with pickaxes, and the
hurch building was very seriously dam
.ged.
The Front street Methodist church at
he same time was, by order of Major-Gen-
raj Schofeld, turned over to the colored
members for use one half of each day and
hat order is still in force, greatly to the
discomfort of the rightful owners. Through
nut this trying time the then pastor, the
Rev. Mr.. Burkhead, bore himself with
,reat frmness and propriety.
The work on the First Baptist church,
commenced before the war, under its zeal
us pastor, the departed Pritchard, is now
esumed, and it is beginning to point it's
pire heaven-ward. Though pin symmetry
# architecture it is defective, yet, when
nished, it will be an imposing structure,
nd an ornament to the city. The Rev.
North soliciting funds to aid the church.
The Presbyterian church also is new, with
handsome exterior formerly, owing to pol
teal variances between pastors and people,
t did not thrive, but now it is blessed in the
aithful ministrations of the Rev. Mr.. Sin
,leton, and seems to prosper.
The Roman Catholic congregation is I'M
Ter the care of the Rev. DR.. Corcoran, a true
Southern spirited gentleman. We happen
O know of an instance in which a large
mount of aims was placed in DIR. Corco
ans hands, by the Archbishop of Balti
more, for the distribution among the desti
ute of the State, and in which distribution
Dr. Corcoran knew no creed an evidence
# that charity which "covereth multi
ude of sins"
There is another Methodist congregation
n Fifth street, which has recently been
greatly blessed and enlarged, and another
also st. Paul's (Episcopal),
of white and colored before the
war, has since been converted by Bishop
ATKINSON 1nCO CHURCH anu ScuOOI lOT G1e
,olored people. Both, under Bishop At
1inson, are in the immediate charge of the
Rev. Mr. Jones, IL deacon of this diocese,
who is faithful in his ministrations and
teaching. He has acongregation of between
;wo and three hundred, the schoolof blacks
numbers about three hundred. At first the
,olored children manifested great dislike
10 the creed (which they are daily taught
n the SCHOOL,, and indeed to all parts of
he Church service, but now they are be-
coming to like it, and already many who
knew nothing of the services before, are as
ready to join in it as those (of whom there
ire many. who had been baptized and train
I'd in the Episcopal Church. They all show
. reverence for the religion of their former
masters, and they are beginning to learn,
100, that it is among them they find their
pest friends. HAvERsAC.
From the Baltimore Transcript.