Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-07-28
The Methodist Church South, in Court, and
its Future Destinv

'|uPSi1oi L lOhoSl SOuIG III CuaTIcSlOn, OF vast
Importance to the interests of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, involving no less
than the question of title to their entire Church
property: Suit was instituted by Trustees
(colorcO of the Northern Methodist Church,
| Tor the recovery of certain houses and lots de-
vised to the Nj. e. Church by the last Will
and Testament of John Mckee, who died in
1881. This property, like all other Church
property in the South, was held by the South
crn Church from the time Of the separation of
the Church North and South, which took
place a bout 1915. These colorcd claimants,
although they acquicsced in the separation
and followed the Church South now say that
they had no voice in said separation; that
having acquicsced from necessity, their rights
were reserved; that having become reunited
with the Methodist Church proper, they are
entitled to the property Of the Church and
mat the Southern Mcthodists, known assthc
Church So' IN, lost all right to said property
by their act of secession or separation, from,
the Church North.
These grounds, extraordinary as they may
appear, were after trial of several weeks du.
ration, sustained by the Court, and an order
made that possession of the property in dis
putc be given to the Plaintiffs
1T is said that an effort will be made by the
Defendants to have the case discussed before
the Supreme Court of the United States, and
the following questions determined First.
whethcra large number of congregations of u
religious denomination, leaving that dcnomi
nation, lose all right, not only to the general
property of the denomination, but also to tho
particular property Of the several congrcga-
tions Second, whether negroes in state of
slavery had any right of property? Third,
whether the Civil Rights Bill is constitutions
al Fourth, whether the decisions of Pro.
vost Courts in civil matters are binding in
time of peace?
After the decision which has been made in
Charlcston,Sit may very well be apprehended
that an attempt will be made to eject the
Church South from their Cnurcnes anu lu,-
sonagcs, and put them in possession of the
Northern Church. 1t is a grave issue which
the members and friends of this denomination
may soon be called upon to meet, and they
should prepare themselves for it, The North
ern Methodist Church. a body as powerful as
it is corrupt and unscrupulou-, will bring all
of its greatest resources to bear in securing
dominion and prc.cmincncc in the South and
in elcvatng the negro, though it be at the
expense and degradation Of the whites. What
ever the consequences may be, We hope that
no Southern Methodist will for moment en-
tertnin any proposition looking to II re, union
with the Church North The free use of its
influence for temporal ends, its fanaticsm,
and its higher law-ism, arc clements uncongc.
nial TO Southern mind, and no result can be
worse than union with them. If we must
lose our identity as Church South, let us go
back to the Church from whence we original
ly sprung-thc Episcopal Church-betwccn
which and the Methodist Church, South, there
are now, really, but few dcnominational differ
enccs; none involving any cardinal points Of
doctrine, and none which might not be recon
clcd by the exercise of Christian Cancellation,
without any departure from christian sprinc-
pie. For number of years tho line Of ,dc-.
markation between then, have. been gradually I
lcsscnng, and We hope that the1day is not far
distant when the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, and the Episcopal Church. will be one
and ndivisible.- Lancaster Ledge.
ABoUr WoMEN.--D' Israeli, speaking of
the society of refined and charming women
said ~
{" 1t is an acquaintance which, when habit
ual, exercises a great influence over the tono
OF the mind, even if it does not produce any
more violent effects. 1t rcfincs the taste,
quickcns the perception, and gives, as it we're,
grace and aexibiity TO the intellect" Some
where else the same writer remarks that s"men .
arc as much stimulated to mental effort by the
sympathies Of the gentlcr sex, as by the de-
sire of power and fame. Women arc moro
disposed to appreciate worth and intellectual
superiority than men, or at least, they are as
often captiyated by tho noble manifestations
of genius, as by the destinations of manners
and the charms of person" S,&
And Sydney Smith says: !" Among men Of
sense and liberal politeness, a woman who has
successfully cultivated her mind, withoutdi.
minishing the gentleness and propriety Of her
manners is always sure TO tucet with respect
and attention bordering upon enthusiasm
| Again, another writer observes that GOT
all other views d man may, in time, grow