Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-06-24

answered as intelligently rs any cf their ag'
fin sfurope or America; and the Lords worl
seemed prospering and sure. Alas, for th'
change in five or six years Poverty hn
oYertaken these desolated homes-fre ha
consumed their houses; the rice fields, ricl
as any land between the Mississippi and The
Nile, lie desolate; their former laborers caI
scarcely be induced to work. ~
4, J,rThejr religious deterioration is painful
They have forsaken the way which they had
learned, and taken to themselves teachers o
their own color. Fanatacsm and eXtrava
lgence rule in their religious assemblies tc
such an extent as to require the aid of the
military to keep order and repress vinlenee
There are indications of q return to African
bsrbarsm. There are noreligious services re-
established in the three churches on Wacca.
nav NAV. The planters are bankrupt; their
] houses despolled their costly libraries torn
topieees or shipped to Northern ports. What
good the Lord may work out of the present
! coRtuson we know not; but to human eyes
lthe present state of things is only evil to both
Tsces which inhabit these beautiful shores.
rFifeIhe history Of this once happy region is
written in single personal incident. The
ieldest,son of the largest rice planter on Wac
cam calnaw lately died. He was supported during
his illness by charity, and was buried by the
contributions Of friends.
Christ Church. Columbia, shared the fale
of That beautiful city when burnt by General
| Shermans army in February, 1865. With
the exception of its elder sister in that city
Faswas the largest and handsornest church in
the diocese, outside Of Charleston. 1t was
censecratcd in 1859, and was in the height Of
itsprosperity. The church, with its organ,
carpets, books and all that it contained, was
destroyed in that fearful night. The loss to
the congregation amounted to 100000. A
disputed title to the LOT on which the original
church stood has involved them in additional
losses, and the removal of many of their
members, in the depopulation of Columbia,
has reduced to the lowest ebb this once -four.
ishing congregation. The few survivors find
themselves quite unable to support minister.
Their services are manifested by the aid of
the Domestic Board of Missions. The de-
struction of this church may be considered
the heaviest blow 10 the welfare ofour diocese.
Trinity Church Columbia, suffered the loss
Of its beautiful parsonage, which was burnt,
as well as the Sunday Schoolhonse, with their
contents, including the records of the parish
from its organization. The loss to the church
amounts to so or $4,000.
The communion plate, valuable set, was
forcibly taken. from the rector, by band of
soldiers, as he was endeavoring to carry it
from his burning house to place of safety.
1t ncver has been recovered.
I'l- gSt.Jo1tn's Church, Wmns6oro'. This church
was destroyed by fire when portion of that
ltoWn was burnt By the Federal army. The
organ, furniture, books, end all the church
property were consumed 1t has involved q
small congregation in loss Of $jOO0. Their
services are maintained, and there is some
prospect ci re. building the church-the only
Instance in the diocese of any such proposal.
Grace Church, Cmdcn.-The church es-
caged (but has, unfortunately, been burnt in
rhs last year) and the bishops residence was
respected; but the brick building owned by
IAtEA church. .!and loaned to the Theological
Seminary, was burnt by inccndiarics after The
troops passed through. The greater part of
the library belonging to the Society for the
advancement of Christianity in South CARROLL
M was thus destroyed. The loss to the semi
nary and the diocese is heavy, for this library
was the accumulation Of fifty years, and con-
tanned many rare and costly books, whose
MONEY value it is impossible to estimate.
S. DaUids Church, Cheraw, was the last
church in the eastern part of the State in the
line of the Federal invasion. 1t was serious
y damaged by an explosion of ammunition
near il, aud doors, windows, and part OF the
vail shattered. The church plate was stolen,
With hooks and furniture, and its enclosure
prn down. But the church is >habitable, and
is worship continues.
10 sum up the losses of the diocese, it ap-
ycars that ten churches have disappeared !;
tlat twenty-five parishes are suspended; that
deven parsonages have been burnt; that
gcry church between the Savannah River
and Charlotte has been irjurrd, some stripped
eren of weather boarding and flooring; that
amost every minister in that region OF the
State has lost home and library; that along
he entire seaboard, from North Carolina to
Georgia. where OUR church had hourished for
norc than q cennlry, there are but four
mrishes which maintain religious services /;
hat not one, outside the City Of Charleston,
.sn be called living, self-sustaining parish,
BILE to support minister that their clergy
i've by fishing, by gaming and mechanic arts ;
,ud that a!mnst every church, whose history
appears on this record, has lost its communion
plate, often massive and yenecabe set, the
donation of an English or Colonial ancestor.
Tie pecuniary losses might be repaired it
the diocese were az in days gone by. But
lin its present impoverished condition, no hope
:emains of speedy restoration. This genera
ion can scarcely behold it.
May the God of all grace grant Us, in faith
and patience, to try and build again the waste
PLACES of ZION. "0 Lord of Hosts, look
down from Heaven, behold and visit this vine,
which thy right hand hath planted" "lt
hath been burnt with fire and the wild boar
cut of the wood doth root it up" "Comfort
IS ag in after the time that thou hast plagued
Is and for the years wherein We have suffered
.dversity." "Show thy servants thy work,
and tiny children thy glory" Prosper thou
the work Of our. hands.i" O, prosper thou our
handy work"
PETER !. SHAND,
PAUL TRAPlER.
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