Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-16
Church Burning at DandrIdge---The
Old Argument.

A friend, who was present in cambridge at the
time and cav and heard everything, gives us the
particulars of tho burning Of the Hopewel Presby-
terian church, in that village.
teachers institute for Jefferson county met pur-
suAnt 10 the call of the county superintendent, in
the church, on Wednesday, the End instant. The
exercises usual in institute were carried on during
the forenoon, afternoon ami evening. By specisl
request Rev. Il. o. Tade County Superintendent of
Hsmilton county, delivered at the close of the lee
turea and discussions Of the third session. short
pungent address upon temperanco-or, rather, upon
intemperSnCe-in the course of which he told some
small part Of the truth about the yleness of whisky
selling and drunksrd- making. Now, there are in
Dandfidge, rs We learn, two grog shops--both kept
by rebels, who have borne arms Ms such-one Of
whom, in fact lie miRus arm by bullet from a
loyal Muddy Greek rife Quite naturally, the words
spoken by the gentleman from Chattanooga against
tho twin crimes of grog selling and rebellion, were
very provoking 10 the chivalsy of the whisky bar
rel; sud all day Wednesday the air was full of their
curses and threats of whipping that fellow, if he
didn't take back all he had said at the church, last
night"
The meeting on Wednesday night was taken up in
discussing the free school law Of Tennessee and in
,rnmasking tho plans Of the rebels ia the attempt
now making 10 repeal that law Now their wrath
became rage. The Church had, at the close of the
war; purged itself of nest of disloya members and
rebels had endured it. Lstterly the basement has
been ia for school of colored children and che
rebels had nos laid hands upon it. except in the tr
fling pleasantly Of stoning the teacher and the pu-
pills in the streets. But this loyal teachers inst-
tule and this plain dealing with rum selling was
the "feAther that broke the camels back" So that
night at two O'clock in the midst of a strong wind
from the east, the Hopewel Presbyterian church
was discovered 10 be on fire.
At The time Of the discovery the blaze was seen
10 b. in the porch, at the west end furthest from
the stove and on entering the building not spark
Of fire 70 be anyt0here, though the flame5
were cracking sharp outside. The melodeon was
taken out and part Of the seats together with sun
dry smaller articles. There being no water handy,
and no fire company, and the house being ceiled
on the inside with yellow pine, there was no stop
ping the FIRE, and it had. its way till nothing was
LEFT but few cbarred and backened fragments ".
ing about the stone walls of the basement.
That same night at Chestnut Grove, about three
miles from cambridge, another church--in radi-
cally loyal neighborhood-was found to be on. Are,
by near neighbor, who happened to be up on &C
count of sickness in his family. Running down 10
the church, he found fire of fat pine knots in the
middle Of the room, and bole burnt through the
hoor, but was luckily able 10 put il out.
., that there was some way to make the property
OF rich rebels pay for the damage done by rebel
hate out breaking in arson; Perhaps Muddy Creek
has vet the duty before IL Of r,uryin,, D.ra;a