Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-05-28

). O., THURSDA
aid of the military to keep order and repress vio
ence. There are indications Of return to African
barbarism. There is no religious services re.es,
tablished in the three churches on Waccamaw.-
The planters are bankrupt; their houses despoiled
their costly libraries torn to pieces or shipped to
Northern ports What good the Lord may work
out of the present confusion we know not but to
human eyes the present state of things is only evil
to both races which inhabit these beautiful shores
The history of this once happy region is written
in single. personal incident The eldest son Of
the largest rice planter on Waccamaw lately died
He was supported during bis illness by charity, and
was buried by the contributions Of friends.
Christ, Church, Columbia, shared the fate Of
that beautiful city when burnt by General Sher-
man army in February, 1865. With the excep-
ton of its elder sister in that city, it was the lar
gest and handsomest church in the diocese outside
Of Charleston. It was consecrated in 1859, md
was in the height Of its prosperity. The church,
with its organ, carpets books and all that it con
tanned, was destroyed in that fearful night. The
loss to the congregation amounted to $4,000. A
disputed title to the lot on which the original
church stood has involved them in additional los
ses, and the removal Of many of their members, in
the depopulation of Columbia has reduced to the
lowest ebb this once Aourishing congregation. The
few survivors find themselves quite unable to sup
port minister. Their services are manifested by
the aid of the Domestic Board of Missions. The
destruction of this church may be considered the
heaviest blow to the welfare Of our diocese.
Trinity Church, Colum5ia suffered the loss Of
its beautiful parsonage, which was burnt as well as
the Sunday Schcoolhouse, with their contents, in
Guiding the records of the parish from its organiza-
ton. The loss to the church amounts to 80 or
$4,000. .:.- ......
The communion plate, a valuable set, was forci-
bly, taken from the rector by band Of soldiers, as
he was endeavoring to carry it from his burning
house to place Of safety. It never has been re-
covered.
ST. Johns Church, Rmnsboro This church
was destroyed by fire when portion of that town
was burnt by the Federal army. The organ, fur
niture, books, and all the church property were
consumed. 1t has involved small congregation
in loss of $5OOO Their services are maintained,
and there is some prospect of rebuilding the
church-the only instance in the diocese Of any such
proposal
Grace Church, Camden.-The church escaped
but has, unfortunately been burnt in the last year,
and the bishops residence was respected but the
brick building owned by the church, and loaned to
the Theological Seminary, was burnt by incendia-
ries after the troops passed through. The greater
part of the library belonging to the Society for the
advancement of Christianity in South Carolina was
thus destroyed. The loss to the seminary and the
diocese is heavy, for this library was the acccumu-
lation of fifty years, and contained many rare and
costly books, whose money value it is impossible to
estimate.
st. DariTs Church, Uera,o, was the last
church in the eastern part of the State in the line
of the Federal invasion. 1t was seriously damaged
by an explosion of ammunition near it, and doors,
windows, and part of the wall shattered. The
church plate was stolen, with books and furniture,
and its enclosure torn down. But the church is
habitable, and its worship continues
To sum up the losses of the diocese, it appears
that ten churches have disappeared; that twenty
two parishes are suspended that eleven parsonages
have been burnt; that every church between the
Savannah River and Charleston has been injured,
some stripped even of weather boarding and floor
ing; that almost every minister in that region OF
the State has lost home and library; that along the
entire seaboard, from North Carolina to Georgia,
where our church had fourished for more than a
century, there are but four parishes which main
tain religious services that not one outside the
City of Charleston, can be called living, self-sus-
tanning parish, able to support minister; that
their clergy live by fishing, by gaming and mechan-
ic arts; and that almost every church, whose his
tory appears on this record has lost its communion
plate often massive and venerable set, the dona-
ton of an English or Colonial ancestor.
The pecuniary losses might be repaired if thedl-
ocese were as in days gone by. But in its present
Impoverished condition, no hope remains of speedy
restoration This generation 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. 20 Lord of Hosts, look down from Heaven,
behold and visit this vine, which thy right hand
hath planted" 1T hath been burnt with fire,
and the wild boarout Of the wood doth rootit up "
Comfort US again after the time that thou hast
plagued US and for the years wherein we have suf-
fered adversely" ''Show thy servants thy work,
and thy children thy glory" Prosper thou the
work of our hands, 20, prosper thou our handy
work ~
G. G. PINKNEY,
PETER J. SHAND,