The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-29
The sprins-street Church.
TO TIE RDIroR OF TIE NEWS.

10 The EDlT0b OF TIE NEWS.
Two articles have appeared in your columns
over the signature OF j. B. Pickett, which we
think calculated TO give wrong impression
In regard to the spirit and practice OF the NJ.
e. Church.
1. The Spring street Church, when open
opened for religious worship in the pastoral
care of Rev. T. W. Lewis, instead Of being
torcibly taken by the bayonet, was taken by
the voluntary action OF the official members OF
the N. e. Church South, rendered him by q
vote taken at q largely attended and duly no
titled publ, meeting. This tender was made,
not only to save the property from further
desecration and ruin by the military, but ex-
preesly to accommodate large class OF colored
people formerly worshlpping there.
2. When thus opened, 1t had not been used
for over two years, by our brethren OF the
Church South, as stated place OF religious
worship, and hence its occupancy by US was
worship. In addition to this, the roofing had
been seriously injured by severe storm. the
building used by the military authority OF the
Confederate Government as deposit tor mill
tarY stores, and when reopened by US for wor-
ship, the fencing had disappeared, the win.
dows were broken. the plastering falling of
and it had to be renovated and partially repair
were in NO way responsible, as represented by
Mr.. Pickett, for this sad and unfortunate abuse
of their place Of religious worship.
8. While this church was held and used by us,
it was for the occupancy Of the very respecta-
BILE and law-ablding class Of colored people.
who formerly worshipped there, and who paid
Literally Of their scioty means 10 ald in build
in this case. Of stealing other peoples proper
ty and needing the impudence of devils to
preach to honest men," 1t ought, in public
estimation, slightly to modify tho censure,
that we took only what was rendered US, and
used it for the benefit and religious edl6cation
and comfort ,f those who paid their money to
secure within its consecrated walls these en-
deared privileges.
4. The property mentioned by Dir. Pickett
as belonging by will. in part, to his church,
was never in the possession OF the M. E.
Church South, and consequently could not be
taken from it by the bayonet or any other
means. The administrator on the Mckee
property did not dare to pass such property
over to the possession Of the M. E. Church
South, as this church was not mentioned in
the viii Of the testatoI, Tor fear Of the liability
Of his bonds, unless so authorized by the
Court OF Equity. The case is still pending be-
fore this court, or the one to which it's docket
has been transferred. II Mr.. Pickett will only
patiently wait the equitable decision OF the
question, get all Of this property to which they
are Justly entitled, and this may save him his
postage stamps, and the painful labor and ex-
pense Of publishing hard things Of the church
he loves, in his public appeals for charity.
We regret the circumstances, quite beyond
our control, that wasted so many churches in
this section. Saepe intereunt aliis needldn tes
necen We sympathize with our friend Pickett
in his PERSONAL troubles, and our best efforts
shall not be wanting to keep the "hand Of
violence from his throat, and the "cold steel"
from his bowels. We think it high time that
the churches of the country should join In the
PRAYER and effort for sectional and national
and snoud and SaHason
all Glasses. 1. W. LEWIS,
Pastor OF the n. e. Churches, Charleston.
a. WKBsTER,
Presiding Elder Of Charleston District,
South Carolina N. E. Conference.