Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-03-23

The indecent assaults made upon me a
Fairfield and ''South River, which savore6
much of the character ofa drunken savage In
dian car niva, only worse, and the oval de
monstration at CollierstoVn, which was repuls
ed with powder and lead, the cowardly villain.
fleeing as though all the thunders of the upper
deep had burst upon them, only convinced the
sensible portion of Southern society of the ruff
6anly characters Of these defenders of the IN
E. Church South. y The conduct of some o
the so called preachers. in going about, as the
preacher at Collierstown did, trying to prevent
the people from attending our services, and the
conduct of others in watching those who went,
and reporting them as fit subjects for social pro-
scription, and the preacher at Fairfield report,
ing the religious handblls distributed there as
Radical documents showed up the contempti-
bic meanness of the whole concern.
am glad to say in this connection that not
withstanding the many threats INDUCED by
vicious parties, never once faltered in the dis
charge of my duty, and even when shot at with
rife ball at Sugar Creek Place of worship.
did not hesitate moment, but proceeded
with my discourse, which was founded upon lst
John, Sd chapter and I'd verse; and indeed
never thought that my poor life was any too
good sacrifice to lay upon the altar OF our holy
christianity, and the only fear INDUCED, was
that in case of sudden death my place would,
perhaps, be left vacant, and our dear people
thereby left without shepherd. I.t
God enabled me at all times to possess my
soul in peace, and gave me the Divine assurance
that | was His. | am glad to say that the more
intelligent and better disposed classes Of South
ern society assured me that they were not in
sympathy with any of these rufianly movements
to prevent our presence there In the churches,
and generally admitted that the churches were
op1 + hot fhoro 0f rIubf
In March, 1868, Rt. Rev. Bishop Simpson
placed me in charge of Augusta Circuit which
embraces that part of Augusta north of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, except Staun-
ton. The churches were closed against me
there also, as they had been against my prede-
cessors, and were opened by the authority of
Gen. Stoneman, as In the case of the Rock
bridge churches. Since that time we have oc-
cupied them for Divine worship, and have new
er desecrated them, as did the Church South
at Spring Hill, = by allowing political parti
zans, whose hands were stained with human
gore, to make them the theaters of political
harangues. Our people there are common
people generally. such as heard Jesus glad
ly," whilst others lin the Virginia sense of
that term) are Of the better families, and in
deed there are some such families in every
community in which preach that any church
would delight to honor Rev. j. l.. Rippetoe
has rendered efficient aid to the pastor on that
charge and has been we'll received among the
people A few members of the United Breth
rem church had co operated freely with the M.
E. Church as had also members of the ''Tun-
ker Society,", but the main portion of adhe-
rents were the more plous portions fthe M. h.
Church and honest outsiders whose plea was
''let justice be done though the heavens fall. "
Bishop James has written me letter assuring
me that many prayers are going up to God out
side of the state on behalf of the Methodists in
Virginia. a
Much more good would have been done if
night meetings could have been held, but the
people were afraid to come for fear of mobs.
| am anxious that the church property ques-
tion shall be disposed of, so that the rightful
owners might be placed in possession. Ifthose
houses belong to the Church South l want
nothing at all to do with them, and if they
belong to the IN. E. Church., she ought to
have them, so that sabbath schools and prayer
meetings and all the services of the church
might be held, none daring to molest, or make
them afraid. fa1 :
We have few good men in the Valley Ia.
boring and suffering, but we want heavy rein
forcements, able captains to rally the shattered
fragment of Immanueps army to lead them
on to victory and glory. 0 that the church
would give US more such men, men full OF faith,
and the Holy Ghost, men who will sacrifice all
for Christ and church. Christian brethren,
pray for u.s. ~