The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-07-08
A PLEA FOR THE EPISCOPAL
CHURCH AT WELLINGTON.
EHLJNGTCN June 13 Is

" ELLINGTON, June IL, 1870.
". A. LEE, Eso.-My Dear Sir:
Your very sympathising notice Of the
destruction Of our dear church, and
tho prompt and generous subscrip-
ton towards the erection of n new
nc.by our friends, both here and at
touched my heart, and
but Il dislike to intruding my
self upon the public has kept Inc
quiet hitherto; but circumstances
have determined me to address you
This communication, and I beg Il place
for it in your paper. Various have
been tho surniscs as 10 the causes
of the destruction Of this
churcss -one aseribing it TO POLITICAL
another to denominational prejudice,
for neither OF which there is the
slightest foundation. But while my
heart Was warmed by hearing that
the minister Of the church nearest us
prayed "that God would raise up
means TO rebuild this church )" / was
told by friend that another had said
ia his serlston "that the burning of Il
church was q proof that that churcl,
was not doing Gods work." It griev-
cd INC to hear this, and it only proves
how prone we Ill are to pass judg-
'mcnt upon cur fellow men and their
works, more harshiy than Cod him
self docs. ] trust he is mistaken, and
| wrtc this to ask Of my fellow citi,
zens TO pause before they acccpt this
Judgment, and to enquire of those
who live near by what our course has
been. While we claim tho right te
hold the opinions set forth in ou,
'"seoiS CT Common Prayer" and tc
worship God, as there prcscribed-we
have never claimed tho right tc
abuse othcrs-wo havo ever helt
shat tho law Of charity is binding
upon ALL" and have said repeatedly
"that the only competition between
Christians should be, as to s0Aich shoula
love God The auost.' Wo have tried tc
be kind and attentive to all who wor
shipped with us, and have never
even set forth the pcculiur claims OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church, ex-
cept when she was assailod by anoth,
er. There arc surely lost sheep
enough around for us to hunt up and
bring back to tho Good Shepherd
without interfering with others. II
any are attracted and como to us
lis it our fault? We are calling upon
all to help US, and surely in these dark
days Of our dear conntry's history
bearing in mind, 'that God is King
and that it is IIe who rulcth tho
hosts of men," VIC cannot spare &
single. church, whcre two or three
may assemble to offer him their pray
ers and praises, and dcprecato His
wrath. THANK God, the prejudice
which once existed towards our deal
church, is passing away wherever sh.
is known; and thinking men sec tha
she, who could train and educate sucl
a man as Washington, and such mel
as Jeff. Davis, and R. +. Lee, and Polk
and Johnson, and Hampton, and Ker
shaw, and Elliott, and a host of others
must be teAder and efficient mother
true branch of Cbrist's churchill!
five weRe not trying to do God,
work, God would not have sustained
us under such blow as tho burning
of this church, nor would lie have Civ
en- us faith and resolution to rebuild it
as He hast!
For wise reasons, which wo vii
know in time, IIe has suffered Sata1
to seem to triumph; but we do not
mean to yield to tho enemy, God being
with us i; and have already completed
y neat chapel, where we meet for wor
ship, and are turning everywhere fol
help to build tho new church.
To those who have already sub
scribed, we return, our heartfelt thanks
and to those who have not yet done
so, we would say, "hclp us, if you can
If YOU have nothing, pray for usr
Now, as ever, lot our motto ,be-"Dec
@indice!"
..- Merry respectfully, yours,