The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-06-08
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I Coetefenco o. tho uetp00l8eS 6pH9g0pa|
Church, Published in the Memphis DaiS
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DR.. sbipp spoke OF Resolutions q
sympathy passed by the last General
Conference; affecting the church at
Columbia, 8. u. ;of Its suferings at the
haods ,ofvar; Of fts former prosperity;
its boupdlsss liberality,t OF sheS gspsrs:
osity. ofissm eshbers: sHe.Said that ss,sSi
all uferers int q 0olumbia, Eth q : 3i otho-.
! dist Church bore the most grievous cal
amitics. The church building was re-
duced to ashes, the homes of'its mem>
bers were burned, and all their proper
ty swept away. The congregation is
too poor to rebuild their house Of wor..
ship, and have only a little chapel inr
adequate to the wants of the congrega-
tion. *
DR.. Sehon moved the adoption Of q
resolution providing for concession of
all that is asked by the petition.
DR.. Smith, of South Carolina, said
that the church spoken of had suffered
as none others. Its people were poorer
than those of any; church or city in the
South, and that South Carolina !: was in
the worst condition Of any 10 the South.
The difference in the social aud indus-
trial condition OF, the two States, South
Carolina aud Georgia, was most strongly
marked aud palpable, In Carolina the
people were still trodden under foot by
the harshest task masters, who held
Offices with not the remotest idea Of
promoting ends OF public good. They
only sought to oppress and rob the peo.
pie, and gather wealth for themselves.
The ownership Of real estate in Colum.
bia begets poverty. A house that is
rented for $500 is taxed 1915. Colum.,
bia, once famed for the Intelligence,
public and private morals Of its people,
and for the genius, eloquence aud learns
ing Of individual citizens, whose lofty
character and many virtues gave tone to
society, is reduced to the utmost straits
poverty, and subjected to every pro-
cess designed to degrade and destroy.
The tasteful scholarship Of Legare, the
matchless moral aud Intellectual gran
deur of Calhoun, the splendid oratory
Of Preston and McDuihe, once made
Columbia the abiding place Of all that
made life delightful. The condition Of
the ruined city to day presented n
mourntul contrast with its pristine
glory and splendor. 1t is sad and sick
ening to contemplate the present aud
dream of the past. OF wealth there is
none, aud poverty in its rags and gaber.
dine has invaded alike the palaces of the
rich and novels Of the poor. Indigent
as are those people, they are generous
to the last degree. They share with
one another the little that is left them,
and widows and orphans are not forgot
ton by those who have more than
the absolute wants of life demand.
The little chapel they occupy as a
place of worship, will not contain the
congregation that often gathers about
its doorway, and they often secured the
use Of buildings ofother denominations,
especially of the Baptist, who had been
very kind. Bishop Capers, Dunwoody
and other great thinkers and orators Of
Methodisu, sleep in the churchyard
hard by. Their monuments had been
overthrow or destroyed by bloody, red
handed war, and desecration, and horri.
BILE outrage, and insufferable calamities
marked every feature Of the church's
fortunes. Will not those more blcst in
abundance help those so utterly i'm
poverished? The sympathies of this
flourishing city would be touched if it
may listen to simple recital Of woes
which have befallen the church at Col.
umbia.
Bishop Andrew approved the utter.
ances of DR.. Smith. He had dedicated
the Church at Columbia, years ago, to
the most High. Capers was there, and
many of the purest and best, aud most
learned men. The character of the
congregation, its virtues and Christian
worth, had not been too highly coored,
and there can be no worthier object of
our bene6cence. 1t was first in all
Christian virtues. Many Of it's strong.
est members have fallen beneath the
weight Of terrible calamitics, and tho
survivors are hardly able to live. There
was once no limit to their generosity
and deeds Of Christian charity. Help
them; they will coon be able to help
themselves, and church edi6cc worthy
of the people will soon rise from the
ashes Of that which was destroyed.
DR.. McAnnully spoke with fearful
eyes when he said that each member of
the Conference should forward q sum
for the purpose Of rebuilding the COL
umba church, and erecting a memorial
worthy Of the fame and virtues Of DR..