The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-02-16
The Jacksonville Church.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Jan. 1st.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Jan. 1st. 1870.
The undersigned elders in the Presbyterian
church of Jacksonville, Fla, respectfully ask your
aid in building suitable church edifce for the use
Of our congregation.
Before the war, this church owned comfortable
house of worship and parsonage, which, since the
war, were seized by minority of onetourth OF the
members who, aided by an assemblage composed
principally of persons from the North, and of diff
ferent denominations, now hold the same under the
sanction of the Central Presbytery of Philadelphia,
with which they are connected all this against the
protest of the body of the church. who constituting
hree-tOmthS of the original membership, still re
main in their old ecclesiastical relation with the
Presbytery of Florida,
We have, in connection with the Presbytery,
used every means in our power to reconcile exist
ing differences, and offered liberal but frultless
compromises for the division OF the property Hav.
ing been driven to appeal for redress to the civil
courts, our action for the recovery of the church
building has been twice dismissed, and, as we are
advised, improperly and illegally, by the presiding
Judge, who sympathises and worships with the
party in possession of the property and who admits
that under his own ruling he is interested party
An appeal has been taken to the Supreme Court,
but majority of that tribunal are likewise interest
ed, and therefore disqualified to determine the
case; so that no final action can be had from the
as they are now constituted We have also to IN
tend against strong and organised opposition en-
Toying the advantages of convenient and cont ia
BILE church edifce, while we are compelled to
worship in an obscure and uncomfortable hall.
With these disadvantages, our usefulness Is I'M
paired and our prosperity retarded; and to con-
tinue longer under these embarrassments may
prove disastrous to wronged and injured people,
who, unbiased by political prGudiceS, and contend
ing simply for ChriStS crO,on-rightS and the con-
stitutionaL aSdgeS and order OF the Presbyterian
| Church, do certainly deserve the substantial sym
pathy of their brethren. Our membership, though
not large, has been doubled in less than year, by
the abors of our faithful and devoted pastor, thu
Rev. T. L. DeVeaux, while others in our congre
CATION are expected soon to join u.s.
Our city is growing rapidly in Importance and i
we were provided with comfortable church build
| ing, we have many reasons to hope that, with
Gods blessing, we would soon be strong and use
| full church.
| The desolating hand of war has been heavy upor
us, and consequently the resources of our people
are greatly reduced, which renders them unable t
raise, in addition to the necessary support of oul
pastor, an amount that apprOximates even to theil
very reasonable and moderate desire in the style
of building they propose to erect; though they
have contributed literally according to their means
for that purpose
| We therefore, with the advice and concurrence
of many of our brethren of the ministry, and alsC
of the Presbytery, appeal to the Church at large
and such generous and sympathising friends az
have the ability and disposition to aid US.
In you sympathise in our trials, and feel willing
to further our efforts please submit this our ap
peal, to your congregation at as early day as may
be convenient, and send such contributions as yor
may procure to our pastor, the Rev. Il. l.. De
Veaux, by draft, Post office order, or registered
letter.
JOHN T. GILcHRIsT,
| JAMES NJ BAKER, Elders