Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-06-14

WOrth-oh! double its weight iu gold,
This useful hand that CON no'er grow old.
DR.. nIuhlcmbcrg's Love story.
THE SAD ROMANCE WITH WHICH rREsF-
DENT BUCHANAN WAS ALSO CONNECTED.
The fact Of an interesting but sod
romance connected with tho early life Of
tho late DR.. William A. Muhlenburg hos
often been limited at, but its full details
had never before been published until they
appeared in the obituary notice Of the dis
tinguished clergyman and philantropist as
Published in the Lancaster (Pa.( lnteUiJcn-
Ger. The engagement of marriage between
President James Buchanan-then young
lawyer of Lonoaster--and the beautiful
Miss Ann Coleman, Of that place, was ter
minated by the suicide of tho haplcss youte
lady, because, it is said, her parents objected
to the marriage. A similar attach.ncnt
existed between her sister, Miss Sarah Ii.
Coleman, aud Mr.. Muhlcnbcrg, ut that
time-ifty years ago-rcctor of St. James
church in Lancaster. Her fathcr, Robert
Coleman, proud and wealthy citizen of tho
town, also objected to this marriage,
uiIhouSu lC uuu UCCu luoIl
in calling the young rector to his charge.
His course produced an unpleasant feeling
in the church and the congregation divided
into two parties, cspousing the cause Of the
rector and the naughty father respectively.
While partisanship was still running high
Miss Coleman dicd-of consumption, as her
parents said, but of broken heart as be.
lievcd by most people of the town. This
sad event but intensified the division in the
church of which Mr.. Coleman was leading
mombor, aud on June 10, 1886, Mr.; Muhl.
cnberg communicated to tho vcstry his
intention to resign on account of reasons
which it was unnecessary for him to state.
AYoommitteo of five was appointed to coufer
with him with view to get him to recon
slider his determination, but with thanks for
their kindness he doclned to do so in q moro
lengthy letter, in which lie stated that his
course wac taken after duo deiberation aud
that it was not necessary for him to enter
into details regarding his motives; he trusted
that they were puro and such as he could
think Of with complacenoy "in reference to
the great day of accounts"
At tho same meeting communication |
was received from Mr.. Edward Coleman,
brother Of Miss Sarah Coleman, tho reading
of which was deferred until future meeting.
On juno 26, 1926, the vestry received tho
moro pcremptory resignation Of their rector,
dated New York, June 2G, and asking that
it bo received at once. 1t wns accepted,
and the wardcns were instructed to draft a
reply cxprcssicg the sorrow Of tho church
at his resignation. Aftcrward, at tho same
meeting, the letter Of Edward Coleman,
previously laid over was read. IT an
nounccd to tie vcstry that "in tho event of
all connection between the Rev. Mr.. Muhl-
enborg and St. Sames church, being dis.
solved, absolutely and forever, on or before
Jolly l, and not thereafter, the sum of S.
600 (Which, but for circumstances not
necessary now to dwell upon, would havo
been loft to tho church by our departed
sistor, Sarah H. Colcman) will bo placed in
tho hands of the trustees for tho benefit of
tho church by her her heirs and legal rep
resentatives" Tho offer was signed by
Edward Collie man for himself and The other
heirs of his deceased sister.
"A committee was appointed to inform
Mr.. Coleman that such a dissolution of the
connection between Mr.. Muhcnbcrs and
tho church had taken place, and tho trus--
toes of tho churcli were ready to receive
the money. MIR. James Hopkins protested
against tho appointment Of such committee,
and befofc tho resolution to answer Cole
mans letter passed he withdrew from tho
meeting. At vcstry meeting held June,
~, a memorial was presented signed by
Sarah Ycates, Margaret Ycatcs and Cath
eflno Ycatcs, requesting the yestry to pass
mrcso'ution that Mr. Nluhonborg should
Always bo invited to preach in St. James
pG.P;s Wnenever 1t was unoccupicd Thoy
sa'd IN their letter that tbcy had not had
une 70 procure other signors, but thcv h,d
no doubt this was, the wish of a m.;o,;,u
OF tho congregation. 70 this tho y yostry
resolved to respectfully answer ,bot NJ
Mublenburg would always havo tho % couriosn M
shown him that other Protestant Episcon
clergymcn received, but, they aid not
think it necessary to pass sach on unusual
motion. Against such treatment Of Mrs,
aud the Misses Ycatos Mr.. Hopkins again
protested, rs disrespectful to tho momor--
alists and discourtcous to Mr. MGhlunbcrg.
So the mnttcr seems to'hayo rested; but
although Mr.. Muhc6bcrg often after
preached 10 tho church, lo always stood in
tho chanccl and mover again occupied the
pa;pit. Tho IS, 900 gift was accepted and
paid, tho committee appointed to confer
with Mr. Coleman reporting tbat'in tho
prosecution of tlIeirilabors thcy had encoun-
Z tered grayo difficulties, "busy bodies and
t,febearcrs had Infused an acrimbnDyinto
the unfortunate business which otherwise
! itwould not hive partakcn or" Tho COM
,pittcc had cndeayorod to assuago this md
hcfed that its asperitics would be softcncd,