Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-03-26
ST. Mary's Parish.
THE RECToRY,
ST. MARY's CITY AND Co.. Md,
March 18th. 1881.

y
To the Bishop presiding, aud ntem-
5ers of the Conference Methodist
Episcopal Church.
BRETHREN BY paper sent
me, and postal received from
Martinsburg, i am informed of a
statement made in your body,
which does me such gross iDius-
tice that | feel you will indulge
me in the correction which make,
and which if denied by Mr.. Fort,
| am prepared to substantiate by
witnesses. If the statement, found
In the "Martinsburg INDEPEN-
DENT" is a fair transcript OF what
has been placed on your Journal
then, | charge Mr.. Fort, with such
a gross perversion of the facts of
the case, in statement,and in onlis-
sion of facts, as amounts to abso-
lutte Justification, and maliciously
so. AS an act of simple justice, |
would ask that my statement be
heard. | would premise by saying
that the Parish Church Yard of
st. Mary's, is an inclosed space;
in the midst of which stands the
Parish Church, with the grave
yard around it. 1t was decided to
the Parish of VIM. and Mary,
from which this present Parish
was formedl, by the Proprietary
government, when the Capitol
was removed to Annapolis. "for
the use and purpose of the Church
forever" 1t has always been held
therefore on that ground, as well
as because a consecrated part of
our church property, that only the
services of the church, conducted
by its own officers, could be held
there. This / am prepared to
prove Mr.. Fort knew to certain
extent. On Saturday, September
18th, 1880, being at the Warden's
house, / was told that grave was
being PREPARED for Mr.. George
Cullison, who had died the day
previous. Know ing his mother
to be one of my most faithful
communicates, / did not think
anything of the fact that nothing
had been said to myself or vestry
in regard to the matter; presum-
ing that, knowing regular service
would be held there.next day, the
family would think it time to pre-
pare me for the service on Sunday
morning. On Sunday morning, /
did receive word, before the hour
of service, from Mr.. Milburn the
undertaken, that the procession
would reach the church at about
11:30-this notice leaving me of
course to infer that / was to offici-
ate. | accordingly gave the no.
tice in church, and shortened the
service, so as TO be ready; and
when the procession arrived, /
was ready at the church door to
receive the body; the congrega-
ton in their places awaiting it.
The hearse drew up in front of
the church door, while the vehi-
Giles containing the friends, and
the riders scattered themselves, as
usual, over by the fence. / spoke
to Mr.. Milburn to know "whether
the body was to he brought into
the church or taken at once to the
grave ?" Then for the first tine
learned, from Mr.. Milburn's en-
barrassed statement, that without
a word to myself or vestry, we
were entirely set aside in our own
private property-and that Mr..
Fort, whom l had not yet seen,
was present to officiate. In the
surprise of such a thing suddenly
sprung on me. / said to him,
"Mr. Milburn / don't know that
have any right TO consent to this"
He asked If were willing to see
Mr.. Fort? | replied, certainly |"
He called Mr.. Fort and introduce
ed him TO me. / asked Mr.. Fort,
If he had had any service? He re-
piled, he had had prayers at the
house." / then said, ~ will then
have the committal service at the
grave" he replied that he had
been asked to officiate there.' Not
a word was said about Cullison
and family being members OF his
church, though, of course, | knew
by that time, that they were. /
replied to him courteously by say
ing that / doubted whether had
the right to waive our privilege
and allow other mini5tration than
our own In very excited man
ner, he demanded, whether / ''in-
tended 10 refuse him permission
to officiate y | replied that sit was
not a matter of REFUSAL" but a
doubt of my power to give con-
sent; but l would ask some of the