The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-20
CHARLESTON 5 OLD CHURCH
Historic RUNS 20 Give Way 20 New
house Of Worship.

One Of the granie and most plctures'lpe
ruins n the Ciry BY the Sea Is about 70 dls-
appear from the face Of the earth
There are comparatively few people who
have ever visited Charleston, who have not
remembrance Of the Circular church
II was one Of the handsonest and most
unique church elifces in the CITY. It's portl,
co, facing On Meeting street, was supper, 81
by massive pillars Ike tbo-e II front OF -.
Alchasl's, and under II N the olden tne
Cs@-1 % aSsemble many Of the crack cor 2 -
the State militia The Charleston Ei1e-
men. Seventeenth regiment, had rhelr IN
devious there. Il was there that Old Fejer
Brown. Of Katie Darling fame u@ed 70
take his stand with MS ft-r by his SIDE. ana
await the command from Capt. Joe Jonn-
son. Brow. play Katie Darling Tor the
Cnarl. stOn Rlhenel, k-de-nen. hlsLt
face Forward, march -
L was here tia; the Moultrie Guards. the
Cadet Rifenen and several other crac;
corps used 70 rendezvous az daYUreaA on
the Fourth Of July, Will up on the Cltadel
Green the Marion ARTILLERY. the Lafayette
Artillery and the " ashlngtOn ARTILLERY
tnuu1ered from the mouths Of their brazan
guns the salute which ushered in the nations
birthday. and which brought al the women
AMI children and all the militia into the
streets. Secession, war, famine, tire shells,
cyclone. earthquakes were unknown IN
tny-e days. Peace bTooded over the land
and plenty prevailed
The Circular church was one Of the hand
sornest, largest and most fashionable y,
churches IN the CITY. and within its walls
were frequently gathered audiences and
congregations composed Of the best people
II tIe land
The great fire. which swept through the
city a. a bosom Of destruction in 1850,
premYntiOu OF the far= IN store fnr dear old
Charleston, left only the four walls part
Of the ported and part Of the tower OF
the Circular church standing It was III
this fire that the marble monument stand
ing near the south wall Of the church was
bent by the neat Of the flames.
-Four wears of Greek fire and PARROT
smells followed The z - and weeds grew
up IL the streets Of the city. and what was
once the busy marts of trade became
bowling wilderness The soldiers and the
Home Guard, who did duty on the water
front, frequently amused themselves hunt
ing rabbits and shooting pigeons along
Meeting street in the vicinity of tbs Cir
cular church, in the ruins Of which thou
sands Of frightened pigeons were won't
congregate.
Shell after shell perforated the old walls
and the old tower, and gradually knocked
them To pieces. After the war, when the
weeds were cut down, and then came cy-
clones the portico came down, and portions
Of the tower and walls followed. Then fol
lowed the earthquake, and during all these
years old time has been aiding in the work
Of destruction.
As time went on the ruins became covered
with ivy, and in spring and summer the old
brick walls and the old ruined tower were
covered with curtains Of many shades of
green, forming one of the most picturesque
scenes in this classic old city.
The ruins are now to be taken down and
the lot levelled preparatory to rebuilding
the church.