DIST. SEC. C. L. WOODWORTH, BOSTON.
Few are aware, perhaps, that up to 1861 Congregationalism had but two churches south of Mason and Dixon’s line; and these were not indigenous to the soil, but the transplanted growths of other lands. The first was the old Circular Church of Charleston, S.C., organized in 1690, of Irish and Scotch Presbyterians, of Congregationalists from the North, and of Huguenots from the persecutions in France.
The second was the Midway Church, in Liberty County, Georgia, which was formed in 1695, as a colony from the First Congregational Church of Dorchester, Mass. It first planted itself on the Ashley River in South Carolina, at a place which is called Dorchester; but in 1752, the colony having grown to more than five hundred souls, emigrated bodily into Georgia, transplanting the church into that new country. Among the eminent men on its roll of preachers was the father of Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Both these churches have a very distinct and striking history. Both sent out hundreds of most intelligent and worthy members, who adorned all the walks of life—teachers, preachers, professors, lawyers, judges, governors, senators—but neither of them ever propagated itself. Both were ministered to for years by men of other denominations, though none ventured to tamper with their polity. It is a singular illustration of the toughness and vigor of the Congregational life, and of the uncongenial soil in which it was planted.
The two churches held on their way with no signs of age or weakness until the outbreak of the war. The old Circular Church unfortunately lost its meeting-house in the great fire during the siege of Charleston. It was also weakened by deaths and emigrations, as well as by the withdrawal of most of the colored membership to form the new Plymouth Church of Charleston. Notwithstanding all this the white membership have bravely held together, have built themselves a small chapel, and until recently have been ministered to by Rev. William Adams, son of the late Dr. Nehemiah Adams, of Boston.
The Midway Church in the same way split on the color line, but not to form two Congregational churches. The white part of it at the close of the war surrendered the polity to which they had clung with heroic tenacity for more than one hundred and sixty years, and went over in a body to the Presbyterian Church South. Not so the larger part of the colored membership. They knew nothing but Congregationalism, and they refused to accept anything in its stead. The result was that they were formed into the new Congregational Church of Midway. They have built a new meeting-house, and are showing marvelous energy in maintaining their institutions and working towards self-support. It is matter of interest that many of these colored Congregationalists of Old Midway were scattered during and since the war into the towns and counties around, and have formed the seed out of which six or seven other Congregational churches have sprung. Right here, then, these two facts confront us: The one, that our polity, for some reason, stopped short at the boundary between freedom and slavery. The other, that, having passed that boundary, it seemed to have no power to propagate itself, either by sending out colonies or by organizing new converts on the ground. It is certainly a strange anomaly in church extension, and we leave each one to answer for himself whether it was some instinct in Congregationalism which held it North of the latitude of slavery, or whether the overruling Power, which gave it its mission in America, turned it back until it could go with an open Bible, free speech, and its democratic equalities.
ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.
Orangeburg, S.C.—Last month we printed a very short plea for a musical instrument for the church. We express here our thanks to Mr. S. T. Gordon, of New York, who sent us word a few days ago that an organ was at our disposal for this use. Such ready responses are full of encouragement.
Atlanta, Ga.—“A good degree of religious interest still prevails in Atlanta University. On the first Sunday of March, four persons united with the church by profession of faith, and a number of others propose to do so at an early day. An equal number of those converted here will join churches at their homes.”