I like history, in general, and specifically Civil War history and Methodist history, so when I learned a few days ago about a project called American Civil War Newspapers (at Virginia Tech), I was very interested. The project, so far, includes scanned images of columns from the Macon, Georgia Daily Telegraph newspapers during the American Civil War.
At the site, I searched for occurrences of “Methodist.” Here are some of the interesting things I read …
The newspaper often posted reports, including pastoral appointment lists, from the Georgia Annual Conference (see December 10, 1860 and November 27, 1862). Also, the May 1, 1863 edition included a detailed, blistering report of the New York Methodist Episcopal Conference.
On December 10, 1860, there was a report on “How the Preachers Stand” …
We learn that a vote was taken on the train, between Augusta and Millen, by the Methodist Preachers, returning from the late session of the Georgia Conference, at Augusta, Saturday morning last. It stood: For secession 87—against it 9. Perhaps this means nothing!
On December 24, 1860, the Daily Telegraph reported …
The Methodist Conference, which recently closed its meeting at Columbia, S. C., adopted resolutions expressive of ‘their encouragement, their sympathies, their affections, their intercessions, with Heaven, in behalf’ of the secession of South Carolina from the Union; and, while deploring the necessity which exists for a separation, ‘feel bound by honor and duty to move in harmony with the South, in resisting Northern domination.’
On December 25, 1861 there was a note regarding the “Expelling of a Traitor” …
Rev. Marble N. Taylor, Lincoln’s Governor (?) of North Carolina, at Hatteras, has been expelled from the North Carolina Methodist Conference.
On April 2, 1862, the paper reported …
SOUTHERN METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE.—This establishment, driven from Nashville by the enemy, will commence operation in Mobile shortly.
On November 28, 1862, the paper reported the following statement in the midst of a report of the Georgia Annual Conference held in Macon, GA …
On motion it was resolved, that the Conference spend the hour between twelve and one o’clock, on Monday next, in prayer for peace for our country, and that the citizens be invited to join with us in the exercise.
The May 25, 1863 edition included a letter from Bainbridge, GA that began …
Dear Telegraph: There has been a revival of religion in this country among the Methodists during the last two or three weeks, and quite a number of additions to the church. Several churches have been visited by the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, and it is to be hoped that a general revival, in all our churches, and through the entire Confederacy, is near at hand. …
On August 18, 1863, the paper ran a “special notice,” signed by the members of the “Building Committee” of the Arch Methodist Church …
Those friends who have subscribed to the building of the Arch Methodist Church, are earnestly requested to pay their subscriptions. The walls of the church are now completed and ready for the roof. We need money to carry on the work.
The amount subscribed, owing to the high price of materials, is not sufficient to finish the house so that it can be occupied. Will not the Methodists and the friends of the church and religion in the city of Macon lend us a helping hand. Let those who have subscribed increase their subscriptions. Make them a THOUSAND DOLLARS instead of one or two hundred. Let those who have promised to help us come up at once with their subscriptions. Never let it be said, when there is so much money in the country, that we cannot have a new Methodist Church in Macon, especially when there is so much need of one.
Come, brethren, respond. Call on Rev. T. T. Christian, or J. C. C. Burnett, and leave your money.
The Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the Confederate States will hold their annual meeting in Montgomery, on the 4th of May next. Bishops Andrew, Pierce, Paine and Early are expected to be present. Bishops Soule and Kavanaugh are within the enemy’s lines, and, thoroughly loyal to the South, will be unable to attend.
The April 18, 1864 edition also reported on a revival in a local Methodist church …
THE REVIVAL.—The meeting that has been in progress at the Methodist Church, in this place, for the last two weeks, still continues with unabating interest. The Church is crowded to overflowing every night, and the altar filled with mourners. Quite a number have professed conversion, and connected themselves with the Church. Oh that the good work may still continue to spread, until it pervades our entire community.
And finally, just a few days after the war ended, the April 14, 1865 edition reported on two churches …
RELIGIOUS MATTERS.—The recent revival at St. James Methodist Episcopal Church resulted in the addition of twenty-seven persons to the membership.
An interesting meeting is now in progress at St. John’s Methodist Episcopal Church, attended nightly by large and attentive audiences.
The Civil War was obviously a painful time in the United States. It was also a painful time in the Methodist Episcopal Church, which split into two separate denominations—the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The split actually occurred in 1844. The two groups reunited in 1930 to form The Methodist Church (which later joined with the Evangelical United Brethren to form The United Methodist Church in 1968).
It’s interesting to get a sense of what it was like for Methodists during a difficult time in American history through the reports of the Macon Daily Telegraph (and perhaps others in the future).